What does it take to be a great man or woman? That’s the question that The Right Stuff asks again and again. Nobody talks about having The Right Stuff in The Right Stuff. It seems like a source of pride or some unspoken language between the astronauts and most of their wives.

But not Annie Glenn, the wife of John Glenn. She’s silent about it for a special reason. And I’m going to talk all about it.

A Beautiful Enigma

I had a scene burned into my memory from this film at an early age. It’s the scene where John Glenn is on a gameshow telling a story about when he lacked confidence. At his school, there was a girl who was prettier than all the other girls in the school. She never paid attention to him because she was always surrounded by other boys. They showered her with affection, but she remained aloof and quiet.

Undaunted, John pursued her and eventually won her heart. We don’t get to meet his wife at that point in the film. It’s not until John is selected to be one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts that we get our first look at this enigmatic beauty. And it’s a stunning reveal, at least for me.

Annie’s Secret

You see, the reason Annie Glenn wouldn’t open her mouth and talk about how beautiful she was or anything like that was because she had a severe stutter. For her, it wasn’t about being stuck up or prideful; it was that she couldn’t easily formulate the words. It took a patient man like John to get her to open up by actually listening to what she had to say.

We get a tiny glimpse into their relationship in the scene above. John loves her so much, and the only thing that rivals that love is his ambition to serve his country. When it comes down to it, though, he puts his wife above his job, his country, and his pride. That’s what shows that he has The Right Stuff. Because he loves his wife.

The Right Stuff

The reason why the astronauts’ wives have such a prominent part to play in the film is because having The Right Stuff isn’t a solo endeavor. There’s the man who takes the risks, and the woman who stands with him and faces the fear of losing him.

John and Annie Glenn are my favorite couple because John is morally upright in every way, and Annie is able to stand up for herself despite her stutter. It makes me so happy to see all of the other astronauts and wives back them up in the pivotal scene above. John’s love for his wife and her love for him are big part of their success.

Those of us who stutter and can’t get our words out very well probably don’t come across as heroic. But I can tell you that it takes a lot of courage to speak when it’s hard to. John spells out exactly what The Right Stuff is to him when he stands up for his wife. He speaks all the words she wishes she could, and all she has to do at the end is say “okay.”

I admire people like John Glenn who can say powerful words without hesitation. I’ve found that my wife is a calming influence on me. When I’m stuttering and struggling, she can just put her hand on mine and help me relax enough to speak. That’s the power of loving relationships. That’s The Right Stuff that no one ever talks about, haltingly or otherwise.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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