Countdown 1967

Thriller

Runtime

101 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Robert Altman

Made by

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

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Countdown Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Countdown (1967). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In the late 1960s, after NASA learns that the Russians intend to launch a Moon mission in just four weeks, the agency activates the secret Pilgrim Project—a bold plan to send one astronaut on a one‑way trip to the Moon in a specially modified Gemini craft, with a shelter pod already launched and waiting to be retrieved later by another crew. Lee, James Caan, is tapped to be the first man to attempt this dangerous mission, a choice that stirs tension and pride among the team. The mission commander, Chiz, Robert Duvall, pushes Lee through a grueling training regime in the final days, partly to prepare him and partly to test whether he will quit in the face of the daunting odds. Lee remains steadfast, driven by the enduring dream of becoming an astronaut, even as Chiz questions whether the young pilot can truly handle the pressure.

A press leak about Pilgrim leaks into the public eye, and the Russians respond by launching a week earlier than scheduled. They reveal a plan to send a civilian, which shocks NASA and the White House, who insist that an American civilian must be the first to set foot on the Moon. Despite the political heat, the operation moves forward. The shelter pod lands as planned, and Lee is launched on schedule. En route, a power drain threatens the mission, and radio contact becomes unreliable, complicating every maneuver. The Russians struggle with their own communications as well. As Lee makes his lunar orbit, he loses sight of the shelter beacon and nearly aborts, but he chooses to lie about seeing it and continues. Mission Control approves a retro burn, and he lands, though contact remains severed.

Emerging from the Gemini lander, Lee finds himself with only an hour of oxygen remaining. He discovers the Soviet lander crashed on its side, with three cosmonauts dead around it. In a quiet, solemn gesture, he removes the Soviet flag from one of the fallen and places it beside his own American flag on a rock, acknowledging the intertwined fates of the two nations. With precious air dwindling and nowhere else to go, he studies the toy mouse his son gave him, its tail spinning toward the right, and heads in that direction. A red glow on his arm catches his attention—the locator beacon atop the shelter—reminding him that survival hinges on reaching the shelter. In the final, stark moment, Lee is last seen walking toward the shelter, the possibility of rescue or return hanging in the balance.

Countdown Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Countdown (1967) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Pilgrim Project Activated

In the late 1960s NASA decides to activate the secret Pilgrim Project after learning the Russians will attempt a Moon landing in four weeks. The plan is to send one astronaut on a one-way mission using a modified Titan II and a shelter pod launched beforehand. The aim is for the shelter to await an Apollo mission for retrieval, ensuring a US presence on the Moon.

Late 1960s, four weeks before launch NASA HQ

Soviet Move: Civilian First on Moon

The Soviet Union announces that a civilian will be carried on their Moon mission, adding political pressure to NASA's plans. NASA and the White House insist that an American civilian must be the first man on the Moon, raising the stakes for Pilgrim. The US decision becomes a point of national pride and international competition.

Shortly after Pilgrim decision Moscow / Washington, D.C.

Lee Tapped as Pilgrim Astronaut

Lee is selected to be Pilgrim's sole astronaut, a choice that shocks and motivates the team. Mission commander Chiz is outraged but agrees to train Lee within the few days available. The group begins a race against the clock to prepare for a one-way mission.

Days after decision NASA training facility

Chiz Pushes Training Hard

Chiz drives Lee through a grueling training regime, partly hoping to weed him out and partly to ensure his own readiness. Lee endures the demanding sessions with stubborn resolve, fueled by the astronaut dream. The pressure tests loyalty, nerve, and skill.

During training window Training facility

Press Leak Breaks Pilgrim News

A press leak reveals the Pilgrim Project to the public, forcing NASA into a scramble to manage information and public reaction. Officials worry about political fallout and the mission's secrecy. The leak raises questions about timing, safety, and national prestige.

Before launch Washington press offices

Soviet Launch Week Early

The Soviets launch their Moon mission a week early in a bid to beat the American program. Both sides experience communication challenges, and the outcome of the race becomes uncertain. The added pressure shifts the tone of the mission from secrecy to strategic urgency.

One week before Pilgrim launch Moon / Moscow communications

Shelter Pod Launch and Landing

The shelter pod for Pilgrim is launched and lands on the Moon before Lee's flight. It forms the secret backstop of NASA's plan, waiting to greet the returning mission and preserve a human presence on the Moon. The pod's successful deployment marks a new phase in the mission.

Shortly before Lee's lunar launch Moon

Lee Launches Toward the Moon

Lee is launched on schedule aboard a modified Gemini. En route, a power drain threatens the mission and radio contact becomes difficult, testing Lee's composure and self-reliance. He must rely on training and instinct as the mission unfolds.

Trans-lunar coast Earth to Moon trajectory

Moon Orbit — Beacon Obscured

As Lee orbits the Moon, the shelter beacon remains unseen. With only seconds to spare before he must abort, he lies about seeing the beacon. Mission Control approves his retro burn, allowing a risky but necessary landing.

Lunar orbital phase Lunar orbit

Lunar Landing and Soviet Casualties

Lee lands the Gemini lander and exits with only an hour of oxygen left. He discovers the crashed Soviet lander and the three dead cosmonauts around it, taking a Soviet flag to lay beside his own American flag. The moment blends victory and tragedy as the first deeply personal choice on the Moon unfolds.

Shortly after landing Moon surface

Red Beacon Draws Lee

With dwindling air, Lee notices a red glow—the beacon atop the shelter. He moves toward the signal despite the danger, hoping it will guide him to safety. The scene emphasizes his resolve and the thin line between survival and failure.

Moments after landing Moon surface

Lee's Final Move Toward Survival

Facing limited oxygen, Lee heads toward the beacon and the shelter, determined to reach refuge. The film leaves his fate uncertain as he disappears toward the shelter in the glow of the beacon. The ending centers on a solitary, hopeful struggle for survival.

Final moments Moon surface

Countdown Characters

Explore all characters from Countdown (1967). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Lee Stegler (James Caan)

A determined astronaut and mission commander in training, Lee embodies the classic astronaut dream. He endures a brutal training regimen and a dangerous, one-way mission, maintaining resolve even as radio contact fails and the clock ticks down.

🚀 Spaceflight 🎯 Determination 🧭 Duty

Chiz (Robert Duvall)

A seasoned mission commander and Lee's hard-driving trainer, Chiz pushes him to the edge. He wants to see Lee succeed or quit, reflecting the intense mentorship and competitive pressure of a high-stakes space program.

🛰️ Mentor 🎯 Pressure 🧭 Duty

Countdown Settings

Learn where and when Countdown (1967) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Late 1960s

Set during the height of the Space Race, governments push for a first American Moon landing. The countdown to a four-week window creates tense urgency, secrecy surrounding the Pilgrim Project, and a race against Soviet ambitions. The era’s technological optimism is shadowed by political rivalry.

Location

NASA facilities (Earth), Moon surface

The action centers on NASA launch facilities and mission control on Earth and the Moon's barren surface. The lunar setting features a covert shelter pod, a Gemini lander, and a crashed Soviet craft. The Moon's isolation and stark terrain drive the tension as Lee fights to survive with dwindling air and dwindling time.

🚀 Space operations 🛰️ Lunar environment

Countdown Themes

Discover the main themes in Countdown (1967). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🛰️

Courage under pressure

Lee Stegler faces extreme testing—limited oxygen, communications failure, and a one-way mission. The character must stay focused, make hard choices, and endure isolation while a global audience watches. The story uses personal grit to explore what it takes to volunteer for a dangerous, unknown future.

🌕

Lunar isolation

Alone on the Moon, Lee confronts physical danger and psychological strain. With radio contact severed and time running out, he must trust his training and instincts. The desolate lunar landscape amplifies the loneliness and pressure of survival.

🇺🇸

National pride

The mission unfolds within a tense Cold War context where NASA and the White House insist an American civilian take the first Moon step. The plot intertwines personal ambition with national prestige, highlighting how geopolitical rivalry shapes human risk.

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Countdown Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Countdown (1967). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the fevered atmosphere of the late‑1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union are locked in a desperate duel to claim the Moon. A covert NASA program, spurred by rumors of an imminent Russian launch, is forged in secrecy: a daring one‑way mission that will send a single astronaut to a pre‑positioned lunar shelter while the rest of the world watches the geopolitical stakes rise. The film captures the tension of an era where every technical breakthrough feels like a chess move, and the pressure to out‑pace a rival nation turns a scientific endeavor into a high‑stakes gamble.

Lee is the chosen pilot, a seasoned but solitary figure whose lifelong dream of spaceflight drives him to volunteer for the perilous venture. Under the watchful eye of mission commander Chiz, whose rigorous training methods test both physical endurance and mental resilience, Lee confronts a relentless regimen designed to expose any crack in his resolve. Their relationship crackles with a mixture of respect, doubt, and quiet rivalry, setting the emotional core of a story that balances personal ambition against institutional demands.

The tone is stark and unflinching, emphasizing the austere beauty of the lunar environment and the claustrophobic confinement of the spacecraft. As the crew prepares for launch, the atmosphere is charged with a blend of patriotic fervor, bureaucratic urgency, and an undercurrent of isolation that hints at the psychological weight of being the sole human on an alien world. The ever‑present hum of machinery, the muted communications, and the silent vacuum beyond the ship’s hull all reinforce a feeling of being on the edge of history with no safety net.

Against this backdrop of Cold War rivalry and scientific aspiration, the narrative invites viewers to wonder how far one man will go when the line between heroism and sacrifice blurs. The story teases the unknown challenges that await on the lunar surface, leaving the audience poised on the cusp of a solitary adventure that could redefine humanity’s place among the stars.

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