*Apollo 13 (film)

*Apollo 13 (film)
Name	Apollo 13
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Ron Howard
Producer	Brian Grazer
Screenplay	William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert
Based on	Lost Moon, Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger
Starring	Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan
Music	James Horner
Cinematography	Dean Cundey
Editing	Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Studio	Imagine Entertainment
Distributor	Universal Pictures
Released	1995, 06, 30
Runtime	140 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$52 million
Gross	$355.2 million

*Apollo 13 (film) is a 1995 American docudrama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton. The screenplay by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert adapts the book Lost Moon by astronaut Jim Lovell and journalist Jeffrey Kluger, chronicling the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970. The film depicts the intense efforts of the crew and NASA ground personnel, led by Flight Director Gene Kranz, to safely return the astronauts to Earth after an onboard explosion cripples their spacecraft.

Plot

The film introduces astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Ken Mattingly as they train for the Apollo 13 mission under the command of Lovell. Shortly before launch, Mattingly is replaced by Jack Swigert due to exposure to German measles. The launch from Kennedy Space Center proceeds smoothly, but two days into the mission, an oxygen tank explodes, severely damaging the Service Module and depriving the crew of power, light, and water. The mission objective shifts from a lunar landing to a desperate survival saga. Guided by the team in Mission Control in Houston, including Gene Kranz and a team of engineers, the crew uses the Apollo Lunar Module as a lifeboat. They navigate critical challenges, including power conservation, a perilous course correction, and building a makeshift carbon dioxide scrubber, before a tense re-entry into Earth's atmosphere culminates in their safe recovery by the USS Iwo Jima.

Cast

* Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13. * Bill Paxton as Fred Haise, lunar module pilot. * Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert, command module pilot. * Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly, the original command module pilot who is grounded before the mission. * Ed Harris as Gene Kranz, the flight director at Mission Control. * Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell, Jim Lovell's wife. * Supporting roles include David Andrews as Pete Conrad, Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton, Joe Spano as NASA director of flight operations, and Xander Berkeley as a member of the mission control team.

Production

Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment sought extreme authenticity for the project. The production consulted extensively with the real Jim Lovell and other NASA personnel. Key sequences, including the launch and the weightless interior scenes aboard the spacecraft, were filmed aboard a KC-135 aircraft, nicknamed the "Vomit Comet", which creates brief periods of microgravity by flying parabolic arcs. The film's detailed sets meticulously recreated the interiors of the Apollo Command Module and Lunar Module, as well as the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center. Cinematographer Dean Cundey and composer James Horner contributed significantly to the film's immersive and tense atmosphere.

Historical accuracy

The film is widely praised for its adherence to the real events of the Apollo 13 crisis, though it employs dramatic compression and composite characters for narrative clarity. The famous phrase "Houston, we have a problem" is a streamlined version of the actual radio transmission. The portrayal of the technical problem-solving, particularly the creation of the carbon dioxide scrubber adapter, is accurate. Some events were rearranged or simplified, such as condensing the timeline of certain malfunctions and amplifying interpersonal tensions, like those between Swigert and Haise, for dramatic effect. The character of Gene Kranz's vest is a noted historical embellishment.

Reception

Upon its release, *Apollo 13 was met with widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers lauded its suspenseful direction, technical accuracy, and powerful performances, particularly from Tom Hanks and Ed Harris. The film was a major commercial success, grossing over $355 million worldwide against a $52 million budget. It resonated with audiences for its triumphant depiction of ingenuity and teamwork under extreme pressure. Critics from publications like The New York Times and Roger Ebert highlighted its ability to generate tension despite the widely known historical outcome. The film is frequently cited as one of the best historical dramas and space films ever made.

Accolades

The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Film Editing for Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill, and Best Sound. It also received two Golden Globe Award nominations, winning for Best Supporting Actor for Ed Harris. Other nominations included BAFTA Awards and awards from the American Cinema Editors, Directors Guild of America, and Writers Guild of America. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Category:1995 films Category:American films Category:Apollo program in popular culture