Rocket Men

Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, would later observe that the expedition marked the first time in history that explorers went to a new land without weapons of any sort. Though the culmination of rocket scientist Robert Goddard's dream would begin and end in peace, many of the major advances along the way ironically occurred during WWII and the Cold War. Ed Harris, who played astronaut John Glenn in Philip Kaufman's 1983 film The Right Stuff, narrates this outstanding tribute to Goddard (who invented the first liquid-propelled rocket and the age of space exploration. Originally shown on The Disney Channel, the program weaves archival footage of Goddard, Von Braun, and the Mercury and Apollo astronauts together with film clips from Flash Gordon and popular songs such as "Zoom a Little Zoom" and "Moon Mad" to trace the history of humankind's quest to reach the moon. Excellent production values, fine scripting, and an absorbing story make Rocket Men an enjoyable journey for space buffs and general audiences alike. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)