The Right Stuff, motion picture about the United States space program during its early years, from 1947 to 1963, based on the 1979 book by Tom Wolfe. Released in 1983, this critically acclaimed, Academy Award-winning film was directed by Philip Kaufman and begins with ace pilot Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in the X-1 jet plane. From there the space age begins, and the United States gears up for a race with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to get a man in orbit after the Soviets launch Sputnik, the first orbiting satellite. This film features dramatic reenactments of the Mercury program and details some events from the private lives of the astronauts, who faced the dual responsibility of making the risky mission and performing as public role models and luminaries. This film was a box-office hit and made stars out of actors Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, and Fred Ward.
Director
Cast
- Sam Shepard (Chuck Yeager)
- Scott Glenn (Alan Shepard)
- Ed Harris (John Glenn)
- Dennis Quaid (Gordon Cooper)
- Fred Ward (Gus Grissom)
- Barbara Hershey (Glennis Yeager)
- Kim Stanley (Bancho Barnes)
- Veronica Cartwright (Betty Grissom)
- Pamela Reed (Trudy Cooper)
- Scott Paulin (Deke Slayton)
- Charles Frank (Scott Carpenter)
- Lance Henriksen (Wally Schirra)
- Donald Moffat (Lyndon B. Johnson)
- Levon Helm (Jack Ridley)
- Mary Jo Deschanel (Annie Glenn)
- Scott Wilson (Scott Crossfield)
- Kathy Baker (Louise Shepard)
- Mickey Crocker (Marge Slayton)
- Susan Kase (Rene Carpenter)
- Mittie Smith (Jo Schirra)
- Royal Dano (Minister)
- David Clennon (Liaison man)
- Jim Haynie (Air Force major)
- Jeff Goldblum (Recruiter)
- Harry Shearer (Recruiter)
- Scott Beach (Chief scientist)
- Jane Dornacker (Nurse Murch)
- Anthony Munoz (Gonzales)
- John P. Ryan (Head of program)
- Darryl Henriques (Life reporter)
- Eric Sevareid (Himself)
- William Russ (Slick Goodin)
- Edward Anhalt (Grand designer)
- Mary Apick (Reporter)
- Robert Beer (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
- Erik Bergmann (Eddie Hodges)
- Maureen Coyne (Waitperson)
- Peggy David (Sally Rand)
- John Dehner (Henry Luce)
- Bob Elross (Review board president)
- Robert J. Geary (Game show M.C.)
- David Gulpilil (Aboriginal Australian)
- Anthony Wallace (Australian driver)
- Kaaren Lee (Young widow)
- General Chuck Yeager (Fred)
Awards
- Academy Award for Best Film Editing (1983): Glenn Farr, Lisa Fruchtman, Stephen A. Rotter, Douglas Stewart, Tom Rolf
- Academy Award for Best Music—Original Score (1983): Bill Conti
- Academy Award for Best Sound (1983): Mark Berger, Tom Scott, Randy Thom, David MacMillan
- Academy Award for Best Sound Effects (1983): Jay Boekelheide
Trivia
- Actual X-1 pilot Chuck Yeager appears in a cameo role in this film as a bartender.
- Beeman’s brand gum, featured in this film, is the lucky gum of pilots.
Quote
- Ridley (narrating opening of film): “There was a demon that lived in the air. They said whoever challenged him would die. His controls would freeze up, his plane would buffet wildly, and he would disintegrate. The demon lived at Mach 1 on the meter, seven hundred and fifty miles an hour, where the air could no longer move out of the way. He lived behind a barrier through which they said no man would ever pass. They called it the sound barrier.”
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