“Apollo 13: Houston, We’ve Had a Problem” is an interesting
documentary about the Apollo 13 Mission in 1970, pieced together by Robert
Garofolo in 2004; Joanne (his wife) is an associate producer, for Classic
Films.
Even compared to the PBS documentary from 1994 (Oct. 9,
2014) as well as Ron Howard’s 1994 film, this work comprises mostly actual
footage from inside the modules, as much as possible, as well as footage of the
men working in short-sleeve shirts but with neckties at the Houston Johnson
Space Center. There is ample footage of
the gray lunar surface from the module as it makes one orbit around the Moon to
get the slingshot back home.
The 88-minute film then uses as much if the actual vocal
footage as possible, too. The men do not
seem panicked, and the situation does not seem as dire as in the Howard
movie. One critical step in liftoff
occurred a minute too soon, and when the explosion occurred, they at first did
not know what had happened.
There is some Chemistry 101 in the script, discussion of “partial
pressures of carbon dioxide” and of what lithium hydroxide does.
The DVD contains a speech by Jim Lovell, Commander of Apollo
13, “The Odyssey of Apollo 13”.
The film should not be confused with a TV film by this name
from 1974 directed by Lawrence Doheny, which, with actors, tells the story of
the controllers on the ground in Houston.
Wikipedia attribution link for Apollo 13 service module
after jettison.
The DVD is available from Netflix, but tends to have a
waiting list.
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