Ron Howard's new film "Shadows on the Moon" is almost, a kind of, semi indirect rip off of my titled article "Shadows in the moonlight!" Though mine covers the 185th Aero in 1918 he will be covering the Apollo missions I tell you these Hollywood types. . . (Said with tongue firmly in cheeek.)

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, whose Apollo 13 remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded dramatizations of man's exploration of space, is partnering with THINKFilm to present the award-winning film, In the Shadow of the Moon, the definitive feature documentary about the Apollo space program and the first-ever landing on the moon. Howard's name, and the "Ron Howard Presents" credit will appear on all prints and in all paid advertising for the film, and Howard will participate in promotion of both the theatrical release and the DVD. THINKFilm will open In the Shadow of the Moon in exclusive engagements in New York and Los Angeles on September 7, 2007, with an aggressive national expansion planned throughout the month.

A rousing celebration of human endeavor, In the Shadow of the Moon begins in the early 1960's, with President Kennedy's stated ambition to put an American on the moon before the end of the decade, and culminates in Apollo 11's successful lunar landing and the extraordinary global impact that event had. Ten of the surviving astronauts who journeyed to the moon tell their stories in their own words, accompanied by spectacular NASA footage, much of it never seen before in a feature film, and all of it re-mastered for maximum visual and aural effect.

About the film, Howard says, "In the Shadow of the Moon is a spectacular film that should be seen by the widest audience possible. It is especially timely now, when we are all reminded how fragile our Earth is and how much there is for us to explore in the universe. I am thrilled to be able to support it in this way and to remind Americans in these dark times about what a truly incredible accomplishment going to the moon was."

the Shadow of the Moon, a THINKFilm release in association with Discovery Films, features interviews with astronauts Jim Lovell (Apollo 8 and 13), Dave Scott (Apollo 9 and 15), John Young (Apollo 10 and 16), Gene Cernan (Apollo 10 and 17), Mike Collins (Apollo 11), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Alan Bean (Apollo 12), Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16) and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). The film is directed by David Sington, produced by Duncan Copp, co-produced by Chris Riley, executive produced by Simon Andreae, John Battsek and Julie Goldman, with original music by Philip Sheppard, cinematography by Clive North, and editing by David Fairhead. Following its theatrical engagement, In the Shadow of the Moon will have its television premiere on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD Theater.

Anytime someone from Hollywwod uses the word"rousing" I am reminded of the camp announcer in the movie M*A*S*H. where he is announcing the film for tonight. And "all the Willy's that came marching home."

Hmmm!

Reminds me of the Killer Whale film "Free Willy".

Created loads of mirth amongst us Brits.

Are we going to bring up "Willie Wonka"?

Maybe as a documentary, but for my money they will have to go a long way to beat From the Earth to the Moon.

Uh, you just did?

I will be watching for it. It would be interesting to see him do a WWI Aviation movie with the same commitment of the moon documentary. Maybe you should drop him an e-mail Stephen.