CINÉMA DE LA PLAGE – Some interesting facts about Apollo 13 by Ron Howard

In 1995, Ron Howard enjoyed a huge success with Apollo 13, with over two million film-goers passing through the box-office. The dividing-line between the real-life space mission and the cinema adaptation was at times more blurred than many people realise.

Film still © RR

“Houston, we have a problem.” Behind this cult expression from the film lies a drama that actually took place during the Apollo 13 space mission. On 17 December 1970, the three Apollo 13 astronauts had their voyage abruptly interrupted. They had been scheduled to land on the Moon and to bring back samples of lunar rock, but on the third day of their mission an oxygen tank exploded. This was when the famous sentence was pronounced. It was also used in other films such as Armageddon.

Original recordings. Although Apollo 13 does not use any archive images, the film does use actual sound recorded during the mission. The messages between the astronauts and ground control in the film are mainly those actually spoken.

A whole series of cameo roles. Ron Howard involved his whole family in the filming. His mother Jean played Blanche Lovell, the mother of the astronaut Jim Lovell. His father Ron played a priest. James Lovell himself appeared at the end of the film, playing the role of the commander of the helicopter-carrier who shakes hands with Tom Hanks. His wife Marilyn also appeared as an extra during the scene of the launching of the take-off rocket.

Tarik Khaldi

SCREENING

Thursday 21 May / Macé Beach / 9.30 PM
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