the right stuff be terrific represent exciting and complex and funny and cram with memorable scene and unforgettable line and and wonderful actor ( many of whom go on to become big star ) . a classic shot show a test pilot on horseback come over a ridge stop to look at a new rocket plane and steady his nervous horse a it edge past the flame come out the back . the test pilot be the twentieth century cowboy represent tough and laconic and independent and fearless . the right stuff tell two parallel story represent the ( often fatal ) exploit of the early test pilot and mercury astronaut and with intersecting storyline . the movie never take itself too seriously . witness general crawling on the floor to plug in the projector and the sound of the locust when the press surround the astronaut ( yeager call them locust initially ) and the halleluiah chorus during the press conference and the enema scene and sheppard needing to take a leak in the suit and johnson try to deal with a housewife . yet underneath all the fun that be poke at the astronaut we see respect for real men do a scary and important job . this film have all the excitement of top gun and but be longer and well and just as high tech exciting and and much funny . ( a washroom scene rival meg ryan famous restaurant scene . the audience laugh so hard we all miss cooper next line . ) . and some wonderful line represent cooper response to who the best pilot you ever saw . and o. k. you can be gus and the military owes me and readem and weep and hey ridley and you get any beemans . and i go to church too . and everything be a ok and our german be good than their german and what be you two pudknockers go to have . and and and say with regret and frustration test pilot . to those who have see it and here a challenge that will enable you to appreciate the excellent writing and the workmanship and planning that go into the script . view the movie again and see how many time the screenwriter and director take the trouble to set up a late event or comment with an early reference . here be three example represent cooper drop a tiny toy space capsule into grissum drink ( foreshadow ) and copper read life magazine before the publisher enter the movie ( to make sure we viewer know that life magazine exit ) and yeager bump his elbow on a limb of a cactus tree a he walk into pancho at the beginning of the movie ( i never notice this the first few time i watch the movie and but surely this tiny action be deliberate . ) i count a dozen more example . send me one you find . if you haven not see the right stuff and i strongly recommend you rent the dvd . r .