Posts: 6100 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 07-03-2015 05:32 PM
Looking forward to this movie entitled "First Time":
March 18, 1965. For 77 days before the Americans went into space, the Soviet Union wins the technological race when Alexei Leonov first greeted earthlings from outer space, and, according to the chronicle, safely walked back to the ship. But these 5 meters to the gateway are the most painful walk in his life, and an emergency landing in manual mode — an example of the incredible will to live of the Leonov and Pavel Belyaev, his partner.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46541 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-28-2017 08:18 AM
Several of Russia's largest movie theaters have joined forces to lobby the Culture Ministry to reverse a decision postponing the release of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster "The Fast and the Furious 8" in favor of "First Time," reports the Moscow Times.
The Fast and the Furious 8 is scheduled for worldwide release on April 13, the day after Russia celebrates Cosmonaut Day. First Time has timed its release for the annual holiday. Movie theaters are lobbying the Culture Ministry to reverse course, citing concerns with the Russian film's profitability.
"There are simply no other blockbuster premieres in April," Vedomosti cited a letter written by several movie theater executives as saying. "First Time will hardly bring in more than a few hundred million rubles."
...the proposal to postpone the American film came not from the Culture Ministry, but the producers of First Time, Vedomosti reported. The producers also eliminated their Russian-made cinematic rival about the Soviet space program, Salyut-7. The producers of both films failed to come to an agreement on release dates.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46541 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-10-2017 11:35 AM
"The First Time" flopped on its opening-day weekend, reports The Moscow Times.
The film, marketed as "The First Time" in English, depicts the exploits of cosmonaut Alexei Leonov — the first man to walk in space. The producers of the movie wanted it to be released on April 6, the weekend before Russia’s annual April 12 Cosmonaut Day holiday.
"The First Time" was financed by the Culture Ministry, and expected to rake in 280 million rubles ($5 million) opening weekend, the Vedomosti newspaper reported April 10. But it didn’t even make half that amount. The movie must make at least 500 million rubles ($8.7 million) to break even.
..."The First Time" made just 138.7 million ($2.4 million) in opening weekend sales.
soviet space Member
Posts: 333 From: Registered: Jan 2015
posted 04-14-2017 02:05 AM
There is a companion book:
Also came with a movie script:
soviet space Member
Posts: 333 From: Registered: Jan 2015
posted 04-14-2017 08:53 AM
I went to the movie a week before the premiere, met with the producer and even won a gift there in a quiz. He was surprised I knew the answer, the question was complicated:
What sound mission Voskhod 2 used Stanley Kubrick in a film Space Odyssey?
I can say the film is quite well shot.
dom Member
Posts: 933 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 04-18-2017 12:43 PM
Sorry, I don't even understanding the question above?
Spoon Member
Posts: 153 From: Cumbria, UK Registered: May 2006
posted 04-18-2017 02:16 PM
I think it might refer to Leonov's breathing during his EVA which was captured on the ground and recorded, then subsequently used during space walking sequences in '2001'.
dom Member
Posts: 933 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 04-18-2017 03:25 PM
I don't think a perfectionist like Stanley Kubrick would have done that!
soviet space Member
Posts: 333 From: Registered: Jan 2015
posted 04-18-2017 08:21 PM
quote:Originally posted by Spoon: I think it might refer to Leonov's breathing during his EVA...
Right.
dom Member
Posts: 933 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 04-19-2017 03:57 PM
Kubrick might have been simulating the cosmonaut's breathing but he was too much of a technical perfectionist to have used a second rate recording of a real spacewalk for 2001: A Space Odyssey!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46541 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-19-2017 04:32 PM
Perhaps this story is a case of something being lost in translation. From a 2006 interview, Leonov seems to suggest it was his description, not his actual audio, that was used:
In Stanley Kubrick's film "2001 A Space Odyssey," where cosmonauts work in the open cosmos, he used my acoustic description in the way you can hear the laboured breathing.
dom Member
Posts: 933 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 04-20-2017 02:12 PM
Thanks Robert, that clears that up.
The makers of 2001 were definitely inspired by Leonov's description of his spacewalk. I know Arthur C. Clarke was a friend of Leonov and probably passed on what the cosmonaut had told him to Kubrick.
As far as I know from reading about the making of the movie the spacewalk sequence was filmed in 1966 or 1967 - a time when few real EVAs had been done.
cjh5801 Member
Posts: 187 From: Lacey Registered: Jun 2009
posted 07-04-2021 09:18 PM
I saw this recently under the title "Spacewalker" (aka "Spacewalk") and greatly enjoyed it.
Like "Apollo 13," the movie manages to build and sustain tension even when you know the historical outcome. The film takes some dramatic liberties (and Leonov was later accused of exaggerating his peril), but it is still a riveting account of the mission. I'd recommend it, for whatever that's worth.