Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo

Released Apr 14, 2017

1h 41m

Documentary

History

Drama

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12 Reviews

Tomatometer

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50+ Ratings

Audience Score

At the heart of the Apollo space program and a remarkable decade of achievement was the team who worked in Mission Control. They were born against a backdrop of economic turmoil and global conflict. Some came from a rural lifestyle, hardly changed from the 19th century. Others grew up in a gritty, blue-collar America of mines and smoke stacks. They ranged from kids straight out of college to those toughened by military service. But from such ordinary beginnings, an extraordinary team was born.

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Audience Member

It is an historical fake by removing the father of the Apollo program from movie: Wernher von Braun . Maybe he vas because ones considered him a nazi. He was a brilliant scientist forced by the history to serve a nazi government because he had no other way to continue his work. He did the same in US. All the rocket development in US would be a fiasco without him. SHAME

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hidden Figures was more entertaining. This is a fairly self indulgent opportunity for white men to reminisce mixed with propoganda of the time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

I have just seen this. A quite remarkable film which focusses on the team behind the Apollo astronauts and tells their stories. This is a side of the missions which films and documentaries often neglect. It is just fascinating to hear the first hand stories of what happened in mission control told by the men who were there and are now in their late 70s and over. It is above all a human story and shows just what can be achieved when there is a focus on one goal combined with great leadership. You will probably never see a better film about the importance of team-working! A pleasure from beginning to end. Watch it! Now!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Es una lástima que con todo el material que tienen hayan salido con algo tan plano, tan aburrido. El documental pasa tan solo por las entrevistas porque de resto es de lo mas aburrido y sorprende porque toda la historia de la misión Apollo ha dado para tantas cosas, pero este documental no le llega ni a los tobillos :(

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Highly recommend. America really was great. The achievements those men made with what they had at the time is astounding. They truly had the right stuff.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While much of the material may have already been shown or focused on in other films and documentaries. The filmmakers shift focus from the astronauts to the men in the room of Mission Control giving a new POV on events that occurred. With clean editing and a fitting score it is a documentary for those that may not necessarily enjoy the usual talking head format as it combines real footage with some CGI sequences to explain things. Several of these men have been portrayed on film such as in 'Apollo 13' to see the real person and hear their experience is interesting as well as inspiring. Great film for fans of the space program.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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David Fairhead

Director

John Aaron

Actor

Steve Bales

Actor

Jerry Bostick

Actor

Bob Carlton

Actor

Eugene Cernan

Actor

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Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo: Trailer 1

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John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

Really, seeing these likable oldsters talk at length is just about the entire point of this picture.

Apr 19, 2017

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

This is the usual mix of talking heads and archival footage, but Fairhead also inserts detailed CGI sequences that vividly illustrate the technical issues unfolding.

Apr 13, 2017

Full Review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

A well-crafted, revealing British documentary reuniting the surviving team members entrusted with safely taking astronauts to the moon and back.

Apr 13, 2017

Full Review

Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Center for Media Studies

This documentary, by director David Fairhead, celebrates the men of mission control, the heart of NASA.

Aug 25, 2021

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

There are five or six former mission control personnel interviewed for the film... Each one becomes a unique and distinct character in this story, and keeps the material from getting too technical or dry.

May 6, 2020

Full Review

Bertie Archer

One Room With A View

A compelling narrative explanation of the moon mission in a manner which makes both familiar details and new revelations equally enlightening and enjoyable. Add to this a terrific original score...and Mission Control is an all-round worthwhile experience.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 5, 2019

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Synopsis

At the heart of the Apollo space program and a remarkable decade of achievement was the team who worked in Mission Control. They were born against a backdrop of economic turmoil and global conflict. Some came from a rural lifestyle, hardly changed from the 19th century. Others grew up in a gritty, blue-collar America of mines and smoke stacks. They ranged from kids straight out of college to those toughened by military service. But from such ordinary beginnings, an extraordinary team was born.

Director: David Fairhead
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Production Co: Gravitas Ventures
Genre: Documentary, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2017
Runtime: 1h 41m

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