Hidden figures movie vs the true story of katherine johnson, nasa. The movie, and the book it is based on, are destined to change our national narrative about the space. Hidden figures cannot be historically accurate posted by piggilicious on 11217 at 7. The visual blog information is beautiful deduced that, while taking creative licence into account, the film was 74% accurate. Hidden figures is an inspiring, feelgood movie about prejudice in america during humanitys most pioneering period.
Surely there were three qualified male, white actors who could have played neil armstrong, buzz aldren and michael colins. Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson janelle monae brilliant africanamerican women working at nasa who served as the brains behind the launch into orbit of astronaut john glenn, a stunning achievement that turned around the. It is loosely based on the nonfiction book of the same name by margot lee shetterly about black female mathematicians who worked at the national aeronautics and space administration nasa during the space race. John glenn wasnt that young when he went into space. As the united states raced against russia to put a man in space, nasa found untapped talent in a group of africanamerican female mathematicians that served as the brains behind. The film, hidden figures, is a fictionalized portrayal of the nonfiction book, also called hidden figures, by margot lee shetterly.
In the movie, the first orbital flight glenn doesnt happen until after the rice speech. The film opens with a brief backstory of the three women,dorothy vaughan octavia. The movie, and the book it is based on, are destined to change our national narrative. Hidden figures explores nasa and civil rights history. Dec 27, 2016 hidden figures depicts the same nasa history as shown in the right stuff, but with a different focus. In the film, he thwarts every effort katherine taraji p. Jan 09, 2017 hidden figures is not that kind of film. Hidden figures is a 2016 american biographical drama film directed by theodore melfi and written by melfi and allison schroeder. It is the story of the african american mathematicians who made it possible for america to win the space race by sending the first astronaut to orbit earth.
Hidden figures effectively portrays brilliant women making. However, most of the events in the movie are historically accurate. Henson, octavia spencer, janelle monae, kevin costner. In factchecking the hidden figures movie, we learned that white collar statistician paul stafford, portrayed by jim parsons, is a fictional character. Feb 03, 2017 the true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the numbers for nasa while telling the story of three unknown space heroes, hidden figures also reveals a greater truth about nasa. Hidden figures is engaging, entertaining and enlightening but the screenplays fast and loose approach to historical fact risks blunting some of the movies eyeopening, emotional force.
The story of a team of female africanamerican mathematicians who served a vital role in nasa during the early years of the u. Jan 05, 2017 hidden figures takes place largely within the halls of nasa and in the homes of the three computers, but the film contains hints about the larger historical backdrop of 1960s america. Hidden figures the book gives some of that history, but i would also recommend reading reconstruction by eric foner and the warmth of other suns by isabel wilkerson to expand the view back to end of the civil war. Such factual inaccuracies do more harm than good by.
Historically inaccurate hidden figures 2016 discussion. How hidden figures gets history right movie history. Something about the words based on a true story flashing across the screen has the ability to capture a viewers attention unlike anything else. Hidden figures takes liberties with real life facts the. Nov 17, 2016 hidden figures tells the story about the black female mathematicians, engineers and programmers who helped get americans into space. Film stays upbeat in relaying tale of 3 black women who turned heads at a segregated nasa in 1961. Historical inaccuracies in hidden figures the no format blog. Hidden figures tells the story about the black female mathematicians, engineers and programmers who helped get americans into space. Read about some of these hidden heroes of stem below, or download the t brand studio ar app to activate text, photos and video content about them. The producers of hidden figures will be hoping its not second time unlucky. Hidden figures, a movie about three africanamerican women pioneers at nasa, was slated for worldwide release friday. Neufeld admits that the movie deviates from history often, but the movie was good, wellacted, inspirational, and important. Jan 24, 2017 africanamerican women working behind the scenes as human computers were vital to the space race.
However, it climaxes with john glenn orbiting the earth. Use the app to scan the marker at the right to reveal a hidden figure in augmented reality. Overall, hidden figures is an enjoyable but limited film, despite excellent performances from its female leads. Few people read nonfiction books, so seeing hidden figures is the minimum. Hidden figures might open your eyes to hidden biases. Curator michael neufeld examines the movie through the lens of a space historian. Hidden figures 2017 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The true story of hidden figures, the forgotten women who helped win the space race a new book and movie document the accomplishments of nasas black human computers whose work was. In hidden figures, three africanamerican women play crucial rolls in the 60s space race while.
The true story of hidden figures history smithsonian magazine. Sep 14, 2017 critics of the film complain that in hidden figures, its silly to show katherine johnson racing the clock to complete some calculations so that john glenns historic flight can take place. The three stars are all fantastic, with henson clearly enjoying playing genius, widowed mother katherine. Africanamerican women working behind the scenes as human computers were vital to the space race. During the time the movie was based on, jim johnson is katherine johnsons love interest.
All mistakes 1 character mistake 9 continuity mistakes 14 factual errors 1 other mistake 1 revealing mistake 1 visible crewequipment mistake order by. Hidden figures honors 3 black women who helped nasa. The cast was really good, and even though i recognized a lot of the bigger names, they took a back seat to the persona of the. But hidden figures remains a crowdpleaser because the main characters, while faced with insidious daytoday discrimination segregated bathrooms, offices, libraries, schools, dont endure the kind of horrific violence depicted in selma. No comments on historical inaccuracies in hidden figures. The biggest mistakes you never noticed in hidden figures 2016. Hidden figures is engaging, entertaining and enlightening but the screenplays. During the time the movie was based on, jim johnson is. When john glenn is attempting re entry, dorothy vaughn is driving out to the beachcountry and she stops the car near a barn where there is a dark and creamy two tone car parked. The flight of friendship 7 has gained new resonance thanks to the movie hidden figures. Aug 11, 2018 hidden figures is an inspiring, feelgood movie about prejudice in america during humanitys most pioneering period. The story of the women who calculated flight trajectories that helped john.
Feb 21, 2019 former wwe star paige real name sarayajade bevis has an incredible life story that is told in fighting with my family, opening wide feb. I believe strongly in gender and racial equality, but this movie is politically correct to a fault. At its head is a trio of good performances from taraji p. In fact he was in his forties but the movie portrays him as being in his twenties. You can also use the app to find hidden figures at 150 geofenced locations throughout the united states. Feb, 2017 overall, hidden figures is an enjoyable but limited film, despite excellent performances from its female leads. Hidden figures put the spotlight on black women in the sciences and engineering. Hidden figures, the inspiring new film about the africanamerican women who made it possible for nasa to send a man to space, is getting. Former wwe star paige real name sarayajade bevis has an incredible life story that is told in fighting with my family, opening wide feb. I missed the boat when hidden figures was first in theatres, and finally caught up with it when i picked up the bluray in july. Their movie about how three black female nasa scientists helped send john glenn into space premiered a couple of days. Has hollywoods need for the feelgood factor done margot shetterleys book and the history of nasas black women mathematicians a. Hidden figures cannot be historically accurate page 2.
Hidden figures 2016 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. Hidden figures tells the untold stories of nasa time. The movie hidden figures tells the remarkable story of three gifted africanamerican women mathematicians who made significant contributions to the american space program during a time when segregation and racial discrimination against blacks and women was an ongoing problem in america. The scene cuts straight back to the city to see the other girls watching re entry and the exact same two tone car is parked on the side of the road. I might have felt more secure in that decision, and certainly would have had better ideas on how to handle some of the thorny racial situations into which i found myself. Mary jackson was one of the human computers portrayed in the film hidden figures. Before filming the movie hidden figures, which will be widely released jan. In writing that, i realize that technically hidden figures and argo create some falsehoods but the difference is that they do so to raise tension for a story, but are still telling the underlying truth. Hidden figures might open your eyes to hidden biases the. Real life john glenn in his spacesuit movie john glenn 2. The untold story of the three africanamerican, female.
This set of 20 questions will help your students take notes on the significant historical, scientific, and mathematical events in the movie hidden figures. The movie timeline extends over decades, from when the featured mathematicians were little girls. Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson. News reports about attacks on civil rights activists and demonstrations against segregation often play in the background. Its a story of struggle and willpower, but not of individual glory. The true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the. As seen in the movie hidden figures, nasa has a longstanding cultural commitment to excellence that is largely driven by data, including data about our people. The story of nasas real hidden figures scientific american. There is a scene in the new feature film hidden figures where octavia spencer. He was created to represent certain racist and sexist attitudes that existed during the 1950s. What are the historical inaccuracies in the movie hidden figures. The true story of hidden figures history smithsonian. What are the historical inaccuracies in the movie hidden. Hidden figures explores nasa and civil rights history space.
The true story of hidden figures and the women who crunched the numbers for nasa while telling the story of three unknown space heroes, hidden figures also reveals a greater truth about nasa. It tries to be a feelgood movie about a historical period in which black people. Hidden figures movie watching guide and assessment tpt. Today, nasa strives to make sure their legacy of inclusion and excellence lives on. Jim james johnson, a captain and lieutenant in the united states army. Hidden figures is the incredible untold story of katherine g. Surely there were three qualified male, white actors who could have played neil armstrong, buzz aldren and michael. By the time of the rice speech, two orbital flights had already taken place.
Henson, dorothy vaughan octavia spencer and mary jackson janelle monaebrilliant africanamerican women. The real story of hidden figures and nasas women computers. Its the kind of squeakyclean movie you can expect to be shown in american classrooms during history lessons on the civil rights movement. Kevin costner as al harrison in hidden figures movie. Melfi backed out of talks to direct a spiderman movie, and. Dec 20, 2016 watching hidden figures i thought about how i would have felt had i seen this movie 30 years ago, when i made the decision to study math and computer science. Watching hidden figures i thought about how i would have felt had i seen this movie 30 years ago, when i made the decision to study math and computer science. Hidden figures takes place largely within the halls of nasa and in the homes of the three computers, but the film contains hints about the larger historical backdrop of 1960s america. Feb 10, 2017 hidden figures the book gives some of that history, but i would also recommend reading reconstruction by eric foner and the warmth of other suns by isabel wilkerson to expand the view back to end of the civil war. Combine the punning title with a based on true events opening title cards, and you could pretty much make up the rest in your head.
In hidden figures, three africanamerican women play crucial rolls in. History is full of noteworthy people and events that are just ripe for the screenwriter s picking and often result in. Hidden figures movie vs the true story of katherine. There are easily 20 more questions that can be asked, i just happened to focus on these. Sep 08, 2016 the true story of hidden figures, the forgotten women who helped win the space race a new book and movie document the accomplishments of nasas black human computers whose work was. Hidden figures depicts the same nasa history as shown in the right stuff, but with a different focus. The first human beings on the moon were three caucasian men, not three africanamerican women. Hidden figures cannot be historically accurate posted by sirwinston on 11217 at 6.
466 502 595 913 1490 1021 1085 494 1154 381 16 425 760 35 237 980 1665 1559 1225 1320 195 857 405 1437 958 869 1431 425 233 293 1602 1328 961 488 610 1025 232 620 828 1421 938