With an impressive career spanning over 40 years, Hanks has amassed over 100 film credits as an actor in addition to his work as a director, producer, and writer.

Appearing on the ReelBlend Podcast to promote his Forrest Gump reunion movie Here, which sees him reteam with Robin Wright and Robert Zemeckis, Hanks reflected on one of the strongest emotional reactions of his entire career. Explaining that while he was present for the soundtrack recording of 1995’s Apollo 13, the orchestral score composed by James Horner for the "Re-entry into Earth" sequence caused him to burst into tears. itting that he could only listen to it once, he described the moment as so immensely “powerful and heavy” due to the live orchestra playing with the movie’s scene playing up on the screen. Check out his comments below:

I was on the recording stage for Apollo 13, for James Horner’s recording of the "Re-entry into Earth" sequence. And I could only listen to it once. Because you hear the live orchestra, and then you see it playing up on the (screen). I could only hear it once because I burst into tears. It was so powerful and so heavy. Later on, you see how also his theme for the launch was so filled with majesty and hope and gravitas.

What Tom Hanks’ Reaction Says About His Distinguished Career

Apollo 13 Remains One Of Tom Hanks' Best Movies

No stranger to working on critically acclaimed fare, 1995’s Apollo 13 stands as another career high point in Hanks’ impressive filmography. Serving as one of the highest-grossing movies of 1995, in a year which also saw Hanks dominate the box office as the voice of Woody in the original Toy Story, the dramatization of the real-life, trouble-plagued Apollo 13 mission remains one of the best-known space movies to ever be produced.

Not only would Apollo 13 introduce a whole new generation to the extraordinary events that unfolded in 1970, but it would also be responsible for coining one of the best-known movie quotes of all time. While much of the movie’s dialogue was lifted verbatim from the original NASA mission recordings and transcripts, Hanks’ famous line as Commander Jim Lovell was changed slightly from the words uttered by the real-life astronaut. While audiences worldwide will frequently recount the words “Houston, we have a problem,” the movie is responsible for modifying Lovell’s original utterance, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”

Indeed, so prolific were Horner’s musical contributions to the film industry in that year, that his Apollo 13 nomination saw him competing directly with another memorable soundtrack that he composed for Mel Gibson’s Braveheart.

These minor historical inconsistencies aside, Apollo 13 remains one of Hanks’ best movies, and his performance as Lovell is significantly bolstered by Horner’s Academy Award-nominated film score. Indeed, so prolific were Horner’s musical contributions to the film industry in that year, that his Apollo 13 nomination saw him competing directly with another memorable soundtrack that he composed for Mel Gibson’s Braveheart.

Our Take On Tom Hanks' Emotional Reaction To Apollo 13's Score

Apollo 13's Score Is Iconic.

All too often, the role of a movie’s soundtrack in the finished product is too easily overlooked in the wake of big-name stars like Hanks and his Apollo 13 co-stars. However, Horner’s contribution to the movie, along with the vocals provided by Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox, helped bring the Ron Howard-directed film to new heights. This kind of impact does not appear to be lost on Hanks at all, and in a career that has seen him tackle countless emotionally charged roles, it speaks volumes when he singles out his experience on Apollo 13 as one of his most memorable.

Source: ReelBlend Podcast