Author
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Topic: James Caan, 'Countdown' actor, 1940-2022
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onesmallstep Member Posts: 1352 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-08-2022 12:08 PM
Bronx, NY-born actor James Caan has died Wednesday (July 6, 2022), aged 82. Although best known for playing the hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's character Vito Corleone, "Sonny" Corleone, in the acclaimed Godfather and Godfather Part II films, he appeared in "Countdown," a 1968 film (released in 1967 in the UK) about a crash program by the US to land a single astronaut ahead of the Soviets on the moon. Called the Pilgrim Project (the film was based on a novel of the same name), it consisted of a modified Gemini on an LM descent stage to carry the astronaut, which would land near a cache of food and supplies that was sent to the moon earlier, for the astronaut to subsist on until a return trip could be mounted. The original commander of an Apollo crew on which Caan's character was in, played by Robert Duvall, was passed over for the honor of being first to step on the moon due to him being a military officer; Caan's was a civilian pilot (ironically, echoing Neil Armstrong/Buzz Aldrin). Directed by neophyte Robert Altman (MASH; McCabe and Mrs Miller), it was a troubled production as studio executives, seeing the dailies, were aghast at characters speaking over each other's lines. Producer on the movie, actor William Conrad (TV's 'Canon'), phoned Altman and basically told him he was let go. The studio even changed the ending from the one intended by Altman (I won't spoil it for people who haven't seen it). NASA lent mockups and facilities at the Cape for authenticity. |
bthumble Member Posts: 277 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-08-2022 12:15 PM
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sts205cdr Member Posts: 717 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 07-08-2022 12:50 PM
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randy Member Posts: 2582 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-08-2022 01:41 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2853 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-08-2022 03:12 PM
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SpaceCadet1983 Member Posts: 396 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
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posted 07-08-2022 03:17 PM
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Grounded! Member Posts: 502 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 07-08-2022 03:47 PM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1300 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 07-08-2022 08:22 PM
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Kevin T. Randall Member Posts: 1417 From: Chesham, Bucks UK Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 07-09-2022 03:33 AM
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rjb1elec Member Posts: 322 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 07-09-2022 06:56 AM
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4478 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-09-2022 07:03 AM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2305 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 07-09-2022 07:30 AM
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GT76 Member Posts: 59 From: New Orleans, La. USA Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 07-09-2022 08:48 AM
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Jonnyed Member Posts: 563 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 07-09-2022 09:56 AM
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star51L Member Posts: 477 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-09-2022 04:38 PM
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1344 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-09-2022 04:46 PM
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ManInSpace Member Posts: 294 From: Brooklin, Ontario Canada Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 07-09-2022 05:38 PM
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issman1 Member Posts: 1085 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 07-10-2022 01:05 AM
Also a memorable performance in 'Alien Nation' 1988. |
Kite Member Posts: 1038 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-10-2022 12:46 PM
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Gilbert Member Posts: 1451 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 07-12-2022 01:55 PM
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carl walker Member Posts: 399 From: Netherlands Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-16-2022 04:44 AM
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