During the Cold War in the 1960s the U.S.A.F. and NASA tested the experimental rocket-powered aircraft X-15 that set altitude and speed records and reached the edge of outer space.
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Photos and Videos
Cast
| David McLean | ... |
Matt Powell
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| Charles Bronson | ... |
Lt. Col. Lee Brandon
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| Ralph Taeger | ... |
Maj. Ernest Wilde
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| Brad Dexter | ... |
Maj. Anthony Rinaldi
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| Kenneth Tobey | ... |
Col. Craig Brewster
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| James Gregory | ... |
Tom Deparma
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| Mary Tyler Moore | ... |
Pamela Stewart
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| Patricia Owens | ... |
Margaret Brandon
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| Lisabeth Hush | ... |
Diane Wilde
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| Stanley Livingston | ... |
Mike Brandon
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| Lauren Gilbert | ... |
Col. Jessup
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Phil Dean | ... |
Maj. McCully
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Chuck Stanford | ... |
Lt. Cmdr. Joe Lacrosse
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Patty McDonald | ... |
Susan Brandon
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| James Stewart | ... |
Narrator (voice)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Ric Applewhite | ... |
Engineer (uncredited)
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Robert Dornan | ... |
Test Engineer (uncredited)
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Ed Fleming | ... |
Self (newscaster) (uncredited)
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Lee Giroux | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Darlene Hendricks | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Grant Holcomb | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Lew Irwin | ... |
Self (uncredited)
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Barbara Kelley | ... |
Secretary (uncredited)
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Jerry Lawrence | ... |
Operator (uncredited)
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Mike MacKane | ... |
B-52 Pilot (uncredited)
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Richard Norris | ... |
Operator (uncredited)
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| Pat Renella | ... |
Engineer (uncredited)
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Glenn Stensel | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Frank Watkins | ... |
Security Policeman (uncredited)
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| Dick Wilson | ... |
Flight Engineer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Donner | ... | (as Richard D. Donner) |
Written by
| James Warner Bellah | ... | (screenplay) |
| Tony Lazzarino | ... | (screenplay) |
| Tony Lazzarino | ... | (story) |
Produced by
| Howard W. Koch | ... | executive producer |
| Tony Lazzarino | ... | producer |
| Henry W. Sanicola | ... | producer (as Henry Sanicola) |
| Frank Sinatra | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Nathan Scott | ||
Cinematography by
| Carl E. Guthrie | ... | director of photography (as Carl Guthrie) |
Editing by
| Stanley Rabjohn | ... | (as Stanley E. Rabjohn) |
Art Direction by
| Rolland M. Brooks | ||
Makeup Department
| Bernard Ponedel | ... | makeup artist |
| Mary Westmoreland | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| John Pommer | ... | production manager (as John E. Pommer) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Russ Haverick | ... | assistant director (as Russell Haverick) |
| Jay Sandrich | ... | assistant director |
| Terry Morse Jr. | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Arden Cripe | ... | property master |
| Harold Michelson | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Victor B. Appel | ... | sound mixer (as Victor Appel) |
| Kurt Hernfeld | ... | sound editor (as Kurt Herrnfeld) |
| Don Jones | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Gerald T. Boylan | ... | special photography: USAF (as Tech.Sgt. Gerald T. Boylan) |
| Jack Freeman | ... | special aerial photography |
| Robert L. Loahff | ... | special photography: USAF (as Staff Sgt. Robert L. Loahff) |
| A. Paul Pollard | ... | special effects |
| Raymond P. Santini | ... | special photography: USAF (as Airman 1st Class Raymond P. Santini) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| E. Truman Joiner | ... | key grip |
| George Satterfield | ... | chief set electrician |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Wesley Jeffries | ... | costumer (as Wes Jeffries) |
Music Department
| Peter Zinner | ... | music editor |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Albert Sendrey | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| John Franco | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Jay Hanks | ... | technical advisor (as Capt. Jay Hanks U.S.A.F.) |
| Milton Thompson | ... | technical advisor (as Milton Thompson NASA) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1961) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1962) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1962) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1964) (United States) (tv) (pan/scan)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print - CinemaScope, Technicolor)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (World-wide)
Special Effects
- Howard Anderson Digital Effects (photographic effects)
Other Companies
- Botany 500 (men's suits, sportcoats & slacks)
- Daroff (men's suits, sportcoats & slacks)
- Glen Glenn Sound Company (sound by)
- Men and Women of the X-15 Project (grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of)
- NASA (grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of)
- North American Aviation (grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of)
- United States Air Force (grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
At the height of the Cold War during the 1960s the U.S. Air Force and NASA tested an experimental rocket-powered research aircraft code-named X-15.The X-15 experiments were conducted at Edwards Air Force Base.The X-15 aircraft set altitude and speed records by reaching the edge of outer space.The project is managed by U.S. Air Force Colonel Craig Brewster and scientist Tom Deparma. The main test pilots are Matt Powell, Colonel Lee Brandon and Major Ernest Wilde.During the test flights the X-15 aircraft is dropped from a B-52 Stratofortress mother ship before starting its engine.The whole test team is enthusiastic about the project but the project is plagued by setbacks and near disasters right from the start. Written by nufs68 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Rocket Ship That Challenged Outer Space! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $422,500 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The high altitude high speed experimental rocket-powered research aircraft X-15 was built by North American Aviation and Reaction Motors in 1955-56 and it was operated by the U.S. Air Force and NASA as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft. The X-15 achieved altitude and speed records and still holds the official world record for the highest speed reached by a manned aircraft. Its first flight was on 8th of June 1959. Its maximum speed was 4,520 miles per hour (7,274 km/h), its maximum altitude was 67.0 miles (107.8 km), and it had a range of 280 miles (450 km). Three X-15s were built and flew a total of 199 test flights. Twelve test pilots flew the X-15. See more » |
| Goofs | At the beginning of the movie in a close-up side shot of the X-15 hanging under the B-52's wing, you can see that the cockpit cover on the X-15 is not fully seated in the closed position even though they are in a countdown to in-flight launch. A launch in that condition would have ripped the cockpit cover off of the aircraft and killed the pilot. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2012). See more » |
| Quotes |
Lt. Col. Lee Brandon:
When you're a man, you be a man. See more » |