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Author
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Topic: Must have Mercury, Gemini and Apollo documentary
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Merkaw
Member Posts: 30
From: Denmark
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 08-02-2014 02:42 PM
  
Which Mercury, Gemini and Apollo documentary would you consider the "must have"?I'm new to the pre-shuttle area, and was totally hooked on the earlier years after a visit to Kennedy Space Center this summer. So far I've bought the following pre-shuttle space DVD/Blu-ray: - When We Left Earth: NASA's Greatest Missions
- In the Shadow of the Moon
- For All Mankind
- Moonwalk One
And a few non-documentaries: - The Right Stuff
- From the Earth to the Moon
- Apollo 13
Am I missing a "must have"? |
lunarexplorer
Member Posts: 13
From: Albany Western Australia
Registered: Dec 2012
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posted 08-02-2014 11:29 PM
You have some great documentaries in your collection. I have them all and would say "In the Shadow of the Moon" is one of the best. Some other DVD sets available which are not so much a documentary but show some great footage (some narrated) of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions are available from Spacecraft Films. I would recommend Project Mercury and Project Gemini. Down the track you might want to get some of the Apollo DVDs. They have a summer sale on now so you get 10% off and free shipping if you spend over $125 (including international!). So maybe a great time to get both. Lots of cool stuff also on YouTube as well. I always check this forum as members always point out great videos. For example I have never seen 300 Feet to the Moon which was just posted. The Last Man on the Moon with Gene Cernan has only recently been released (for the big screen) but will probably be a must have DVD to have in the future. |
David C
Member Posts: 1014
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 08-03-2014 04:18 AM
Documentary wise I'd say "In the Shadow of the Moon"; and if it gets released on DVD eventually then "The Last Man on the Moon" should join it. The "Spacecraft Films" stuff is great but much of it is pretty hardcore; very long real-time communications gaps or sometimes no sound track at all. However their Apollo 11 work is a "must have".Dramatisation wise, the series "From The Earth to the Moon" (FTETTM) is second to none. The movie "Apollo 13" is good but strays in places and amalgamates characters. I'm sure there's a thread around here discussing it's errors. For a more technical viewpoint the series "Moon Machines" is a great introduction (although some aspects are mentioned in FTETTM). If you're interested in the truth then avoid "The Right Stuff". It's very entertaining myth-making. Oh and get some books. The best is Collins "Carrying the Fire", followed by Cunningham's "The All American Boys". Only one landing, Apollo 15 has accounts written by all three crew members and between them you get a really good look at the mission. They are Scott's (and Leonov's) "Two Sides of the Moon", Worden's "Falling to Earth" and Irwin's "To Rule The Night". I'd probably read them in the order they were written, i.e. Irwin, Scott, Worden. I also enjoyed Duke's "Moonwalker", a very candid book. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-03-2014 07:27 AM
Lots of good advice above. If we can stray into fictional movies, many people old enough to have seen the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs live got hooked on spaceflight by the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey". |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 08-03-2014 09:12 AM
I try to promote "To The Moon", from NOVA as much as possible. It was originally broadcast on PBS in 1999 and is one of my favorites. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 08-03-2014 11:12 AM
As far as I know it hasn't been released on DVD, but the 1994 TBS documentary "Moon Shot" is well worth watching, if for no other reason than it's told from the astronauts' point of view. Also worth finding is the PBS documentary series "Spaceflight," which aired in the '80s and hasn't seen DVD release, but I think a couple episodes may be found on YouTube. |
Merkaw
Member Posts: 30
From: Denmark
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 08-03-2014 01:30 PM
I see there will be lots to do on the long winter nights.Thank you for your advise and recommendations. Also for the book titles pointed out. I've bought a few books already, but haven't had time for them yet. I'm still looking for a must have coffee table book on the Apollo program. I appreciate your help. |
pollux
Member Posts: 54
From: London, England
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 08-03-2014 02:58 PM
If it's a coffee table book you want, then you could do worse than "A Man on The Moon: 3 Volume Illustrated Commemorative Boxed Set" by Andrew Chaikin. A sumptuous box set version of the original book, lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photos.A good book made even better! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-03-2014 04:07 PM
The box set entitled "Moon Machines" is a must in my opinion. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 08-03-2014 04:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Merkaw:
I'm still looking for a must have coffee table book on the Apollo program.
Full Moon by Michael Light, and Moonfire by Norman Mailer. Guaranteed conversation starters. |
lordolsen
Member Posts: 112
From: Denmark
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 08-03-2014 04:38 PM
All metioned are worth seeing! One of my favorite are "When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions" series from Discovery Channel from 2008. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 864
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 08-03-2014 05:04 PM
There was a four-part series called Spaceflight that was exceptionally good. I believe it came out in the late 1970's or early '80s and was narrated by Martin Sheen. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 08-03-2014 05:36 PM
"Conquest" is also an exceptional series, though not available on DVD as far as I'm aware. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 08-03-2014 05:47 PM
Under fiction, the 1969 film "Marooned" was pretty good, especially for when it was made; definitely worth a view (despite the awkwardly abrupt ending). |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 08-03-2014 06:18 PM
One I might suggest is called "Space-The Ultimate Frontier". It is the ultimate 'coffee table book'-it's about 2 feet x 3 feet- it would probably cover half of your coffee table. I have a copy and highly recommend it. |
JPSastro
Member Posts: 170
From: Tucson, Arizona
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 08-03-2014 06:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
The box set entitled "Moon Machines" is a must in my opinion.
I second recommendation for "Moon Machines." It was produced for the Science Channel in 2009.Covers the Saturn V, Command module, navigation computer, space suit and the lunar rover in great detail. Over four hours of viewing pleasure. A must own. |
Merkaw
Member Posts: 30
From: Denmark
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 09-26-2014 12:36 PM
Finally found a mint "A Man on The Moon," the three volume illustrated commemorative boxed set, by Andrew Chaikin. It's great.Also just received a DVD of Nova's "To the Moon." Seen it three times already. Truly enjoy it. "Moon Machines" DVD set is on its way, as well as the books "Moonfire" and "Full Moon." Thanks for the recommendations. |
Merkaw
Member Posts: 30
From: Denmark
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 10-19-2014 06:59 AM
Got my copies of "Moonfire" and "Full Moon" today. Great books loaded with great photos. Excellent print quality for both books. Just what I was looking for. Thanks! |
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