X-15 (1961)

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Saw this at time of its release and sat through it again for nostalgia only. "Beautiful aircraft" is the only positive thing I can write about it. At 1 hr 45 mins it's far too long. Better to watch a documentary. Often this comes across as a doco anyhow. Listen to the James Stewart narration, the press conferences, the control room dialogue. Even when one of the wives is told of her husband's death, it is explained in technical terms! As well as the ludicrous lines about I'd give you a hug (to comfort her) except that it's too soon - or something as cold. Those wives are the closest thing to Stepford wives you'll see. If this served as some sort of NASA propaganda at the time then it fails. Choicest role goes not to any of the adults but to the young son played by Stanley Livingstone, later one of My Three Sons on TV. At least he gets to show some genuine emotion. Trivia: lead actor David McLean is the famous Marlboro Man who later died of lung cancer (according to Wikipedia).

Unfortunately, what could have been a good movie is turned into a major disappointment by a decision to take all the aerial photography done in 4:3 format and stretch it to fit the 2.35:1 format used for the rest of the movie. This makes the aircraft look strange and unreal. It ruins the experience.This should have been a "must see" movie for aviation buffs since it shows an important period in the development of aviation. But stretching the film to fit a widescreen format makes the scenes of the X-15, the B-52 mother-ship and the F-104 and F-100 chase planes look distorted and unrealistic. It is a real waste and a shame that the film producers were more concerned with using a widescreen than with a usable presentation.

Substantial good footage of actual X-15 flights, better than in some of the documentaries I've seen. The strongest points of this film are the flight footage and its technical accuracy.This film was produced with meticulous script review of technical details by NASA Dryden and by the Air Force. Even in shots showing actors faking flight actions in the cockpit what they show is accurate in the sense that it's the truth even if it's not the whole truth. The best way to appreciate much of this is to first study the X-15 flight manual. In any case the attention to technical accuracy is remarkable by the standards of sci fi & aviation/space movies made around 1961. It appeared that nearly the entire film was shot on location at NASA Dryden and Edwards AFB. All flight footage is real except for a couple short hokey segments showing a model for flight outside the atmosphere and during reentry.The rest (script, production, directing, & such) is fairly lame and underwhelming. If only Tom Hanks had an urge to redo this film the result probably would be a great one, but it wasn't Tom Hanks who did this edition.Bottom line: X-plane enthusiasts will love the real & authentic action, but most others will conclude that it's appropriate for this flick to only show up infrequently on obscure cable & satellite channels.

One day someone will write a book comparing films of this sort to the artistic accomplishments of 1920s and 1930s Soviet socialist realism. There is minimal character development as the film focuses almost entirely on the technological triumphs of space age America. The fetishistic treatment of the space programme and all its minutiae is dull in the extreme, and the only relief is a stolid performance by the always reliable James Gregory.