Fifty years ago this month, on July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon. The moment remains one of humankind’s greatest accomplishments—and its anniversary is an excellent excuse to visit the Space Age via film, experiencing both vicarious thrills and a time when Americans gave a shit about science and exploration. Find these movies on the Mercury’s shelf at Movie Madness (4320 SE Belmont, moviemadness.org) from Mon July 1-Wed July 31!
A Trip to the Moon (dir. Georges Méliès, 1902)—Okay, it’s not technically Space Age-y, but still! Méliès’ silent film features the Moon getting STABBED IN THE EYE with a SPACESHIP and also EVIL MOON-MEN!
The Right Stuff (dir. Philip Kaufman, 1983)—Based on Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, this isn’t only a remarkable portrait of the American space program’s frequently brave, sometimes doomed test pilots—it’s also a clever, sometimes damning critique of the country itself.
For All Mankind (dir. Al Reinert, 1989)—Splicing together startling, astronaut-shot footage from six Apollo missions, Al Reinert’s documentary is a stirring and contemplative first-person trip into orbit.
