MovieChat Forums > Apollo 13 (1995) Discussion > The measles

The measles

posted a year ago by blindfolded (1564)
3 replies | jump to latest

Love this movie, but I don't get why they portray the medical personnel as the red-tape wet blankets.

I certainly understand why Mattingly would be disappointed or even angry. But this is all seems to be important or even dangerous to take any chances with. The medical people are also just doing their jobs and looking out for the guys while they have their medical mutiny. And also, with the Mattingly glare at the medical guy during the "Are the flowers blooming" line along with the guy hanging his head in shame as if to say "I was wrong to hold you back. I'm an idiot." Just seems like the exact wrong people to direct your anger at.

[–] ak47wong (485) 7 months ago

It was just a way to manufacture more drama in the screenplay, like how they concocted the tension between Swigert and Haise in the Lunar Module or the unhelpful attitude of the Grumman engineers. Similar to how Sully portrayed the NTSB as hostile to give a movie an antagonist, which wasn't the case in reality.

[–] N2Far (43) 2 months ago

Lol Sully was ruined by the completely over-the-top portrayal of the NTSB at the hearings. They practically had the guy foaming at the mouth when he interrogated him.

[–] Ranb (8016) 2 months ago

In his book Lost Moon, Lovell describes how he went to bat for Mattingly and got shot down by the flight surgeon. Lovell claimed to be not concerned at all if Mattingly developed rubella during the flight.

I think the snark that Mattingly gave to the doctor was artistic license added to the flim