X-15 (film)
| X-15 | |
|---|---|
Promotional movie poster for the film; taglines: The authentic ... fantastic story of the world's first rocket ship; Actually filmed in space!
(The rocket ship that challenged outer space!) |
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| Directed by | Richard D. Donner (as credited) |
| Produced by |
Howard W. Koch (executive producer) Henry Sanicola Tony Lazzarino |
| Written by | Tony Lazzarino (story and screenplay) James Warner Bellah (screenplay) |
| Starring |
David McLean Charles Bronson |
| Narrated by | James Stewart (uncredited) |
| Music by | Nathan Scott |
| Cinematography | Carl E. Guthrie Jack Freeman (aerial photography) |
| Edited by | Stanley Rabjohn |
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Production
company |
Essex Productions
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| Distributed by | United Artists/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 min. Color (Technicolor) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
X-15 is a 1961 dramatic aviation film that presents a fictionalized account of the X-15 research rocket plane program, the test pilots who flew the aircraft, and the associated NASA community that supported the program. X-15 starred David McLean, Charles Bronson,Mary Tyler Moore (in her first feature film role),Kenneth Tobey and James Gregory. The film marked the directorial debut of Richard Donner, and was narrated by James Stewart.
The experimental X-15 program at Edwards Air Force Base involves test pilots: civilian Matt Powell (David McLean), Lt. Col. Lee Brandon (Charles Bronson) and Maj. Ernest Wilde (Ralph Taeger). The cutting edge high-speed program is ramrodded by project chief Tom Deparma (James Gregory) and US Air Force Col. Craig Brewster (Kenneth Tobey). As the test pilots prepare for the planned launch of the rocket plane from a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress mother ship, they experience emotional and physical problems, which they share with their wives and sweethearts.
Test after test results in setbacks, including a near disaster when an engine explodes during a ground test and engulfs the X-15 and its pilot in flames, but finally the X-15 begins to set records in speed and altitude for a piloted aircraft. When the X-15 "flames out" on a high altitude run, after guiding the X-15 to a safe landing, saving Powell's life, Lt. Col. Brandon, flying a chase plane, is killed in a crash. Powell himself takes the X-15 into outer space for the final test.
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