MOVIE REVIEW

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

Mid La Union Campus
College of Technology
Electro-Mechanical Technology Department

A
Review of
the
Movie

HIDDEN FIGURES

Presented to

BLENDIE V. QUIBAN, JR.

Instructor

Presented by
 8 ANGELO S. CASEM, BSEMT 3E

October 25, 2023

MOVIE REVIEW

SUMMARY

Hidden Figures tells the story of Black women who work at Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in
Hampton, Virginia, starting in the early 1940s. These women play an integral role in the development
of American aviation and space technology. They persevere in the face of discrimination against both
their race and their gender. The first women are hired to work in an allBlack unit as human
“computers,” performing calculations under the direction of engineers. Over the years, as Langley
desegregates, the women join engineering teams and serve alongside white men. In the 1960s, they
work on the Mercury and Apollo space programs, helping to put a man into orbit and then to put men
on the Moon.
The book focuses on three women. Dorothy Vaughan is hired at Langley in 1943, for the all-Black West
Area Computing unit. She is a determined person and a gifted organizer. She becomes a shift
supervisor and eventually the head of the unit. Part of her job is to know which of her women is best
suited to work on which assignments. Eventually, the West Area unit is disbanded, like the allwhite
East Area unit before it. This happens partly because the women computers are increasingly being
integrated into the various engineering teams, and partly because electronic computers are taking
over the job of human ones.
Mary Jackson works under Dorothy starting in 1951. She has a strong personality and is willing to
speak her mind when she thinks the occasion calls for it. She enjoys hands-on work and is quick to
accept an offer to be part of a team that does wind tunnel research. Eventually, following her
supervisor’s advice, she earns an engineering degree. For this, she requires special permission from
the City of Hampton, to attend classes held on the campus of an all-white high school.
Katherine Johnson joins the West Area unit in 1953. She is personally less bothered by the laws and
social rules of the time than the other women are. Katherine is being light-skinned, which has a
practical advantage in the racist society. But she also has the unusual ability to mentally block out the
reality of racism and treat the white male engineers as equals. The engineers quickly recognize her
unusual talent and ask her to join the Flight Research team. She becomes a trusted data analyst and
researcher. Before he flies into space, John Glenn specifically asks for her to review the output of the
electronic computers, to confirm that the machines have done their job correctly.
As American society makes progress toward racial equality, Mary and Katherine both try to be
encouraging to Black schoolchildren who show an interest in a science career, and to Black men and
women newly hired at Langley. One of these is Christine Mann. She became friends with Katherine’s
daughter when the two of them attended Hampton Institute, an all-Black college near Langley. By
1969, the year of the Moon landing, America is still far from overcoming the problem of racial
prejudice and inequality. However, a younger generation of people like Christine is moving up the
ranks in NASA, following in the footsteps of pioneers like Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and
Katherine Johnson.

MOVIE REVIEW

GIVE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE MOVIE.

1. Name 5 main character from the movie and give their special role and contribution to
the movie. Follow the format below:

Character’s Name Role Contribution to the movie

Give at least 5 contributions
a) KATHERINE GOBLE A mathematician and one of the The movie served as an
JOHNSON protagonists. She uses her skills inspiration to countless
and incredible intelligence to rise individuals, especially young girls
within the ranks of Langley, and people of color, encouraging
where she quickly joins the Flight them to pursue careers in STEM
Research team. She double (Science, Technology,
checks the numbers of the Engineering, and Mathematics).
electronic computer for John Katherine Johnson's character in
Glenn's NASA mission. the film represented resilience,
intelligence, and determination,
serving as a role model for many.

b) DOROTHY VAUGHAN Those who speak of NASA's Dorothy Vaughan's character in

pioneers rarely mention the the film provided a historically
name Dorothy Vaughan, but as accurate representation of her
the head of the National Advisory role at NASA and her
Committee for Aeronautics' contributions to the space race.
(NACA's) segregated West Area Her character highlighted the
Computing Unit from 1949 until significant work she did as a
1958, Vaughan was both a mathematician and supervisor of
respected mathematician and the West Area Computers, a
NASA's first African-American group of African American
manager. women mathematicians.
c) MARY JACKSON She helps her son become the An inspirational figure for
first Black child to win the audiences, particularly for young
Pinewood Derby, she helps girls and women interested in
integrate the local Girl Scout pursuing careers in engineering
troop as a troop leader and she and science. Her journey from a
works with colleagues to help segregated workplace to
Black and white girls know that becoming a respected engineer
they can succeed in the was portrayed as an inspiring
workforce by focusing on science example of what can be achieved
and math. through dedication and courage.
 d) VIVIAN MITCHELL She helps her son become the Vivian Mitchell's character
first Black child to win the represents the institutional bias
Pinewood Derby, she helps and discrimination that many
integrate the local Girl Scout African American women faced at
troop as a troop leader and she NASA and during the 1960s in
works with colleagues to help general. Her character embodies
Black and white girls know that the prevailing attitudes of the
they can succeed in the time and the structural barriers
workforce by focusing on science that the main characters Vaughan
and math. overcome.
e) PAUL STAFFORD Stafford initially expresses He man in charge demands that
skepticism and resistance to the Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) get
work of Katherine Johnson, them up there because they can't
Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary justify the cost of a space
Jackson, but as the story program that doesn't put anyone
progresses, he comes to respect in space. A man in the crowd,
their abilities and contributions Paul Stafford (Jim Parsons), makes
to the space program. Paul a snooty comment and is asked
Stafford's character represents what his position is. He explains
the challenges and changing he is the head engineer.
attitudes the main characters
face as they work to break down
racial and gender barriers in the
organization.

2. How these things used in the movie?

Important Thing How it is being used to the movie?

Give at least 3 scenes from the movie.
a) Colored The Restroom Scene: In one early scene, Katherine
Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, has to run
across the NASA campus to use the "colored"
restroom. This scene highlights the stark racial
segregation in facilities at the time.
The Coffee Pot Scene: In another memorable
scene, Katherine Johnson questions the fact that
there is no "colored" coffee pot in her workplace.
She challenges this segregation by pointing out that
there's no scientific basis for separating the coffee
pots.
The Langley Cafeteria Scene: There's a scene where
Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monáe, must fight
a legal battle to gain admission to an all-white
school to become an engineer. This highlights the
segregation in education.

b) FORTRAN The Restroom Scene: In one early scene, Katherine

Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, has to run
across the NASA campus to use the "colored"
restroom. This scene highlights the stark racial
segregation in facilities at the time.
The Coffee Pot Scene: In another memorable
scene, Katherine Johnson questions the fact that
there is no "colored" coffee pot in her workplace.
She challenges this segregation by pointing out that
there's no scientific basis for separating the coffee
pots.
The Langley Cafeteria Scene: There's a scene where
Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monáe, must fight
a legal battle to gain admission to an all-white
school to become an engineer. This highlights the
segregation in education.
c) IBM 7090 DPS The IBM Installation Scene: There is a scene in the
movie where an IBM computer, although not
explicitly identified as the IBM 7090, is installed at
NASA. This computer is depicted as a large, room-
filling machine that is intended to perform complex
calculations for the space program.
Programming on the IBM Computer: The film
shows the main characters, including Katherine
Johnson, using early computers to perform
calculations for various space missions. While the
specific model of the computer is not mentioned,
the use of computers in these scenes signifies the
shift from manual calculations to electronic
computing.

d) Friendship 7 The IBM Installation Scene: There is a scene in the

movie where an IBM computer, although not
explicitly identified as the IBM 7090, is installed at
NASA. This computer is depicted as a large, room-
filling machine that is intended to perform complex
calculations for the space program.
Programming on the IBM Computer: The film
shows the main characters, including Katherine
Johnson, using early computers to perform
calculations for various space missions. While the
specific model of the computer is not mentioned,
the use of computers in these scenes signifies the
shift from manual calculations to electronic
computing.

Katherine Johnson's Work: Throughout the movie,

Katherine Johnson uses computers to calculate and
verify trajectories for spaceflights, including John
Glenn's mission. These scenes emphasize her vital
role in performing the complex calculations
necessary for the success of the missions.
e) Bahamas Katherine Johnson works at the Langley Research
Center in Hampton, Virginia, in 1961, alongside her
colleagues Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan, as
lowly "computers", performing math calculations
without being told what they are for. All of them
are African-American women; the unit is
segregated by race and sex
f) Heat Shield When she petitions a judge, cleverly flattering him
that his judgment will be an important step in the
Civil Rights Movement, which convinces him to let
her take night courses. One night when she even
convinces her workaholic pals to let loose, drink,
and dance.
g) Computer IBM 7090 Computer:
In one of the early scenes, we see the introduction
of an IBM 7090 computer at NASA's Langley
Research Center. This mainframe computer
represents a significant technological
advancement. The film illustrates the transition
from human "computers" (people who performed
complex mathematical calculations) to machine
computing, highlighting the importance of this
technology in the space race.
Calculations for John Glenn's Orbit:
One of the pivotal moments in the movie involves
the calculations necessary for John Glenn's historic
orbital flight. The IBM 7090 computer is used to
verify and cross-check the complex trajectory
calculations required to ensure Glenn's safe return
to Earth. The tension and urgency in the scene
emphasize the critical role of the computer in this
historic mission.
Programming the IBM 7090:
There's a scene in the film where Dorothy Vaughan
(played by Octavia Spencer) and her colleagues
learn to program the IBM 7090. This reflects the
changing landscape of technology and the need for
individuals like Vaughan to adapt and learn new
computer programming skills to keep up with
advancements in the field.
h) Negro Woman Engineer Dorothy Vaughan's Promotion:
Early in the film, there's a scene where Dorothy
Vaughan (played by Octavia Spencer) is promoted
to be the supervisor of the West Area Computing
Unit at NASA's Langley Research Center. This
promotion signifies her role as a leader and a
"Negro woman engineer" who oversees a group of
mathematicians and computers.
Katherine Johnson's Critical Calculations:
Throughout the movie, Katherine Johnson (played
by Taraji P. Henson) is shown performing complex
mathematical calculations essential for John
Glenn's orbital mission. One key scene is when she
recalculates the trajectory for Glenn's reentry,
making sure he returns safely to Earth. Her
expertise is integral to the success of the mission.
Mary Jackson's Engineering Aspirations:
Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monáe) aspires to
become an engineer. In a scene where she
discusses her ambitions with a judge, she fights for
the right to attend an all-white school to take
engineering courses, breaking down racial barriers
and highlighting her determination to become a
"Negro woman engineer.
i) Atlas Katherine Johnson's Calculations for Atlas Launch:
There's a scene where Katherine Johnson (played
by Taraji P. Henson) is asked to double-check and
confirm the calculations for the launch and
trajectory of the Atlas rocket, which was used to
send the first American into orbit. Her precise
calculations are vital for the success of the mission.
Mary Jackson's Experiences in the Wind Tunnel
Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monáe) works to
become an engineer. In one scene, she's shown in a
wind tunnel at NASA, where she experiences the
powerful forces that the Atlas rocket generates
during its launch. This moment highlights the
physical and engineering challenges faced.
j) Capsule Early Capsule Simulation:
In one of the early scenes, there's a demonstration
of the capsule simulator, where astronaut John
Glenn (played by Glen Powell) is practicing for his
mission. The women mathematicians, including
Katherine Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson), are
present to witness the simulation and provide
support. This scene introduces the concept of
capsules and their significance in space missions.
Katherine's Calculations for Reentry:
One of the pivotal moments in the film involves
Katherine Johnson's calculations for the reentry
trajectory of John Glenn's Friendship 7 capsule. The
capsule is orbiting Earth, and Katherine's precise
calculations are crucial to ensure Glenn's safe
return. This scene underscores the importance of
accurate math and engineering in space travel.
John Glenn's Capsule Landing:
The film features the dramatic moment when John
Glenn's Friendship 7 capsule returns to Earth. The
scene shows the tense moments leading up to the
capsule's landing and the relief and celebration
upon its successful touchdown. This sequence is a
culmination of the entire movie's narrative and
highlights the significance of capsules in the early
space program.