An expert review of the 1983 historical dramaThe Right Stuffpraises the space epic’s realism. Directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted from Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, the film chronicles the lives of Navy, Marine, and Air Force test pilots involved in pioneering aeronautical research, as well as the Mercury Seven—the first astronauts chosen for the first human spaceflight by the U.S. The film starsDennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward, and Barbara Hershey, andwent on to win four of its eight nominations at the 56th Academy Awards.
In an expert video withInsider, retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stottawarded the film a perfect 10 for its portrayal of space travel preparation. Stott particularly praised scenes showing John Glenn’s (Ed Harris) experiences with intense gravitational forces and reentry, noting how accurately the film captured these challenges. Read the full quote here:
I think about it now these days, where we almost take for granted the ability to orbit in a spacecraft. John Glenn was, you know, the first American astronaut to do that, and it was incredible to think about. We had done these suborbital flights where we go up and we come right back down. But now we were going to be in space for a longer period of time. You had to build up a little bit more energy to actually keep falling around the Earth and stay in orbit and then to predict where you would reenter and get safely back to Earth. And that’s what we were seeing with John Glenn in this scene. And he’s kind of straining. You know, I think he’s responding to the force on his body during reentry.
[I] am really thankful that as astronauts we don’t have to do [these] tests anymore. You know, that was all back in the early Mercury Seven days. This test and some of the others that they show in the film, which are based on, you know, real medical and physical kinds of activities that they put these astronauts through, was because there was so much unknown. How the human body would react in space. You know, the microgravity environment in the launch and reentry environment of getting to and from space. They were really, I think, trying to assess the limits, kind of the extremes of what the human could handle just right here on Earth. And by understanding that they could have a better idea of what the astronaut might be able to tolerate traveling to space.
What The Right Stuff’s Expert Review Means
A Real Astronaut’s Review Highlights The Film’s Commitment to Authenticity
Stott’s praise forThe Right Stuff’s portrayal of early space exploration validates the film’s commitment to authenticity in depicting theMercury Seven’s journey. Her rating underscores the physical and psychological obstacles faced by NASA’s earliest astronauts, whose involvement paved the way for modern space travel. By earning a perfect score for accuracy from an expert with firsthand experience,The Right Stuffstands as a cinematic tribute to the risks and unknowns that early astronauts encountered.
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Stott’s observations shine a light onthe degree of physical resilience required for these missions. Some of the movie’s best scenes, such as Glenn enduring intense gravitational force, reveal the harsh conditions that were integral to these early experiments. According to Stott, the training depicted in the film accurately reflects NASA’s rigorous tests aimed at preparing astronauts to tolerate space’s extremes, from microgravity environments to the violent reentry process.
Our Take on The Right Stuff’s Expert Review
It’s An Enduring Tribute to America’s First Astronauts
Several decades after its release, a retired NASA astronaut’s perfect score forThe Right Stuffadds new weight to the film’s legacy.Kaufman’s historical drama is more than just an entertaining space epic;it’s a carefully crafted depiction of the physical and emotional demands faced by America’s earliest astronauts. Stott’s review offers a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of the Mercury Seven and, by extension, all astronauts who venture into space.The Right Stuffstands as a tribute to those who dared to face the unknown, and Stott’s praise affirms its place as a classic in film and space history.
The Right Stuff
Cast
The Right Stuff is a historical drama directed by Philip Kaufman. The film centers on a group of astronauts who are recruited for Project Mercury, which was the United States' first human spaceflight. The Right Stuff won four Oscars at the 1984 Academy Awards and was based on the novel of the same name written by Tom Wolfe.
