The Decision to Drop the Bomb

Jan 5, 1965

1h 24m

★ 6.7

Overview

J. Robert Oppenheimer and other key figures involved in the decision to drop the first atomic bomb discuss their motivations in this NBC News documentary. Originally produced and televised in 1965, two decades after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it was re-released in 2023 with an epilogue by Michael Beschloss, NBC News Presidential Historian.

Genres

Documentary

War

Production Companies

NBC News

The Decision to Drop the Bomb Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self

Chet Huntley

Self

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Self

McGeorge Bundy

Self

Leslie Groves

Self

John J. McCloy

Self - Special Correspondent

John Rich

In 1945, 160 German cities lay in ruins and the loss of millions of lives, billions in material assets and countless cultural treasures was mourned throughout Europe... With the question “How could it happen?”, the film goes back to the year 1914, when the “primal catastrophe of the 20th century” took its course with the First World War.

7.8

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

May 7, 2008

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.

9.0

The Great Patriotic War

Nov 19, 1965

This communist history film recalls the heroism of Soviet soldiers fighting the Nazis in World War II. Forty of the 236 cameramen used for the feature were killed during their mission filming the Red Army.

7.1

Twelve O'Clock High

Dec 21, 1949

In the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a 'hard luck' bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets.

0.0

Trying to Be Some Kind of Hero

Invalid Date

Lester Alfonso travels to the Philippines to find out the truth about this real grandfather...the investigation of a family secret following in the footsteps of a missing man.

0.0

The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler

Jan 1, 2008

Explores the path of hitler from insignificance, to World domination, and demonstrates the delusions he had that lead to massive deaths during the War.

6.9

A Canterbury Tale

Aug 21, 1944

Three modern-day pilgrims investigate a bizarre crime in a small town while on their way to Canterbury.

7.3

Sophie's Choice

Dec 8, 1982

Stingo, a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie and her lover Nathan, he learns that she is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.

6.5

Air Force

Mar 20, 1943

The crew of an Air Force bomber arrives in Pearl Harbor in the aftermath of the Japanese attack and is sent on to Manila to help with the defense of the Philippines.

6.8

Dark Blue World

May 17, 2001

Lt. Franta Slama is a top pilot in the Czech Air Force who is assigned to train a promising young flier, Karel Vojtisek, and they soon become friends. When Nazi Germany invades Czechoslovakia in 1939, they both reject the authority of their new leaders and escape to England where they join other Czech exiles in the RAF. While flying a mission over England, Karel crash lands and happens upon the farmhouse of Susan, a young woman whose husband is in the Navy. Karel soon falls head over heels for Susan but, while they enjoy a brief fling, in time Susan decides she prefers the company of the older and more worldly Franta. As Franta and Karel struggle to maintain their friendship despite their romantic rivalry.

5.0

Special Mission

Mar 8, 1946

The exploits of Chief Police Inspector Chabrier, first before the invasion of France in May 1940 as he fights against spies preparing the coming the Germans, particularly Emmy de Welder, the alleged manager of the Rouen hospital. Later, Chabrier and his men go underground and resist the occupiers whatever the price to pay. When the Liberation comes Chabrier resumes his activities at the French National Police.

6.8

The Bridge at Remagen

Jun 25, 1969

In March of 1945, as the War in Europe is coming to a close, fighting erupts between German and American troops at the last remaining bridgehead across the Rhine.

7.0

The Enemy Below

Dec 25, 1957

The crew of the American destroyer escort, the USS Haynes, detects a German U-Boat—resulting in a prolonged, deadly battle of wits.

No Image Available

8.0

Across Frontiers

Jan 1, 2017

On the 8th September 1943, thousands of allied prisoners of war escaped into the Italian countryside following the country's surrender. The occupying Germans hunted these escapers who were helped and sheltered by the brave and kind Italian Contadini, farmers who put their families and homes at great risk by doing so. Made by a crew of students in Leeds, England with very limited resources and funds, it is based on the director's great-grandfather and his experiences as an escaped British POW in Italy during WWII.

5.0

Evening Bells

Jan 2, 1986

Trials and tribulations of a Croatian communist intellectual in the turbulent years before, during and after the Second World War.

No Image Available

6.0

Der Attentäter

Nov 9, 1969

In 1939, Hitler is at the height of his power and is steering Europe into a monstrous tragedy. The young Georg Elser recognizes the danger posed by the fascist system and decides to put an end to the Führer. To do so, he builds a bomb himself, which is supposed to explode during one of Hitler's events. Everything seems to be going well until Hitler ends his appearance earlier than planned...

7.5

Barefoot Gen

Jul 21, 1983

A story about the effect of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.

0.0

Choď a nelúč sa

Aug 17, 1979

The dramatic story captures the hard and dangerous life of the partisan group "Čapajev" led by Ľudovít Kukorelli during World War II. It retrospectively presents the course of the Slovak National Uprising in eastern Slovakia.

4.4

Come Out Fighting

May 19, 2023

In WWII, a squad of U.S. African-American soldiers are sent on a rescue mission behind enemy lines to locate their lost commanding officer and a downed fighter pilot.

5.8

The Land Girls

Jun 12, 1998

During World War II, the organisation "The Women's Land Army" recruited women to work on British farms while the men were off to war. Three such "land girls" of different social backgrounds - quiet Stella, young hairdresser Prue, and Cambridge graduate Ag - become best friends in spite of their different backgrounds.

The Decision to Drop the Bomb

Overview

Genres

Production Companies

The Decision to Drop the Bomb Trailers