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the lunar missions of the 1960s and 1970s. Using archive footage and recorded conversations from the NASA archives, Palmer chronicles all aspects of space missions, including preparation, takeoff, spacewalks and finally Apollo 11's arrival on the moon. At a Gala Screening in the Egyptian Cinema in Hollywood in 2008, the film was introduced by Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk upon the moon. He said: It gives me enormous pleasure, and a thrill, to be able to introduce Tony Palmer's remarkable film about our space adventures. I say remarkable because at the time it was made, 1978/9, very little of the footage you are about to see had ever been seen in public, images which are now so familiar as to be truly iconic. But it was Tony who used them first, and we are very pleased that he did, even if he did construct the longest take-off in history! I still get a chill hearing some of the talk-back which, like the footage, NASA had provided for Tony to use. When the rocket takes off, boy is that a roller-coaster ride, bumpy as hell. So when you hear my voice saying little bit of shaking there, you'll know what I mean! So thank you Tony for what you did. The distinguished film critic Alexander Walker said after the first screenings: The best British film screened at Cannes (in 1980) was Mike Oldfield and Tony Palmer's The Space Movie, with unique footage from NASA and music by Mike Oldfield. Palmer's film combines both in a wonderful, at times profoundly moving, tribute to the astronauts from Cape Kennedy. The film includes one of the finest space launches ever collated, with footage that is unbelievably spectacular. Full marks to director Tony Palmer. The result is breathtaking, beautiful and brilliant. Initial release: 1980 Director: Tony Palmer Music composed by: Mike Oldfield Screenplay: Tony Palmer Cast: Mike Oldfield, Ed Bishop Producers: Richard Branson, Simon Draper