Classic Trailer Rewatch: Ron Howard’s True Story Thriller ‘Apollo 13’
by Alex Billington
April 29, 2024
Source: Youtube
“Houston we have a problem.” This is easily one of my favorite space movies of all time. Ron Howard’s docu-drama thriller Apollo 13 was released theatrically in the summer of 1995 and is celebrating its 29th anniversary this year. YouTube’s old 35mm trailer scanner recently released a crisp 2160p scan of the original. Apollo 13 trailer. Although it feels more like a teaser, setting up the story, stakes and characters without showing too much (the full trailer is also available just below). In this film based on a true story, NASA must strategize to return Apollo 13 (launched in April 1970) safely to Earth after the spacecraft suffers massive internal damage that endangers the lives of the three astronauts on board. Featured Tom Hanks like Jim Lovell, Kevin Bacon like Jack Swigert, Bill Paxton Fred Haise, and Ed Harris on the ground as flight director Gene Kranz. One of the scariest survival films of all time, perfectly shot by Howard and his cinematographer Dean Cundey to make it all seem so real, like the actors were really up there in this little spaceship. The score by James Horner is also timeless. What a magnificent film, a true classic.
Here are the two classic trailers for Ron Howard’s space thriller Apollo 13found on YouTube:
And here is a pleasure “modern trailer” reissue by Ron Howard Apollo 13also found on YouTube:
Apollo 13 is a gripping American space docu-drama that dramatizes the aborted 1970 lunar mission of the same name. Featuring stellar performances from Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell, Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert, and Bill Paxton as the starring Fred Haise, the film is a detailed and tense portrait of the spacecraft’s ill-fated third mission to the Moon. After an explosion on board causes most of their oxygen to leak, the crew, along with the ground control team led by Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), must work feverishly against all odds to bring back the spaceship back to Earth safely. The film explores themes of teamwork, crisis management and the resilience of the human spirit. Apollo 13 is directed by an American actor/filmmaker Ron Howardthen making his 11th feature film, just after directing The paper (1994) and before Ransom (1996). The screenplay is written by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert; adapted from the book “Lost Moon” by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. Howard’s Apollo 13 initially opened in theaters on June 30, 1995 in summer. It went on to win two Academy Awards – for Best Sound Mixing and Best Editing. Is this one of your favorites?
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