What You Should Know About Biological Warfare (1952)

★★★★ · Classic · Bamaboy · 2003-03-05

This film is pretty classic Civil Defense Department stuff. The CD folks had the unhappy job of trying to keep Joe Q. Public from mass panic. They often did this by treating the citizenry like a dying cancer patient...just keep them comfortable until the end finally comes. There is some classic "cloak and dagger" type stuff showing the bad guys tainting the water supply etc. We are told that modern science and doctors would save us all from B.W. (toxins, germs, and plant growth regulators). I wonder if anyone in the Department of Homeland Defense has dusted this film off recently?

★★★★ · No Laughing Matter · unzar · 2008-06-02

The striking thing about this film is the fact the subject matter was addressed over fifty years ago. Now, instead of a justifiable fear of Communist attacks, we have a justifiable fear of Islamist attacks. Swap out some names, update some info and re-release it. And while it's foolish to believe everything the government tells you, it's equally foolish to believe the ranting blogger or reporter. As the film said, "Above all, don't listen to scare talk, rumors or myths." Which means, turn the TV off.

★★★★ · What You Should Know About Biological Warfare · Christine Hennig · 2002-10-30

"Biological warfare?? What do they 'spect me to do about it? It's not my headache!" quips a curmudgeon at the beginning of this short, very mstable cold war era film. The film purports to give us the scoop on "B.W.", but it all just boils down to the message "Cooperate with the authorities," i.e. do as your told. Lots of fun moments. Another item for the Film Ephemera Museum of Quirky Devices: the "IDENTIFIED" rubber stamp. Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.

★★★★ · an ounce of prevention... · organon · 2003-02-13

"What can you do to help prevent biological attacks?" this film asks. The answer: keep clean! [A woman on her knees washing the floor with a rag] [a man in the shower] This will prevent biological attacks ? How moronic!

★★★★ · Bio Warfare Film Info Still Applicable · Chuck B · 2003-03-11

While the film is old, and a little corney for today's audience...much of the info in it is still applicable today if, God forbid, there should be a terrorist bio attack. It seems that some of the reviewers think that it will be the end of the world and there is nothing you can do with a BW attack..there are things that can be done and it will not be the end of the world. Any medical personnel can tell you that personal cleanliness is the basic thing one needs to do to slow germ spread...the next is isolation (if it is an infectous disease)...and preventative as well as systematic…