The Beginning or the End (1947)

The research, development, and deployment of the first atomic bomb, as well as the bombing of Hiroshima, are detailed in this docudrama.

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Robert Considine (story), Frank Wead

Stars:

Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, Tom Drake

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Donlevy	...	Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves
Robert Walker	...	Col. Jeff Nixon
Tom Drake	...	Matt Cochran
Beverly Tyler	...	Anne Cochran
Audrey Totter	...	Jean O'Leary
Hume Cronyn	...	Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer
Hurd Hatfield	...	Dr. John Wyatt
Joseph Calleia	...	Dr. Enrico Fermi
Godfrey Tearle	...	President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Victor Francen	...	Dr. Marre
Richard Haydn	...	Dr. Chisholm
Jonathan Hale	...	Dr. Vannevar Bush
John Litel	...	K.T. Keller
Henry O'Neill	...	Gen. Thomas F. Farrell
Warner Anderson	...	Capt. William S. Parsons

Storyline

Docudrama on the development of the first atomic bomb. Told from the perspective of a film recovered from a time capsule several hundred years into the future, the story is narrated by Robert Oppenheimer (Hume Cronyn) and Major General Leslie Groves (Brian Donlevy) beginning with the Nazis stated goal of developing an atomic bomb. Along with Britain and Canada, the U.S. reacts by beginning its own atomic program. The major developments are all presented: Fermi's successful atomic chain reaction; building the huge complex at Oak Ridge, Tenn.; the production of the first supply of plutonium; the testing in the Nevada desert; and finally the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

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Plot Keywords:

bomb | nuclear weapons | pregnant wife | expectant mother | lincoln memorial | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alku vai loppu

Filming Locations:

Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Guy Williams's first movie.

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Connections

Featured in Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped (1995)

User Reviews

Excellent movie

It has been about 25 years since I last saw the movie, but I throughly enjoyed it, and wanted to see it again. I thought is was a well done docu-drama. It may have some Hollywood in it, but I thought it was a reasonably accurate account on the development of the A-bomb. I hope that some day it will be printed for home viewing.