Race for the Bomb (1987– )

This docudrama tells the story of how the atomic bomb came to be built.

Stars:

Predrag Manojlovic, Jean-Paul Muel, Maury Chaykin

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Predrag Manojlovic	...	Edward Teller (as Miki Manojlovic)
Jean-Paul Muel	...	Léo Szilard
Maury Chaykin	...	Gen. Leslie Groves
Tom Rack	...	Robert Oppenheimer
Pier Paolo Capponi	...	Enrico Fermi (as Pier-Paolo Capponi)
Myriam Mézières	...	Gertrude Weiss (as Myriam Mezières)
Géza Kovács	...	Otto Frisch
Vincent Grass	...	Hans Bethe
Marie Bunel	...	Mici Teller
Maud Rayer	...	Lise Meitner
Jacques Perrin	...	Frédéric Joliot-Curie
Huguette Faget	...	Marie Curie (as Hugette Faget)
Amy Werba	...	Laura Fermi
Denis Manuel	...	Albert Einstein
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cintija Asperger	...	Jean Tatlock (as Cintija Asperger Eastman)

Storyline

A dramatization of the Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic bomb at the close of World War Two. This series follows the development of the project, from Leo Szilard's first conception of the power within the atom, to the power struggles between J. Robert Oppenheimer, the project's science leader, and General Leslie Groves, the project's military commander.

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Plot Keywords:

science | docudrama | scientist | nazi | nuclear weapons | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

France Italy Canada Yugoslavia

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 May 1987 (France)

Also Known As:

La course à la bombe

Filming Locations:

Yugoslavia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Astral Film Enterprises, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Jadran Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Superb docudrama that cover the subject to it's fullest.

I remember watching this wonderful series when it first came out and was taken aback by the level of detail and accuracy. There have been many movies and docudramas that have followed or proceeded it including "Day One" and the splendid series "Oppenheimer" starring Sam Waterston in the title roll, but none can compare to "Race for the Bomb". It simply takes its time to cover all aspects of the story, human and historical, and captures the era to perfection. Maury Chaykin is memorable as General Leslie Groves and the rest of the international cast is without fault including Jean-Paul Muel as Leo Szilard and Tom Rack as Oppenheimer.

I'm really surprised that this series is not available in DVD or even VHS, I'm sure the producers could gain some revenue from it and make a new and old audience very happy. I did have a VHS copy that I made when the series was first aired but it's long gone now, more's the pity. If you do happen to see this in a rerun somewhere, don't miss it, unfortunately I don't see that happening.

Maybe someone may resurrect it for its twentieth anniversary. One can only hope. If the Aussies can release an old series ("1915") from the 80's then there may be hope.