Apollo 4: First of the Big Shots (1967)

Duration: 30:11:00

Year Published: 1967

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: Produced by North American Aviation, this industrial film covers the preparations for and launch of Apollo 4 on November 9, 1967. The mission was a very big deal for the Apollo program. As the maiden, unmanned voyage of the massive Saturn V launch vehicle, much was riding on the untarnished success of this flight. Narrated by Marvin Miller, the first part of the film details the construction and design of the Saturn V stages and Apollo spacecraft. After providing copious amounts of data on thrust and payloads, the film explains the mission objectives and timeline from liftoff to splashdown. Part two of the film briefly recaps the mission’s success with footage of the launch and Project Apollo workers assembled to watch it on televisions located at the factory. “Yes,” Miller tells us, “these people have done their work well.”