Search - The Right Stuff on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1983 DVD Release: 06/25/1997 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 13 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Drama, Docudrama See Also: The Right Stuff, The Right Stuff

Covering some 15 years, The Right Stuff recounts the formation of America's space program, concentrating on the original Mercury astronauts. Scott Glenn plays Alan Shepard, the first American in space; Fred Ward is Gus Grissom, the benighted astronaut for whom nothing works out as planned; and Ed Harris is John Glenn, the straight-arrow "boy scout" of the bunch who was the first American to orbit the earth. The remaining four Mercury boys are Deke Slayton (Scott Paulin), Scott Carpenter (Charles Frank), Wally Schirra (Lance Henriksen) and Gordon Cooper (Dennis Quaid). Wolfe's original book related in straightforward fashion the dangers and frustrations facing the astronauts (including Glenn's oft-repeated complaint that it's hard to be confident when you know that the missile you're sitting on has been built by the lowest bidder), the various personal crises involving their families (Glenn's wife Annie, a stutterer, dreads being interviewed on television, while Grissom's wife Betty, angered that her husband is not regarded as a hero because his mission was a failure, bitterly declares "I want my parade!"), and the schism between the squeaky-clean public image of the Mercury pilots and their sometimes raunchy earthbound shenanigans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sam Shepard - Chuck Yeager
Scott Glenn - Alan Shepard
Ed Harris - John Glenn
Dennis Quaid - Gordon Cooper
Fred Ward - Gus Grissom

The Right Stuff, Philip Kaufman's adaptation of Tom Wolfe's ode to the U.S. space race, is a beautiful collection of sights and sounds on DVD. The print used for the digital transfer is a bit dirty at times, with specs and black lines making appearances, but the 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is an entirely winning affair. Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel's elegant earth tones and stylish period photography shine. The movie also sounds incredible, with dynamic remastered Dolby Digital Sound that allows Bill Conti's evocative score to soar. Whether Ed Harris' John Glenn is struggling not to use profanity, or a government official is claiming "our Germans are better than their Germans," the dialogue comes across swimmingly. The humor and emotional undertones of the film have never seemed as personally affecting as they do on this DVD. As for supplemental features, things are a little bleak. Outside of the letterboxed theatrical trailer and the "Jump to a Scene" feature, the "Gallery" is where the supplements reside. The "Gallery" is a difficult-to-navigate hodgepodge of text and endless screens of information containing profiles of the cast and the actual Mercury astronauts, as well as pilot lingo, space terms, important space flight dates and events, behind-the-scenes facts, and awards. The information presented is worthwhile, but the interface is boring and static. Outside of the supplemental material, the DVD excels, providing a worthy home-theater experience of The Right Stuff. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide