"October Sky" Recalls the Rise of American Rocket Science

The 1999 movie "October Sky" tells the story of a group of American boys who develop an interest in rockets in the late 1950s after hearing of the launch of Russia's Sputnik.

One of those boys, Homer Hickam, eventually parlayed his fascination with rockets into a career at NASA. "October Sky" is based on Hickam's memoir of the times, titled "Rocket Boy."

The Web site Great But Forgotten has a nice write-up on "October Sky," which didn't make a huge splash when it came out, but is now admired for its nostalgic look at the late 1950s and for its performances by actors who are better known from other movies, including Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen (from the "American Pie" movies), and especially a young Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays the young Homer Hickam.

On April 27th American Dad will air an episode called "Red October Sky," which involves a KGB agent but otherwise may or may not share any common elements with "October Sky."