October Sky (1999)
Coming Out at 19 February 1999 in theaters.
Biography, Drama, Family
October Sky is biographical drama film directed by Joe Johnston and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Chris Owen, and Laura Dern. It is based on the true story of Homer H. Hickam, Jr., a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes and eventually became a NASA engineer.

October Sky is based on the lives of four young men who grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia. Most of the film was shot in rural East Tennessee, including Oliver Springs, Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane counties. The movie received a positive critical reception and is still celebrated in the regions of its setting and filming.

October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys, the title of the 1998 memoir upon which the film is based. It is also used in a period radio broadcast describing Sputnik 1 as it crossed the “October Sky”. Homer Hickam said that “Universal Studios marketing people got involved and they just had to change the title because, according to their research, women over thirty would never see a movie titled Rocket Boys.”[4] The book was later re-released with the name in order to capitalize on interest in the film.
Director: Joe Johnston
Writers: Homer H. Hickam Jr. (book), Lewis Colick (screenplay)
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, Natalie Canerday
Cast:
Jake Gyllenhaal | … | Homer Hickam |
Chris Cooper | … | John Hickam |
Laura Dern | … | Miss Riley |
Chris Owen | … | Quentin |
William Lee Scott | … | Roy Lee |
Chad Lindberg | … | O’Dell |
Natalie Canerday | … | Elsie Hickam |
Scott Thomas | … | Jim Hickam |
Randy Stripling | … | Leon Bolden |
Chris Ellis | … | Principal Turner |
Elya Baskin | … | Ike Bykovsky |
Courtney Cole-Fendley | … | Dorothy Platt |
David Dwyer | … | Jake Mosby |
Terry Loughlin | … | Mr. Dantzler |
Kaili Hollister | … | Valentine Carmina |
David Copeland | … | Coach Gainer |
Don Henderson Baker | … | Jensen |
Tom Kagy | … | Lenny |
Donald Thorne | … | Trooper One |
Justin Whitsett | … | Kid |
Larry Rue | … | Neighbor |
Neva Howell | … | Neighbor |
Terry Nienhuis | … | Neighbor |
Brady Coleman | … | Anderson |
Rick Forrester | … | Roper |
Terrence Gibney | … | Basil Thorpe |
Douglas Swander | … | Corvette Guy |
Keeli Hale Kimbro | … | Corvette Girl |
Mark Jeffrey Miller | … | Vernon |
Blaque Fowler | … | Reverend |
Don Tilley | … | Rescue Worker |
Rockford Davis | … | Chemistry Teacher |
John Bennes | … | Doctor |
Jonathan Fawbush | … | Barney |
Larry Black | … | Fred Smith |
Frank Schuler | … | Moonshiner |
Tommy Smeltzer | … | Man at Mine |
Charles Lawlor | … | Miner |
Tom Turbiville | … | Miner |
Ida Ginn | … | Quentin’s Mom |
Richard Lumpkin | … | Judge at Welch |
Mark W. Johnson | … | Union Official |
Don Taylor | … | Union Official |
Don G. Campbell | … | Mr. Morris |
Liz Byler | … | Ivy League Girl |
Bradford Ryan Lund | … | Ivy League Boy |
Frank Hoyt Taylor | … | Judge at Indy |
Dave Hager | … | Head Judge |
Ray Elder | … | Tom Webster |
Andy Stahl | … | Jack Palmer |
Joe Digaetano | … | Wernher von Braun |
Tom Taylor | … | Miner in Elevator |
David Ducey | … | Man in Crowd |
Jenny Patterson | … | Nurse |
O. Winston Link | … | Locomotive Engineer |
Wren Barnes | … | Science Fair Student |
Ryder Davis | … | Man in Crowd |
Brian Edward Keith | … | Coal Miner |
Shawn Lindsay | … | Miner |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia
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