I Aim at the Stars: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m add category
add reference
Line 18: Line 18:
| country = United States <br> West Germany
| country = United States <br> West Germany
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget =£500,000<ref name="barry">Because You are Still Being Beastly to the Germans . . .
| budget =
Author: Barry Norman Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1960
Publication: Daily Mail p 8</ref>
}}
}}


Line 51: Line 53:
* [[Lea Seidl]] as Baroness von Braun
* [[Lea Seidl]] as Baroness von Braun
* [[John Crawford (actor)|John Crawford]] as Dr. Bosco - White Sands, New Mexico
* [[John Crawford (actor)|John Crawford]] as Dr. Bosco - White Sands, New Mexico
==Production==

The film's release was delayed in Britain due to controversy over what was considered an overly-sympathetic depiction of Von Braun. Thompson argued the film "doesn't whitewash Van Braun" saying "we set out to present an honest study of a man's mind and life and that's what we have done. He's neither a hero nor a villain, neither all black or all white. He's simply a man of our times. To me the real villains are power politicians." Thompson said von Braun "wasn't entirely pleased" about the movie and did not know why the scientist let them make the movie. Thompson said he and von Braun "disliked each other on sight. And though I came to admire certain qualities in him - his dedication, for example - I can't help wondering what some of these scientists have in place of a heart."<ref name="barry"/>
==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of American films of 1960]]
* [[List of American films of 1960]]

Revision as of 10:10, 22 August 2020

I Aim at the Stars
US Style B poster
Directed byJ. Lee Thompson
Written byJay Dratler (screenplay)
George Froeschel (story)
H. W. John (story)
Udo Wolter (story)
Produced byCharles H. Schneer
StarringCurt Jürgens
Victoria Shaw
Herbert Lom
Gia Scala
CinematographyWilkie Cooper
Edited byFrederick Wilson
Music byLaurie Johnson
Production
companies
Morningside Productions
Fama-Film
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
19 August 1960
Running time
107 minutes
CountriesUnited States
West Germany
LanguageEnglish
Budget£500,000[1]

I Aim at the Stars is a 1960 biographical film which tells the story of the life of Wernher von Braun. The film covers his life from his early days in Germany, through Peenemünde, until his work with the U.S. Army, NASA, and the American space program.[2][3]

The film stars Curt Jürgens, Victoria Shaw, Herbert Lom, Gia Scala, and James Daly.[4]

The movie was written by Jay Dratler based on a story by George Froeschel, H. W. John, and Udo Wolter.[5] It was directed by J. Lee Thompson.[6]

It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich, with sets designed by the art director Hans Berthel.

The film was premiered in Munich on 19 August 1960; it subsequently opened in New York City and Los Angeles on 19 October and London on 24 November.[7] In Germany the film was titled Ich greife nach den Sternen ("I Reach for the Stars"). In Italy the film was released as Alla Conquista dell' Infinito.

Satirist Mort Sahl and others are often credited with suggesting the subtitle "(But Sometimes I Hit London)",[8] but in fact the line appears in the film itself, spoken by actor James Daly, who plays the cynical American press officer.

Dell published a comic book adaptation of the film with art by Jack Sparling as Four Color #1148 (Oct. 1960).[9]

Cast

Production

The film's release was delayed in Britain due to controversy over what was considered an overly-sympathetic depiction of Von Braun. Thompson argued the film "doesn't whitewash Van Braun" saying "we set out to present an honest study of a man's mind and life and that's what we have done. He's neither a hero nor a villain, neither all black or all white. He's simply a man of our times. To me the real villains are power politicians." Thompson said von Braun "wasn't entirely pleased" about the movie and did not know why the scientist let them make the movie. Thompson said he and von Braun "disliked each other on sight. And though I came to admire certain qualities in him - his dedication, for example - I can't help wondering what some of these scientists have in place of a heart."[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Because You are Still Being Beastly to the Germans . . . Author: Barry Norman Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1960 Publication: Daily Mail p 8
  2. ^ "Cinema: The New Pictures, Oct. 17, 1960". Time. October 17, 1960. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  3. ^ Crowther, Bosley (October 20, 1960). "Screen: About von Braun; 'I Aim at the Stars' Opens at the Forum". The New York Times. p. 42. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  4. ^ "Horatio Alger of the Iconoclasts--'I Aim at the Stars' Fails to Orbit". The Christian Science Monitor. October 20, 1960. p. 7.
  5. ^ "Film on Von Braun's Life Has Premiere". Los Angeles Times. October 3, 1960. p. C8.
  6. ^ "I Aim at the Stars (1960)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  7. ^ Kinematograph Weekly vol 521 no 2767, 13 October 1960
  8. ^ Morrow, Lance (August 3, 1998). "The Moon and the Clones". Time. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  9. ^ Four Color #1148 (Oct. 1960)


Stub icon

This article about a biographical film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This 1960s drama film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Aim_at_the_Stars&oldid=974325833"