Radium City (1987)

Director:

Carole Langer

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

two word title

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1987 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Ottawa, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carole Langer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

User Reviews

a chilling tale of the folly of mankind, a deadly naiveté

Though dry at times, this documentary slowly puts the pieces together on a chilling tale of the folly of mankind. Beautiful young girls are exposed to radiation, wholly unaware of the consequences. Eerie group pictures of the young women who worked at the Westclock factory, painting radioactive paint on the dials of their clocks will haunt you after you view this cautionary tale. Their happy demeanors and bright smiles mock the reality of them all dying of cancer in short order afterward. Memorable moments in the film include a description of the women clock painters using their tongues to sharpen the point of their paintbrushes (used to paint the radioactive Radium on the dials of the clocks) and a Geiger counter used over the graves of some of the dead women, clicking away madly. One is left with a sense of the duality of the US's golden age during the 1950's; both filled with wonder and joy and a deadly technological naiveté.