This is an adrenalin-pumped film that traces the first steps of USA’s space program as they debate on whether to send a chimpanzee or a man into space, until the Russians beat them to it. Featuring legendary test pilots at the Edwards Air Force Base, the film superbly showcases the breaking of the sound barrier, NASA’s Mercury project and the breaking of the high altitude flying record.
The story is in an ensemble format. It begins with Chuck Yeager as he breaks the sound barrier with the rocket powered X-1. Yeager and other top of the line pilots gunned for breaking speed and altitude records, while the Russians were putting a plan in place to launch the first man into space. The US administration decides to get test pilots involved in their plan, much to the chagrin of their scientists, who did not want to put up with pilot egos. They recruit 7 pilots who man the country’s first sub-orbital flights and the first orbits around the Earth. The film follows their trials and tribulations.
Phillip Kaufman’s screenplay and direction, based on Tom Wolfe’s book creates some breathtaking visual moments and captures difficult sequences like high altitude flying and space flight superbly. The film won Oscars for film editing, sound effects editing, sound and score. He creates an other-worldly feel to the whole flying experience with pilots were looking for the next out of body experience, to ‘push the envelope’. The weakness in the film is the fact that he shows the scientists in comical/poor light and does not choose to highlight their seminal contributions to the space age.
The film features an ensemble cast with Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn and Fred Ward playing pilots. They all look the part as keen super-fit men who want to take on the world, with no performance better than the other. Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager, the only pilot left out of the space program because he lacks a college degree shows a brooding intensity reserved for those at the top.
This film showcases some of the most important people who started the space age. Good entertainment and good education.
