On October 4, 1957, the residents of the United States received a nasty surprise. The Soviet Union had just launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. That meant that the communists now had the ability to send a nuclear warhead against targets anywhere in North America. A continent that throughout history had been protected behind two world oceans suddenly felt vulnerable. Not surprisingly, "The New York Times" wrote that the country had abruptly been turned into a nation in shock. Something drastic had to be done.
Fast forward to 1979. That year, Tom Wolfe published a novel about the American efforts to catch up with the Russians in space. His book, "The Right Stuff", quickly became a best-seller, and it didn't take long before Hollywood acquired the film rights. So, in 1983, director Philip Kaufman began shooting the first scenes at Edwards Air Force Base where the actual Mercury astronauts had undergone their training. The film was intended as a pseudo-documentary depiction of what in the '60s became known as the Space Race.
Sam Shepard played legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, the guy who was the first human being to fly faster than the speed of sound. For the roles of the Mercury astronauts, director Kaufman then assembled a group of young actors, many at the beginning of their careers. But guys like Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Fred Ward, Scott Glenn and Lance Henriksen would all go on to even greater things in the future.
Sadly, however, "The Right Stuff" became something of a box office failure. It grossed only $21 million domestically against its hefty $27 million budget. Nevertheless, the film was met with widespread critical acclaim. It was also nominated for a total of eight Oscars at the Academy Awards (it won four). And the film was finally a well-deserved success during the so-called "Video Rental Boom" of the early '80s. By now, "The Right Stuff" is considered a modern classic.
Fast forward to 1979. That year, Tom Wolfe published a novel about the American efforts to catch up with the Russians in space. His book, "The Right Stuff", quickly became a best-seller, and it didn't take long before Hollywood acquired the film rights. So, in 1983, director Philip Kaufman began shooting the first scenes at Edwards Air Force Base where the actual Mercury astronauts had undergone their training. The film was intended as a pseudo-documentary depiction of what in the '60s became known as the Space Race.
Sam Shepard played legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, the guy who was the first human being to fly faster than the speed of sound. For the roles of the Mercury astronauts, director Kaufman then assembled a group of young actors, many at the beginning of their careers. But guys like Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Fred Ward, Scott Glenn and Lance Henriksen would all go on to even greater things in the future.
Sadly, however, "The Right Stuff" became something of a box office failure. It grossed only $21 million domestically against its hefty $27 million budget. Nevertheless, the film was met with widespread critical acclaim. It was also nominated for a total of eight Oscars at the Academy Awards (it won four). And the film was finally a well-deserved success during the so-called "Video Rental Boom" of the early '80s. By now, "The Right Stuff" is considered a modern classic.
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