When I saw this as a youngster, I was already deeply involved in the space program. So naturally I was excited to see a movie about a real space flight that I had followed only a few years before.
I was disappointed. The movie has less to do with the astronauts than with one of the flight controller's personal problems. As I recall, the plot centers around whether or not he should be working on his religious holiday; of course, the fate of the crew depends on him being there. He has to go through a lot of strenuous soul searching, flack from his relatives and other angst in order to make his decision.
I don't know if this was based on fact or not. But it didn't have the space flight thrills that I was looking for. And I remember reading a letter Jim Lovell wrote to TV Guide about the flick, saying that if this is what the flight controllers had to go through, then it was probably safer in the damaged capsule than it was on earth.
I was disappointed. The movie has less to do with the astronauts than with one of the flight controller's personal problems. As I recall, the plot centers around whether or not he should be working on his religious holiday; of course, the fate of the crew depends on him being there. He has to go through a lot of strenuous soul searching, flack from his relatives and other angst in order to make his decision.
I don't know if this was based on fact or not. But it didn't have the space flight thrills that I was looking for. And I remember reading a letter Jim Lovell wrote to TV Guide about the flick, saying that if this is what the flight controllers had to go through, then it was probably safer in the damaged capsule than it was on earth.