- 03
- May
One scene in the film October Sky that is not included in the novel Rocket Boys (later published as October Sky) is the scene in which the “œrocket boys” intentionally burn the blockhouse and destroy their rocket launch site. This scene is not included in the novel and serves to change the focus of the piece. Where the novel is focused on the rocket boys and their attempt to break free of society and get out of Coalwood, West Virginia, the movie is primarily focused on the conflict between Homer Hickam, Jr., the leader of the rocket boys, and his father, who works at the coal mine in a management position and expects his son to follow in his footsteps.
In the film, the rocket boys decide to destroy their launch site when Homer”™s father tells him to stop building rockets. This helps to set up the main conflict in the movie, which is between Homer and his father. His father fully expects his son to become a coal miner in the mines of Coalwood, a small town built, owned, and maintained by the Olga Coal Company. However, Homer and his mother, have other plans. They see that the town will eventually be destroyed when there is no longer any coal to mines. The entire town is based on the mines, and if there is no coal left in the mines, the town dies. For this reason, Homer is insistent on leaving the town to pursue his dreams of working at Cape Canaveral. His father does not approve of his son”™s rocket building, most notably when Homer borrows company materials and labor through Mr. Bykovski, his friend who works at the company machine shop.
Although the same conflict arises between Homer and his father when he borrows materials from the machine shop in the novel, the overall conflict in the novel is between the rocket boys and society. When the group of boys decides to shoot for the moon, almost literally, by building their rockets, they are made outcasts in their society. It is the belief of most Coalwood residents that the sons of coal miners will always be coal miners, since that has been their way of life for years and years. At one point, Homer”™s brother and his football player friends, begin to tear down the blockhouse and launch pad out of jealousy. Later, the company bulldozes the site, claiming that launching rockets on company land, which encompasses all of Coalwood, is against company policy. In the novel the boys never destroy their own launch pad because of Homer”™s father”™s request. However, society destroys the site for them, but they persevere and rebuild their beloved “œCape Coalwood.” Also, when the rocket boys decide to build their rockets, they know little about the science of what they are dealing with, and thus the people of the town consider them lost teens who do not yet know that they will work in the mines for the rest of their lives. The only people that believe in them are Homer”™s mom, who offers the advice “œJust don”™t blow yourself up,” along with other words of encouragement, and Ms. Riley, their science teacher, who contributes a book on the science of rockets, including material on how to build an appropriate nozzle for the most thrust.
The end result of both the novel and film is the same. All of the rocket boys go to college, something uncommon of boys from Coalwood, and Homer very nearly misses being able to work with his idol, Werhner Von Braun, at Cape Canaveral, as he retires just a few years before Homer arrives. However, the way each piece approaches the end result is different. The novel, written by Homer Hickam, Jr. himself, is of course more accurate to the true story, as the rocket boys are able to overcome their upbringing as sons of coal miners to become college graduates, and, in the process, winning over Homer”™s father, who decides to look the other way whenever the boys need materials from the machine shop. In this way, there is a sense of resolution and understanding between Homer and his father. However, in the film, Homer”™s father is never truly understanding of his son until he witnesses the launch of the boys”™ last rocket, which flies to an astounding 31,000 feet, and even then it seems as though he only feels a hint of understanding.
June 4th, 2006 at 12:48 am
While it is true that the novel is very different from the motion picture, the motion picture does not disappoint, at least not for most. October Sky is an uplifting and inspiring movie, and while it does focus mainly on the father-son relationship it doesn’t forget the pressure society puts on the boys, and also the the inspiration they give the boys. Don’t forget that Homer Hickham himself was on the set while the film was being made, and he allowed the filmmakers to make the changes from the novel.
June 28th, 2006 at 9:37 am
The term “novel” is defined as “a fictitious prose narrative of book length”. “Rocket Boys” and the subsequent republishing under the title “October Sky” is NOT a novel, but a memoir (it even says memoir on the front cover…)
You are right the the movie emphasizes the father vs son conflict, but I wouldn’t say the book is rocket boys vs society, where society is coalwood. While they deal with jealousy and old school thinking in the town, the book constantly mentions how critical the town was to the rocket boys success. Hundreds of miners would watch the rockets being launched, an entire machine shop helped build the rockets, and when the Union eventually went on strike, it was Homer’s request for help from the Science Fair that brought the strike to an end. Elise and Miss Riely were not the only individuals to push the rocket boys. The principle of the school encouraged them, and modified the curriculum so they could get the needed math lessons. Junior engineer Jake provided much support, as did the store owner, the reverend, the local doctors, well, almost everyone in the town.
To say “The novel is of course more accurate to the true story” is a contradiction. The book (remember, memoir - not novel) actually IS the true story. The movie is based on the book, or as popularly phrased “based on a true story”.
February 17th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I have just seen it today…
I think the plot is not outstanding…. But the end is very very touching……
February 19th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
meh
February 25th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Rocket Boys / October Sky is a story of the classic struggle to improve oneself, change one’s surroundings or future, and pursue one’s dreams. That some West Virginia “hillbilly” boys — akin to another story, “Coalminer’s Daughter”, where the heroin became a famous singer — had dreams of their own and pressed on with them, despite obstacles and roadblocks in their way, is the gist of the story. Yes, it is set in the backdrop of Sputnik and the space race, and even the science fair… but that is NOT the important points… only ones to make the story more interesting. As a 53 year old who has just pursued his own dreams in the last, say, 8 years, I found the movie / book to be inspiring and motivating even for an “old” guy like me.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
i have just read it today. its not that great but it is cool. i enjoyed reading it.
June 5th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Why was the movie titled October Sky?
June 8th, 2007 at 1:13 am
October Sky is an anagram of the original book the movie is based on “Rocket Boys”. I liked the movie, it was inspiring.
June 10th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
It was titled “October Sky” because research showed that women who are 30 years old or older wouldn’t want to watch the “Rocket Boys” movie. These women didn’t seem interest in science, so the director named it “October Sky”, which sounded more interesting and somewhat romantic (although it’s not really romantic)
i love this movie
June 13th, 2007 at 7:04 am
whether there’s a difference or not between the novel and the movie, i’l still love it!! what really gave this story to me is inspiration. i always like to do something to make me feel great but i know i lack something. watching this movie gave me a stepping stone for me to have that something that lacks me…i love it!! anyways, what was Elsie’s painting for? and could you show me the mathematical equation solved by homer?
September 6th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
i just saw the film yesterday and i thought it was outstanding…
it’s a really inspiring movie just like the novel
September 10th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
this was a non- detailed summary!!!!!!!!!!
November 18th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
it’s not a novel - it’s a memoir.
the movie was not as good as the book but still very good.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:57 am
can i ask something??
what are the minerals/elements that the rocket boys use to build rockets??
tell me plsssss….
January 9th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I Think, Ä°t’s Very Nice…
January 29th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
The book is different then the movie?
January 29th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
what do you think about Dorothy Plunk?
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
whats some quicks between the diffs from the book and movie
September 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
You Thanks
September 30th, 2008 at 3:36 am
I guess the movie is all time great. The filming, the acting, the costumes and the hair styles, every thing about the movie is great. And the plot is great too. Above all the acting by all the actors is great too. I guess very few films shall be made in the future which would be as good as the October Sky.