THE RIGHT STUFF production techniques

    by Capucine · old hollywood: Philip Kaufman

    Philip Kaufman's THE RIGHT STUFF merged archival NASA footage with new scenes, inserting Ed Harris into history to recreate John Glenn's flight. This visual trick appeared more than ten years before Forrest Gump. The movie hit its 43rd anniversary today. Four years after the Mercury program ended and Gus Grissom died with White and Chaffee in an Apollo capsule fire, May 1963 brought Gordo Cooper higher, farther, and faster than any other American. He completed 22 orbits around the world as the last American to travel into space alone. #PhilipKaufman

    Transcript (en)

    The End Corto? Corto! Uh-huh. We hate to disturb you, buddy, but, uh... We've got a launch here. Uh-huh. Well, there's millions of people around the world watching. We just thought maybe, uh... Yep, well, no sweat, let's go. I'm ready when you are, John. 100%. Okay. T minus 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... The End Oh hot dog go Up we go in the wild blue yonder. 30 seconds, fuel is gold. Oxygen is gold. Cabin pressure on the top peg. Altimeter is working. Go! I can do that, buddy. Go! The sun is coming through the window now. Oh, Lord, what a heavenly light. The Mercury program was over. Four years later, astronaut Gus Grissom was killed, along with astronauts White and Chaffee, when fire swept through their Apollo capsule. But on that glorious day in May 1963, Gordo Cooper went higher, farther, and faster than any other American. 22 complete orbits around the world. He was the last American ever to go into space alone. And for a brief moment, Gordo Cooper became the greatest pilot anyone had ever seen.