Top 7 Atomic Bomb Films
“A short time ago an american airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima destroying its usefulness for the enemy” - President Harry Truman, August 6th, 1945
Last week marked the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan. Not only was this a remarkable achievement of science, but it also pushed the limits of human destruction. The impact of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki propelled us into a dark and even longer Cold War.
Lets step back into time and see how we have made sense of this devastating chapter in human history...
Duck and Cover (1951) - This was one of the first film produced and seen by a large audience. Developed for school children of the baby boomer generation, this short film detailed what to do incase of nuclear fall-out. The short film explained that a desk could protect you against the blast of a atomic bomb.
Godzilla (1954) IshirÅ Honda - One of the most famous monster movies of all time, this Japanese film was one of the first films to play on the publics fear of atomic bombs and the uncertainty of its repercussions.
Fail Safe (1964) Sydney Lumet- Though it looks corny now, this terrifying film showed how a simple human mistake could lead to a disastrous nuclear fall-out.
Dr. Strangelove: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb (1964) Stanley Kubrick - A cinematic and dark satire reaction to the film Fail Safe. Kubrick uses real life people and behaviors to show the absurdity of the Cold War and the potential use of the nuclear bomb as a deterrent.
Atomic Cafe (1984) Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader, Pierce Rafferty - This documentary puts an alternative spin to the events surrounding the War and the bomb. Instead of 'the voice of God' as a guide, images and conversations are collaged together to create something entirely new and insightful.
Radio Bikini (1988) Robert Stone - Directed in a similar style to Atomic Cafe, this hour long documentary about the testing of the atomic bomb on the island of Bikini in the South Pacific.
Godzilla (1954) IshirÅ Honda - One of the most famous monster movies of all time, this Japanese film was one of the first films to play on the publics fear of atomic bombs and the uncertainty of its repercussions.
Fail Safe (1964) Sydney Lumet- Though it looks corny now, this terrifying film showed how a simple human mistake could lead to a disastrous nuclear fall-out.
Dr. Strangelove: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb (1964) Stanley Kubrick - A cinematic and dark satire reaction to the film Fail Safe. Kubrick uses real life people and behaviors to show the absurdity of the Cold War and the potential use of the nuclear bomb as a deterrent.
Atomic Cafe (1984) Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader, Pierce Rafferty - This documentary puts an alternative spin to the events surrounding the War and the bomb. Instead of 'the voice of God' as a guide, images and conversations are collaged together to create something entirely new and insightful.
Radio Bikini (1988) Robert Stone - Directed in a similar style to Atomic Cafe, this hour long documentary about the testing of the atomic bomb on the island of Bikini in the South Pacific.
So, what are these films telling us? Do they tell the truth? What do you believe?
Bibliography:
Geoff Brumfiel, "Why did the U.S. Choose Hiroshima?" August 6, 2015. http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/429433621/why-did-the-u-s-choose-hiroshima
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