Nuclear Weapon Civil Defense Propaganda Films from the 50's

Atom Bomb and Civil Defense Propaganda Films DVD

An original production by The Classic Archives

Total of 2 hours worth of historic footage.  This DVD comes complete with an interactive menu.  A list of films is as follows:

Dramatized atomic evacuation of Portland, Oregon.  Glenn Ford narrates this excellently paced film about the possible nuke attack. Well thought out pace and narration add to the mounting tension to this film to great effect.

2 Parts, Sound, B&W, 27:41

Animated classic presenting what an atom is, how energy is released from certain kinds of atoms, the peacetime uses of atomic energy and the byproducts of nuclear fission.  One of the most enjoyable propaganda films ever made, I loved this wonderfully animated film. It's very Retro, and since i like retro, i enjoyed this ad. If you like the animation of 50's cartoons, you will enjoy this film. It's very optimistic, Capturing a time before we knew the dangers of nuclear power

Sound, color, 14:42

Attempt to dispel many common myths and fallacies about radioactive fallout.  This film attempts to minimize the effects of fallout and was done so in a very "pro-nuclear" point of view.

Sound, color, 8:20

Frightening civil defense procedure film aimed at Cold War-era elementary school students.  A film that shows ineffectual ways for children to protect themselves in case an A-bomb falls in their home town. We mostly see Ted and his little sister Sue, who are home alone when the bomb falls. Sue calmly closes the Venetian blinds (as if that will do any good) before they go crouch in the basement.

Sound, B&W, 10:33

A tour of the first commercial nuclear power plant.  Apparently the Shippingport reactor had quite a long life and was finally stopped in the late 70's. The utilization of oxidized uranium must have been highly cost effective, seeing as how millions of pellets were created for seed fuel.  This film documents in great and technical detail the building of the first nuclear power plant at Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

2 parts, Sound, B&W, 28:59

Selected for the 2004 National Film Registry of "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant" motion pictures. The most recognizable civil defense film every made.  Known to anyone who went to school in the 50's and 60's.  In this famous civil defense film for children, Bert the Turtle shows what to do in case of atomic attack.

Sound, B&W, 9:15

Civil defense film admonishing U.S. city dwellers to stay and fight in case of enemy invasion, rather than evacuate. Filmed in New York and other cities.  In this American civil defense film, a serious conversation between a newspaper editor and his colleague is used to emphasize the problems that should occur should civilians in urban areas decide to evacuate in order to avoid a major military onslaught. According to the film, mass exodus would hamper emergency efforts, decrease productivity, and lead to a significant loss of morale. Able-bodied individuals who decide to flee the danger are regarded as treasonous. Unfortunately, the editor seems to believe that the radiation resulting from an atomic blast will subside after roughly ninety seconds.

Sound, B&W, 8:56

"Explains" the dangers of the atomic bomb, the effects of radiation and how to protect oneself if caught in the open or in the home.  This, out of most of the civil defense films, is one of the few most informative and realistic ones ever produced. This also actually uses stock footage of nuclear explosions, too! We also see clips of the results of the World War II nukes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. It has good information about how the atomic bomb works, such as using radioactivity and heat to destroy.

Sound, B&W, 8:45

Explains what war gas is, how it is used by the enemy, and how simple household items, such as bicarbonate of soda and bleaching solution, may be used to prevent casualties.

Sound, B&W, 14:16

DVD Menu Sampler: