The Atomic City (1952)

An atomic scientist's son is kidnapped by enemy agents.

Director:

Jerry Hopper

Writer:

Sydney Boehm

Stars:

Gene Barry, Lydia Clarke, Michael Moore

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Barry	...	Dr. Frank Addison
Lydia Clarke	...	Martha Addison
Michael Moore	...	Russ Farley
Nancy Gates	...	Ellen Haskell
Lee Aaker	...	Tommy Addison
Milburn Stone	...	Insp. Harold Mann
Bert Freed	...	Emil Jablons
Frank Cady	...	F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
Houseley Stevenson Jr.	...	'Greg' Gregson
Leonard Strong	...	Donald Clark
Jerry Hausner	...	John Pattiz
John Damler	...	Dr. Peter Rassett
George Lynn	...	Robert Kalnick (as George M. Lynn)
Olan Soule	...	Mortie Fenton
Anthony Warde	...	Arnie Molter

Storyline

At Los Alamos, New Mexico, the maximum-security "atomic city" of U.S. nuclear-weapons research, top atomic scientist Frank Addison has a normal, middle-American life with his wife and son...until the boy is kidnapped by enemy agents to extort H-bomb secrets. Result, a fast moving chase thriller with some parental soul-searching.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | nuclear weapons | los alamos | ruins | counter espionage | 

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Taglines:

HELD FOR RANSOM! Kidnappers demand atomic secrets!

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Genres:

Thriller | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Stadt der tausend Gefahren

Filming Locations:

Gilmore Field - 7700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gene Barry's film debut.

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Connections

Featured in Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us (2005)

User Reviews

Starts Nicely, But Then...

I found "The Atomic CIty" somewhat disappointing after two viewings. It starts from an interesting platform; young son of big-shot post-war nuke scientist bottled-up in New Mexican middle-of-nowhere research base is kidnapped and held for intelligence ransom. But after 30 minutes it descends straight down to a very mediocre, run-of-the-mill kidnapped kid story complete with all cliché trimmings (hysterical mother, overwrought macho dad).

The film drifts between styles. The lead-in sets up a documentary-style narrative. But then the early family scenes present a more dramatic style. Scenes where the cops are tracking down the kidnappers slide back into documentary. It's a goofy stew with uneven pacing.

To make matters worse none of the characters are well developed and by the end you'll probably find that you just don't care what happens very much any more.