Written by Henry Salomon in the mid-1950s and airing on NBC, this award-winning black and white documentary film production begins with a dramatic shot of an explosion at 0:15 after a brief close-up of a clock presenting the time of just after 8 o’clock. The narrator explains that on Sunday, July 15, 1945, the end of an era is about to take place despite a deceptively warm and sunny day, along with the impending United States Navy attack on Japan. At 1:05, the film briefly cuts to the USS Augusta, the United States Navy cruiser known for its use in many key Navy operations, as well as for transporting both presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman under wartime conditions. As the narrator counts down to “zero”, Mrs. Roosevelt, the former First Lady, is mentioned for her support of the UNO, along with President Truman who is newly in office. Seen aboard the USS Augusta at 02:30, Truman is said to be on his way to his first Big Three Conference in Potsdam to discuss the topics of the occupation of defeated Germany, liberated Poland, and the war against Japan, among other subjects. Rubble and fallen buildings appear when the narrator points out that the Nazi regime, the Third Reich, has fallen despite its promise to last (03:15-03:25). Less than five hours into the countdown, the narrator brings the viewer to a well-lit London, with a shot of the busy downtown city bustling once again after much silence and dismay for at least six years during the war (03:45-03:59). At 05:05 the tower holding the infamous bomb is reflected on screen, followed by its inevitable test explosion starting from 05:42. The film recalls the era’s world leaders meeting and their involvement with the ultimatum from Potsdam to Tokyo ahead of World War II (05:50-06:05). Russia’s Joseph Stalin, U.S. President Harry Truman, and England’s Winston Churchill become aware that the bomb’s test was successful via secret memo. At 08:35, impending air strikes are shown accompanied by dramatic, tense music preceding the single, powerful bomb. Pre-attack Hiroshima is visible, some of its citizens going about their daily lives uninterrupted thus far by wartime activities (10:03-10:35) while nothing is done to counter the detected air attacks. At 11:05, the bomb explodes on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945 at 8:15am in the film followed by Nagasaki on August 9th (11:41-11:47). A somber description of the aftermath of atomic warfare is narrated throughout the rest of the film, accompanied by a history of much of the world’s war and peace stemming from scientific origins from Greece and beyond (13:09-14:50). The narrator describes the weight of further scientific discoveries, from Newton to Faraday and Madame Curie, among others. Albert Einstein’s 1905 formula to Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner and Danish physicist Niels Bohr’s work on radioactivity and nuclear findings are emphasized for their significant impact in history (15:30-16:25). Their discoveries, along with the splitting of the uranium atom leading to Hitler’s atrocities are explained in terms of both science and policy starting at 16:30. Along with brilliant scientists and countless innocent people being driven from their homes, the Third Reich was responsible for destroying cultural treasures and burning books, as the film portrays (17:05-17:28). A fortunate few are able to escape the insane politics of Hitler, traveling to places like the United States to work. Einstein and his contemporaries’ letter regarding nuclear research is heard by the President and research on the subject moves forward. Footage of Italian physicist Enrico Fermi at work helping to create the first nuclear reactor begins at 19:25. The army’s Manhattan Engineer District, headed by Major General L.R. Groves, takes over the atom project. Countless scientists, engineers, and other specialists are depicted working tirelessly to bring the project to fruition (20:05-24:01). American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is quoted regarding the radical future of the scientific world before a fast-paced summary of the foundations of atomic energy is narrated alongside animations that abruptly transition to footage of an atomic bomb explosion (24:12-26:27). Film reel showing unrest in Asia and Communist powers in Russia follows. The film concludes with Prime Minister Churchill’s speech declaring an “Iron Curtain” has been drawn and the Cold War has begun (28:15-29:45).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com