Apollo 13 is a 1995 film portrayal of the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission. The movie was adapted by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert from the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger . It was directed by Ron Howard.

In 2002, Apollo 13 was re-released, in edited and modified form, as an IMAX film.

In 2005, a 10th anniversary DVD of the film was released, this version included both the Theatrical version, and the IMAX version, along with several extras. [1]

Cast

• Jim Lovell - Tom Hanks
• Fred Haise - Bill Paxton
• Jack Swigert - Kevin Bacon
• Ken Mattingly - Gary Sinise
• Gene Kranz - Ed Harris
• Marilyn Lovell - Kathleen Quinlan
• Ned Vaughn

Technical accuracy

The film is notable for its technical accuracy: principals reported that the film is reasonably faithful to the facts of the mission but adds some tension between the astronauts for dramatic effect. All dialog between ground control and the astronauts was taken verbatim from actual transcripts and recordings. Scenes involving weightlessness were filmed aboard NASA's Vomit Comet which is used to create weightless conditions for short periods by performing a series of parabolic dives, making these scenes the first in a fiction film to feature actual, rather than simulated, weightlessness.

However, the film is also noted for numerous anachronisms, including the use of the incorrect NASA logo and the appearance of The Beatles' Let It Be album a month before it was actually released.

Trivia

Both Ron Howard's mother and father, Rance and Jean Howard appeared in the film. Jean played Jim Lovell's mother, and Rance played the priest who kept vigil with the family. Ron's brother Clint Howard appeared in the movie as Seymour "Sy" Liebergot in Mission Control.

Jim Lovell also appeared in the movie, as the Captain of the Iwo Jima. Ron Howard wanted to make him an Admiral, as Commanders of Carrier task forces are often Admirals, but Lovell said, "I retired as a captain; a captain I will be." Other space program cameos include Marilyn Lovell and Gene Kranz.

This is one of three Tom Hanks movies (along with Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump) where socks play a role in the plot. One of the items required to adapt the square filter into the round receptacle is a sock.

Ron Howard had special screenings for former NASA astronauts. After Buzz Aldrin, then working for NASA's public relations, saw the film he approached Howard and asked him about the footage of the launch. According to Howard, the exchange went:

• Aldrin: Where'd you get that footage?
• Howard: We made it ourselves, Buzz.
• Aldrin. Oh. (Pause) Can we use it?

Awards

The film was nominated for numerous Academy Awards and won:

• Best Film Editing
• Best Sound

It was also nominated for:

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Harris)
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kathleen Quinlan)
• Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
• Best Effects, Visual Effects
• Best Music, Original Dramatic Score
• Best Picture
• Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

The film was also nominated for the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation by the members of the World Science Fiction convention.