Challenger (1990)
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Made for television, The Challenger is at once a tribute and a eulogy to the seven courageous souls who perished when the Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff on January 28, 1986. Though all of the crew members are given three-dimensional, balanced treatment, the one we all remember is schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. As played by Karen Allen, McAuliffe is neither superwoman nor saint: just an average human being with an insatiable thirst to learn more about the universe around her. The other members of the ill-fated crew are Cmdr. Francis R. Scobee (Barry Bostwick), Captain Michael J. Smith (Brian Kerwin), Dr. Judith A. Resnik (Julie Fulton), Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka (Keone Young), Dr. Ronald E. McNair (Joe Morton) and Gregory B. Jarvis (Richard Jenkins). Wisely, the film concentrates on the crew's training, ending before the tragic real-life denoument. Filmed on location at the Johnson Space Center, the 3-hour The Challenger was originally telecast February 25, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Karen Allen - Christa McAuliffe
- Julie Fulton - Dr. Judith A. Resnik
- Brian Kerwin - Capt. Michael J. Smith
- Angela Bassett - Cheryl McNair
- James Black - Robert Mayfield
- Keone Young - Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka
- Lane Smith - Larry Mulloy
- Lance Kerwin
- Barry Bostwick - Comm. Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
- Richard Jenkins - Gregory B. Jarvis
- Joe Morton - Doctor Ronald McNair
- Raye Birk - Joseph Kilminster
- Kale Browne - Steven McAuliffe
- Peter Boyle - Roger Boisjoly
- Elizabeth Kemp - Jane Smith
- Jeanne Mori - Lorna Onizuka
- Director(s):
- Glenn Jordan
- Writer(s):
- George Englund
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