Atomic Alert (1951)

★★★★★ · Whoa... · Logoliker2004 · 2005-06-14

This is some civil defense film! Although it isn't really an official one, it is part of the "Encyclopedia Britannica" educational film series. It may have been cheaper to get for schools rather than the official civil defense-licensed ones like "Duck and Cover." But, it is VERY realistic, and it is perfect to show to elementary and junior high kids in the 1950s. The atomic explosion simulations are also good, too. There is the loud "BOOM" of the blast, falling debris, and of course, the flash at the beginning of the explosion. The "Ted and Sue" scenes in the film are also humorous…

★★★★★ · Liars · BWCarver · 2002-12-10

What strikes me about this video and the others like it (e.g., Duck and Cover) is that they are all made AFTER the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The U.S. government KNEW what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and they had the gall to tell people to cover themselves with a coat!? It's baffling. If the U.S. had ever been hit by an atomic bomb, people would have learned what a pack of lies they had been told about its likely effects. So, these films express a contradiction. On the one hand the film purports to have the desire of educating people as to the likely effects of…

★★★★ · Atomic Alert · Christine Hennig · 2003-07-21

This is Encyclopedia Brittanica Films' answer to Duck and Cover. As you would expect, its somewhat more staid than the other film, but it has its moments. The opening graphic is quite cool and disturbing, with an atomic symbol superimposed on the iris of a human eye. The rest of the film, though, is a lot more prosaic, though it does have an incredibly sarcastic-sounding little sister character, and a scene where a boy doesn't know where to go when the siren goes off, and rather than go to one of his friend's houses as he is encouraged to do, he takes refuge in the home of a total stranger…

★★★★ · "but what if there is a bombing; a bombing that comes without warning?" · uniQ · 2011-04-18

Neat little film from Encyclopedia Britannica about air raid precautions for elementary school students. As others have mentioned one of the highlights of the film is Sue, Ted's litter sister who has a hilarious accent and some sarcastic remarks to make about the entire thing. While it's possible to poke holes in the advice given parts of this, overall it's holds together as a film (Unlike some preparedness films, IE. "Earthwatch"). I would love to know what kind of accent the narrator has, he seems to drop the letter R, rendering "protect" as "p'tect". Additionally, the intro is highly…

★★★★ · The fifties were a horror · vera13 · 2004-11-05

I remember these films in school. Mrs Kelly's second grade class was the first time we were required to learn to "duck and cover". That was the year that Eisenhower was first elected president. Current events have very nearly the same feel.

★★★ · Another great Easter Bunny film · Kold War Kid · 2003-06-05

I love the "Leave it to Beaver" type music. I can see where this film would have been scary to elementary school kids: no parents, the two kids waiting for the "All Clear"; How long? A day, a week? And the faux announcer on the radio: "Avoid radioactive mist" (I always do!) then the knocking at the door. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the kids who saw this had nightmares.