Posts: 129 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
posted 06-06-2022 12:38 AM
My favorite Apollo 11 inspired film is "Pontiac Moon." It's set in California in July 1969. A science teacher played by Ted Danson owns a beautifully maintained but high milage 1949 Pontiac Chieftain convertible. Inspired by the soon to be launched lunar landing mission Danson decides to take his vintage car, and his 10 year old boy, on a road trip across the American south west. Their destination is the fictitious "Spires of the Moon National Park."
Father and son leave home and begin their adventure on July 16th at the exact moment as the Apollo 11 launch with the intent of reaching journey's end on July 20th at the moment when Neil and Buzz land on the moon. To complicate things the total milage on the Pontiac's odometer as they reach "Spires of the Moon" must equal the distance that Neil and Buzz flew to reach the moon. What could possibly go wrong with such a well thought out plan? A lot of things.
Sort of a ridiculous plot but I loved the movie. I loved it for the nostalgia and just the shear nuttiness of it all. Who but a total space geek would even consider doing such a thing? I also enjoyed seeing the old Pontiac cruising through the gorgeous wide-open landscape of the American west. But apparently I'm the only one who ever saw the movie. Has anyone here seen it?
mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1333 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 06-06-2022 05:00 PM
I've never heard of it (I did a lot of international travel c. 1994 so not entirely surprising. But judging from the trailer, there is definitely more than a passing reference to Apollo 11 so I will definitely have to check it out.
Thanks for letting us know about this movie.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3464 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 06-06-2022 06:11 PM
Why would someone obviously interested in Apollo 11 go out driving across country, thus missing the mission coverage?
Gordon Eliot Reade Member
Posts: 129 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
posted 06-06-2022 06:44 PM
The boy’s mother was agoraphobic and as a result the boy had never left his home town. The father was trying to show his son the world.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3464 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 06-07-2022 01:01 PM
Bad timing. In July, 1969, I had to persuade my father to change our holiday plans so we would be HOME for the first landing on the Moon!
jimsz Member
Posts: 638 From: Registered: Aug 2006
posted 06-07-2022 07:40 PM
In the USA the movie is not available on any of the streaming services other than as a rental.
posted 06-06-2022 12:38 AM
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