Contains Previously Unseen NASA Archival Footage
By Gregory Crofton
Archival color film of spectators taking swigs from old pull-tab Cokes and Busch beers while waiting on the launch of Apollo 11 is what made this film for work me.
Of course this documentary is much more than just peeking at a crowd of Americans at Cape Canaveral in 1969.
Director Todd Douglas Miller (Dinosaur 13) makes the launch of Apollo 11, a six-million pound rocket that took three men to the moon and back, a detailed and explanatory thrill ride of a film.
Apollo 11 hit speeds of 55,000 mph enroute to the moon!
An yes this is that rare documentary that should be seen in a theater because it looks beautiful on the big screen. An original score by Matt Morton adds just the right amount of excitement, especially to the actual moon landing. The film’s 93-minute running time also kept things tight and interesting.
But really what got me into the theater was the promise that Hollywood fiction writers had nothing to do with it — no “FIRST MAN” for me.
“APOLLO 11” is a 100% pure documentary on this historic, mysterious American journey into space — a time when Ted Kennedy drank too much on Martha’s Vineyard, Walter Cronkite dominated the nightly broadcast news, and two tiny men walked on the moon.
“APOLLO 11” is playing at theaters nationwide.
Director Todd Douglas Miller discusses innovative editing used in the film.
Trailer