"From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) TV mini-series

Director:

Michael Grossman

Writers:

Erik Bork (episodes)
Jonathan Marc Feldman (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Thriller

Plot:

Dramatized portrayal of the Apollo manned space program.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Program | Apollo 8 | Apollo 1 | Astronaut

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 18 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Himself - Host / ... (12 episodes, 1998)
Nick Searcy	...	Deke Slayton (10 episodes, 1998)
Lane Smith	...	Emmett Seaborn (6 episodes, 1998)
David Andrews	...	Frank Borman (5 episodes, 1998)
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Gene Cernan (5 episodes, 1998)
Stephen Root	...	Chris Kraft (5 episodes, 1998)

Runtime:

60 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (Parts 3, 4, 7, 8) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (Parts 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 - 12) | Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) (2006) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Germany:6

Filming Locations:

DeLand, Florida, USA

Company:

Clavius Base

Trivia:

In the first episode, astronaut Pete Conrad is played by two different actors. Peter Scolari plays the role for most of the episode, but in the final "all hands meeting" scene, Paul McCrane takes over the role. (McCrane plays Conrad again in Episode 7.)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The song Up Around The Bend by Creedence Clearwater Revival appears in the Apollo 12 episode. Apollo 12 happened in late 1969, but this song was not released until 1970.

Quotes:

[Briefing the simulator room technicians during Apollo 11 training]
Honeycutt: For the next three months you and I will do everything in our power to see that these men are able to land safely, which means that for the next three months we must do everything in our power to kill them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: Missing (#10.9)" (2003)

Obvious labour of love

For those who look for a well produced, faithful, moving telling of

the Apollo program, this series is a masterpiece. Michael Kamen's

poignant music, Tom Hanks' exacting production standards,

outstanding performances from a range of excellent actors and

special effects that leave one wondering what it would have looked

like on a movie screen ---- all make this series a must-see. And for

those concerned that this series might have gross overlap with

other films made about this time period (The Right Stuff, Apollo

13), you will be pleased to see that the series carefully and

deliberately tells the tales not already well told in these two films.

Again, this is a subtle example of Hanks' production values.

But let's say you don't care about all that. Then, get ready to learn.

Get ready to see the complex conundrum that was the Apollo

program unfold in much the way the principal players probably

saw it. Get ready for a balance between humour and intelligence.

Get ready for exposition that does not drag like exposition tends to

do. Get ready to cry at times, and if you're lucky enough to

remember those days, get ready for a wave of nostalgia.

People who rave about this series usually do so not because they

are blinded by their own interest in the subject and are glad

someone did the tale justice. Usually, they marvel at how

someone managed to capture so much and keep the quality so

high. And I believe you will, too.