Customer Reviews

Apollo 1

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As usual, Spacecraft Films has done an outstanding job producing this thorough (and sometimes poignant) look back at Apollo 1 and her crew. The single DVD includes about 4.5 hours of material:

- The Apollo 1 crew. 3 short tributes to Grissom, White and Chaffee.

- The First Apollo. Footage from: North American Aviation (includes audio from crew's first press conference); Marshall Space Flight Center (continued audio from press conference); Altitude Chamber testing (includes crew suit-up video w/producer's audio commentary and simulation audio); Simulator testing (crew debriefing audio); Press Day (at Pad 34, 2 days before the fire w/producer's audio commentary); Emergency Egress walk-through (audio comments by Von Braun and Grissom).

- The Accident. Audio (with subtitles) of the final 29 minutes, up to and including the fire. The disc includes both uncut and edited versions. No video exists of the accident. Additional audio commentary by the producer follows.

- Review Board. Footage from: Post-Fire Inspection (Press pool footage w/producer's audio commentary); Command Module Removal (audio commentary by Stephen Clemmons, North American Pad Crew Member); Service Module Removal (audio by Joseph Shea, Apollo Spacecraft Program Manager); Command Module Disassembly (audio from Apollo Review Board testimony by Jim Gleaves, and from Borman's team's inspection); Block I Configuration (continued audio from Borman's team); Investigation (continued audio from Borman's team).

- Memorial. Footage from: Andrews Air Force Base (Grissom and Chaffee arrive prior to burial at Arlington, audio from Voice Of America feed); Gus Grissom funeral at Arlington (partial audio); Roger Chaffee funeral at Arlington (partial audio); Edward White funeral at West Point (partial audio).

- Bonus Material. Grissom gets his Astronaut Wings (after his Mercury flight, newsreel footage w/partial audio); White speaks at Brooks AFB following his Gemini 4 mission.

- Photographs. Viewable with or without captions. Includes over 350 photos on the mission and over 100 photos from the Review Board investigation.

Christopher Kraft (the original NASA Flight Director and architect of Mission Control) says that if it hadn't been for the fire and the problems fixed because of it, America never would have made it to the moon. That is the under-appreciated legacy of Apollo 1, whose story is so well captured in this fine DVD.

This single disc DVD provides a comprehensive chronology on the subject of the Apollo 1 (unflown) mission that ended in a horrific fatal fire inside the spacecraft with the crew trapped inside on the evening of January 27, 1967. Much of it I had not previously seen (i.e., crew training, altitude chamber tests, Ed White's speech at Brooks AFB just after his Gemini 4 mission, etc). For the first time, the audio transmissions of the last minutes of the countdown rehersal that ended with the deaths of Grissom, White, and Chaffee are available to be heard by the general public, (though the viewer is given a choice of bypassing the crew's frantic calls for help). This was completely unexpected. Though difficult to listen to, it does illustrate better than anything just how fast the fire - fed by pure oxygen at about 17psi and flammable materials - raced through the cockpit and why the crew never had a chance to remove the complicated hatch and exit to safety. Furthermore, the DVD provides a look at the careers of each of the valiant crew members (i.e., Grissom receiving his astronaut wings, etc). This DVD by Spacecraft Films is not only informative but also serves as a tribute to Grissom, White, and Chaffee. It is a "must have" for anyone who is interested in the history of manned spaceflight.

This is really good footage and more than anyone could dream of, concerning the history of Apollo 1. It's a great achievement of Spacecraft Films to put this material together without touching the realms of pompous trash.

If you want to know anything (or everything) about Apollo 1 in footage or in sound recording, this is the one DVD you should get. I recommend this product wholeheartedly.

That's all I would like to say.

When you view this DVD about the fire that killed three Apollo astronauts in January 1967, you are transported back to 1967 with the remarkable film footage that documents the Apollo 1 mission and the fire investigation. The old cars and the primitive telephone equipment quickly demonstrate that you're not in the 21st century anymore, Toto. The most poignant portion of the DVD is the complete audio recording of the test at pad 34 during the final half-hour before the fire. The cries of the trapped astronauts are very graphic, and there is an edited version of the tape that omits the final seconds of the test. A comprehensive file of still pictures of the preparations for Apollo 1 and the aftermath are also included (although this reviewer had a very difficult time opening

the photos for viewing). The DVD is an incredible account of the Apollo 1 accident, and serves as a very fitting memorial to the crew of Apollo 1.

Very highly recommended.

Excellent documentary on what would have been America's first manned Apollo spaceflight. Very well done DVD with beautiful artwork on cover of case. Extremely satisfied with item;everything it was expected to be.

Another brilliant DVD from the team at Spacecraft Films. Lots of footage regarding the crew of AS-204 / Apollo 1, the review of the fire, and the audio from the incident itself (both as edited and unedited). Particularly good for showing footage of the AS204 Review Board investigation, displaying how the spacecraft was disassembled. Highly recommended for any student of Apollo history.

This is NOT a documentary into the Apollo 1 disaster.
Rather this is a tribute (largely in still photos) with a musical background for this occurrence.
The DVD is ok if you are a collector of space or aeronautical historical events.
If you are looking for the usual documentary into the tragedy, complete with footage and narration - stay away from this video.
I watched it once (which took 2 separate sittings), and now it is in the library until someone else wants to view it.

Apollo 1-I found on viewing this Spacecraft Films product that it was a very thorough documentary, however, I couldn't enjoy it and was able to watch it just one time. There were reasons for Gus to be in a bad mood and difficult to work with leading up to the pad fire and it required the death of his crew to make the point to NASA.

I nevertheless keep this important box set to answer questions that come up from friends from time to time on the failed mission. I just don't see how anyone can watch this box set numerous times in its entirety. It is just too depressing.

I never understood the character of Gus portraid in the "Right Stuff" and believe the film did not give proper credit to this great American. Surely it must be understood that he would not have been selected for one of the first Mercury, Gemini and the very first manned Apollo mission if NASA had any doubts about Gus blowing the hatch at the wrong time during the second Mercury mission.

Gus Grissom was a no nonsense test pilot and engineer. He was once asked what the most difficult part of the space program was? His response was "probably this interview".

Gus was also quoted commenting on risk:"If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life."

After the pad fire of Apollo 1, NASA fixed all the problems with the spacecraft and the design of the future Orion is being based on that of Apollo.