COUNTDOWN

US, 1967, 101 minutes, Colour.
James Caan, Joanna Moore, Robert Duvall, Barbara Baxley, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Michael Murphy, Ted Knight. Directed by Robert Altman.

Countdown in itself would probably not warrant much attention. It is a competent space exploration film although it has a highly melodramatic pro-American ending. It is also somewhat dated now because it preceded the landings on the moon. However, it does merit attention as the first main feature of director Robert Altman. He also used James Caan, Robert Duval and Michael Murphy who were to appear in his later films. Altman's particular skills are not so evident here. His next film was That Cold Day in the Park, and then he went on to make M*A*S*H and receive all kinds of acclaim and the beginning of a very important career. Countdown is thus a film for film study of a notable director.

1. The impact of the film in 1967-68, now? The mystique of space exploration, technology, the race to the moon, American and Russian rivalry in space exploration? In the late 60s, now?

2. The development of space exploration in the 60s? The details of technology, especially as presented here, the sense of achievement, the purpose for such huge investment of money and skill? Space exploration and human endeavour, human achievement, national rivalry and prestige? How do the 605 seem in retrospect?

3. The film's use of space technology: the details of the sets, the authentic footage of real installations. the presentation of simulation experiments, the dangers and risks, the emphasis on health and fitness, techniques electric faults, rectifying things etc.? How interesting is such background to modern audiences?

4. The human element in space exploration: the opening with Lee and Chiz and their sense of achievement and hope? The dedication of the astronauts to their task, knowledge? Their hopes and achievement,, the selfishness in terms of their own prestige., the challenge?

5. The background of politics to space exploration? The question of the military or civilian astronauts going,, public opinion international rivalry? The effect on the people responsible for space programmes, the risks in untrained men going on space exploration etc.?

6. The characters of Lee and Chiz? The challenge of the pilgrim enterprise Chiz and his hopes. his exclusion, Lee and the dilemma of his choice, his acceptance? The inevitability of their clash, Chiz and his hard demands during the test, his acceptance of Lee's work at the end? How authentic did this clash of personalities seem? How well was it dramatized? The influence of each man's wife?

7. Lee and his hopes, the ordinary U.S. man, hero? Relationship with his wife and son, the importance of the domestic scenes contrasting with the atmosphere of technology? His training, tests, mistakes? His decision to go?

8. The character of Chiz. the hope. the self-centredness, the harshness and disappointment? His ability to come through this?

9. The presentation of the characters in politics, in the space programme,, their toughness. the hard decisions that had to be made. coping with pressures? Gus and his fears about Lee's health? The newspaper interviewers, the T.V. commentators, the communication to journalists during the flight?

10. The background of the women? How conventional the presentation of the wives, their decisions, their help? The importance of the communicating between Lee and his wife on the final night? Their waiting, Mickey thinking that Lee was dying and her wondering what to do? The importance of Chiz's trying to comfort her?

11. The drama of the blast-off, the flight and its success, difficulties, the attention to detail, the communication, the guidance in moving from Cape Kennedy to Houston etc.? The skill in rectifying mistakes? The dependence on communication?

12. The importance of Lee's decision to land on the won? Should he? His amazement? The significance of his discovering the Russians, the importance in the international theme, of his burying them, with the two flags, a moralizing point?

13. How satisfying was the happy ending? Convincing or contrived?

14. The impact in the late 60s of the science-fiction aspects of the film? The impact now and its comparison with science-fact?