The grisly events leading to the first attack with a nuclear weapon.The grisly events leading to the first attack with a nuclear weapon.The grisly events leading to the first attack with a nuclear weapon.
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 6 wins & 8 nominations total
Photos
J. Winston Carroll
- Chief Justice Stone
- (as J.W. Carroll)
Tedd Dillon
- John Kuharek
- (as Teddy Lee Dillon)
Strahil Goodman
- Stalin's Interpreter
- (as Strahil Dobrev)
Domenico Fiore
- Harold Urey
- (as Dom Fiore)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhile directing, Roger Spottiswoode tried to be even-handed in the portrayal of the Japanese military leaders, and it was the Japanese co-director who would keep coming back and saying "You don't really understand; they were much more intransigent than that." Some of the top military men over there had a pretty good idea of the resources required for the bomb, and didn't believe anyone could sustain the attacks.
- GoofsA comment was made in a conference with Col. Tibbets that changing course over the target from going upwind to downwind; "lowering the airspeed over the target" was not recommended. Airspeed is not a function of prevailing winds even if 1 to 3 times or more than that of the aircraft's speed. Groundspeed is the accurate term. Wind direction and speed has no effect on airspeed which is solely a function of aircraft attitude and power settings only.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1996)
- SoundtracksCantus in Memoriam for Benjamin Britten
Composed by Arvo Pärt
Featured review
This is an outstanding production. And I think it no coincidence that it wasn't produced in the US.
Over 50 years later, American emotions still run high about our use of nuclear weapons against Japan; the recent backlash against the Smithsonian exhibit is proof. This film is a nuanced, balanced, objective treatment with, as far as I can tell, remarkable historical accuracy. One sees just how simplistic and myopic the leaders of both sides were as they made (or avoided making) momentous decisions that affected the entire future of the human race. The one voice of reason, scientist Leo Szilard, is brushed off with hardly a hearing.
This film is an effective indictment of our human propensity to place enormous powers in the hands of just a few individuals. I doubt any American producer could have made it.
The film deftly mixes historical footage with re-enacted scenes using actors. Normally this sort of thing is rather jarring, but here it works. Even the transitions between the real Truman in newsreel footage and the actor playing him work well.
Over 50 years later, American emotions still run high about our use of nuclear weapons against Japan; the recent backlash against the Smithsonian exhibit is proof. This film is a nuanced, balanced, objective treatment with, as far as I can tell, remarkable historical accuracy. One sees just how simplistic and myopic the leaders of both sides were as they made (or avoided making) momentous decisions that affected the entire future of the human race. The one voice of reason, scientist Leo Szilard, is brushed off with hardly a hearing.
This film is an effective indictment of our human propensity to place enormous powers in the hands of just a few individuals. I doubt any American producer could have made it.
The film deftly mixes historical footage with re-enacted scenes using actors. Normally this sort of thing is rather jarring, but here it works. Even the transitions between the real Truman in newsreel footage and the actor playing him work well.
Details
- Runtime3 hours 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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