Challenger (1990 film)

Challenger is a 1990 American disaster drama television film based on the events surrounding the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Its production was somewhat controversial as the families[7][8] of the astronauts generally objected to it.[9][10][11][12] A prologue states[13] that the film was "researched with the consultation of the National Aeronauts and Space Administration" and partly filmed at NASA's Johnson Space Center[14] in Houston, Texas.

Challenger
DVD release cover
GenreDisaster
docudrama
Written byGeorge Englund
Directed byGlenn Jordan[1]
StarringKaren Allen
Barry Bostwick
Richard Jenkins
Joe Morton
Keone Young
Brian Kerwin
Julie Fulton
Kale Browne
Kristin Bond
Angela Bassett
ComposerDavid E. Kole
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersGeorge Englund[2][3][4]
Courtney Pledger
Debbie Robins
CinematographyNewton Thomas Sigel
EditorPaul Rubell
Running time135
Production companiesKing Phoenix Entertainment
The IndieProd Company
DistributorKing Features Entertainment
Release
Original networkABC[5][6]
Original release
  • February 25, 1990 (1990-02-25)

Plot

The film concentrates on the safety inspections and arguments surrounding the O-rings that ultimately were blamed for the explosion of Challenger. While doing this, it also aims to show the personal humanity of the seven crew members. Generally, the film supports the Space Shuttle program and the dedication of NASA personnel in general while criticizing NASA management.

The film ends just as shuttle takes off on January 28, 1986, followed by a symbolic scene of each the seven crew members and passengers reciting in their thoughts John Gillespie Magee Jr.'s poem "High Flight". U.S. President Ronald Reagan used part of High Flight in a speech written by Peggy Noonan on the night after the Challenger disaster[15] while eulogizing the fallen members of the crew.

Cast

Karen Allen[16][17][18][19][20] portrayed Christa McAuliffe,[21] Kristin Bond portrayed McAuliffe's daughter, Caroline, and Kale Browne portrayed McAuliffe's husband, Steven. Allen and Browne were married in real life.

Peter Boyle portrayed Roger Boisjoly,[22] the Thiokol engineer most vocal about the danger of launching at extreme low temperatures because of the risk that the O-ring seals in the shuttle's rocket boosters would fail at those temperatures.

The film also examines the personal lives of the other members of the crew - Barry Bostwick as Commander Dick Scobee, Brian Kerwin as Pilot Michael Smith,[23] Joe Morton as Dr. Ronald McNair, Keone Young[24] as Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka, Richard Jenkins as Gregory B. Jarvis, Julie Fulton[25] as Dr. Judith Resnik - and their families - Angela Bassett as Cheryl McNair, Elizabeth Kemp as Jane Smith, Jeanne Mori as Lorna Onizuka, Debbie Boily as Marcia Jarvis, Melinda Ann Austin as June Scobee, Melissa Chan as Janelle Onizuka, Gavin Luckett as Reggie McNair, Naoka Nakagawa as Darien Onizuka, Thomas Allen Jr. as Scott Smith - before they boarded Challenger.

Emmy award

At the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards in September 1990, Challenger won Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Special.[26][27]

See also

References
  1. O'Connor, John J. (February 25, 1990). "TO VIEW; ARROGANCE IN THE NAME OF LIFTOFF?". The New York Times.
  2. Hill, Michael E. (February 25, 1990). "THE CHALLENGER DISASTER". The Washington Post.
  3. Suro, Robert (February 18, 1990). "TELEVISION; 'Challenger' Looks At the Human Side Of the Disaster". The New York Times.
  4. Walker, Joseph (February 25, 1990). "CHALLENGER: CONTROVERSY ENGULFS LATEST DOCUDRAMA". Deseret News.
  5. Rosenberg, Howard (February 24, 1990). "'Challenger': The Wrong Story Got Filmed". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Kogan, Rich (February 23, 1990). "ABC`S `CHALLENGER` IS ANOTHER DISASTER". Chicago Tribune.
  7. Dawson, Greg (February 24, 1990). "NETWORK, FAMILIES AT ODDS". Orlando Sentinel.
  8. Schlangenstein, Mary (February 23, 1990). "Wives angered by Challenger movie". UPI.
  9. "403. "Challenger" made for TV movie (February 25, 1990)". Sale into the 90s.
  10. Jicha, Tom (February 25, 1990). "McAuliffe Family Criticizes Movie on Challenger Disaster With AM-Space Shuttle". AP News.
  11. O'Connor, John J. (February 25, 1990). "TO VIEW; ARROGANCE IN THE NAME OF LIFTOFF?". The New York Times.
  12. Jicha, Tom (February 25, 1990). "'CHALLENGER' MOVIE RATES THUMBS UP". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  13. Shales, Tom (February 25, 1990). "TV PREVIEW". The Washington Post.
  14. Maines, Don (October 4, 2018). "Houston-bound Bostwick reflects on 'Rocky Horror' and 'Challenger' roles". Houston Chronicle.
  15. Reagan, Ronald; Noonan, Peggy (28 January 1986). "Address to the nation on the Challenger disaster". Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  16. "Karen Allen Lands 'Challenger' Role". Orlando Sentinel. June 29, 1989. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  17. Carmack, Michael (February 25, 1990). "EMOTIONS SOAR FOR KAREN ALLEN IN `CHALLENGER`". Chicago Tribune.
  18. Froelich, Janis D. (February 23, 1990). ""CHALLENGER' IS TOO BOOSTERISH". Tampa Bay Times.
  19. Froelich, Janis D. (February 23, 1990). "'CHALLENGER' MOVIE RATES THUMBS UP". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  20. Owen, Rob (November 15, 2013). "Tuned In: Exploring the science behind 'Challenger'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  21. Carmack, Michael (February 25, 1990). "EMOTIONS SOAR FOR KAREN ALLEN IN `CHALLENGER`". Chicago Tribune.
  22. Tucker, Ken (February 23, 1990). "Challenger". Entertainment Weekly.
  23. King, Susan (February 25, 1990). "The Challenge of 'Challenger' : HOW ABC'S SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE FINALLY GOT OFF THE GROUND". Los Angeles Times.
  24. Hassan, Mohamed (March 17, 2017). "After a 50-Year Career, Veteran Actor Keone Young Is an 'Outsider on the Inside'". NBC News.
  25. Townsend, Mary Ann (February 22, 1990). "'Challenger' looks behind scenes of space tragedy". The Observer. Virginia, Charlottesville. p. 20. Retrieved September 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Emmys.com list of 1990 Nominees & Winners". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  27. Oh, Sheryl (October 3, 2018). "Michelle Williams to Honor Christa McAuliffe's Life in 'The Challenger'". Film School Rjects.
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