Is October Sky a true story?
What was the movie October Sky about? 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.
What is the plot of October Sky?
Sputnik was a tiny but audacious defiance of the universe. "October Sky'' tells the story of four boys in a poverty-stricken corner of Appalachia who are determined to build their own rocket, and help get America back in the "space race.''
Is October Sky Real?
October Sky, a film that came out this year and is now in the video stores, changes the subject in two ways. First, it tells the story about the kids, and second, it tells a real-life story of how kids learn best, through real-life projects inspired by what author and subject Homer Hickam Jr. calls "passion, planning, and perseverance".
Is October Sky on HBO?
Where can you watch October Sky online? October Sky is currently available to stream with a subscription on HBO Max for $9.99 / month. You can buy or rent October Sky for as low as $3.99 to rent or $9 to buy on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and AMC on Demand.
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Storyline
In a 1950's mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coal mine like his father. However in October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. With that event, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets.
Did you know
The author wished the movie to be called "Rocket Boys," like the book it's based on, but the studio believed that title would not sell well. The compromise title "October Sky" works on two levels: it's the month when the hero is first inspired by Sputnik flying overhead, and it is an anagram of "Rocket Boys".
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What was the official certification given to October Sky (1999) in Spain?
Who plays John Hickam in the movie?
John Hickam (Chris Cooper ) is a West Virginia coal miner who loves his job and expects his sons, Jim (Scott Miles) and Homer (Jake Gyllenhaal), to follow in his footsteps. But Jim gets a football scholarship, and Homer becomes interested in rocket science after seeing Sputnik 1 crossing the sky. John disapproves of his son's new mania, but Homer begins building rockets with the help of friends and a sympathetic teacher (Laura Dern). Rocketry, he hopes, will prove his ticket to a better life.
Is October Sky a coming of age story?
Rich in sweet sincerity, intelligence, and good old-fashioned inspirational drama, October Sky is a coming-of-age story with a heart to match its Hollywood craftsmanship. Read critic reviews
What is the movie October Sky about?
All of the boys go to college, something unusual in coal country at the time. Homer becomes an engineer with NASA. October Sky is a charming tale and the boys’ success is inspiring. The movie is taken from an autobiographical novel by Homer H. Hickam originally entitled Rocket Boys.
Where does October Sky take place?
October Sky shows one boy’s reaction to this event. The story told by this movie is pretty much true. The movie takes place in a coal town in West Virginia. Coal towns existed for the sole purpose of mining coal.
How to make your child know if a movie is true?
Make sure your child understands that in almost every respect this is a true story. Review the points made in Before Watching the Movie. When the movie is over, review with your child what is true and what isn’t true. See After Watching the Movie. When your child is ready to read the book, get it for him or her from the library. It’s better than the movie.
Who nurtured Homer in Rocket Boys?
Almost everyone in this movie, and certainly all the major characters nurture others. Make sure that the class sees the nurturing qualities in the father and in the members of the community in general. The father nurtured Homer when he went into the mine. In fact, as shown by the book, the community was always supportive of the Rocket Boys.
Who led the space race?
For years, the Soviets led the space race, hoisting larger payloads into space than the U.S., including the first animal in space and the first man in space. All of this occurred during one of the most distrustful and competitive periods of the Cold War. The launch of Sputnik shook the United States to its roots.
Did the US pull out of the space race?
The U.S. eventually pulled equal to the Russians in the space race and was victorious in the Cold War. Russia abandoned Communism in 1991 and has adopted a capitalist model. It is no longer a superpower that competes with the U.S. Space exploration is now a cooperative international effort. The Russians are making money by charging very rich people (often Americans) millions of dollars for a trip into space in a Russian space capsule.
Who said that one should never be deterred by failure?
Daniel S. Goldin, former administrator of NASA, said that one should never be deterred by failure but that if you learned from your failures they would be the building blocks for later success. Commencement address to the 2001 graduating class of the Engineering School, University of California, Berkeley.
