The Atomic Cafe (1982)

Disturbing collection of 1940s and 1950s United States government-issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.

Directors:

Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty

Stars:

Paul Tibbets, Harry S. Truman, W.H.P. Blandy

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Tibbets	...	Himself (archive footage)
Harry S. Truman	...	Himself (archive footage) (as President Harry S Truman)
W.H.P. Blandy	...	Himself - Commander of the Bikini Test (archive footage) (as Vice Admiral W.H.P. Blandy)
Brien McMahon	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sen. Brian McMahon)
Lloyd Bentsen	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Rep. Lloyd Bentsen)
Owen Brewster	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sen. Owen Brewster)
Julius Rosenberg	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ethel Rosenberg	...	Herself (archive footage)
Val Peterson	...	Himself - Director of Civil Defense (archive footage) (as Gov. Val Peterson)
Lyndon Johnson	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson)
Lewis Strauss	...	Himself - Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (archive footage) (as Lewis L. Strauss)
George Molan	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Cpl. George Molan)
George Portell	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Tech Sgt. George Portell)
Jerry Schneider	...	Himself (archive footage)
Sergeant Weaver	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

A compilation of 1960's films about what to do in case of a Nuclear attack and the effects of radiation, also footage of troop tests of the exposure to an atomic bomb.

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Plot Keywords:

nuclear weapon | radiation victim | u.s. military | post world war two | atomic bomb | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Up Close and Personal with Producer Jayne Loader

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1982 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Atomic Cafe

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,098, 5 August 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$22,293, 25 October 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Archives Project

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director John G. Avildsen offered to get comedian John Belushi to narrate the film. Avildsen and Belushi had just made Neighbors (1981) for Columbia.

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Quotes

Civil defense film: Be sure to include tranquilizers to ease the strain and monotony of life in a fallout shelter. A bottle of 100 should be sufficient for a family of four. Tranquilizers are not a narcotic, and are not habit-forming.

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Connections

Features Duck and Cover (1952)

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Soundtracks

Rosza Conducts Rosza
-- "Theme from 'Brute Force'" and "Theme from 'The Killers'"
Performed by Miklós Rózsa conducting the Frankenland State Symphony
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Duck And Cover Everyone!

With no narration other than that provided by historical clips, this movie justly states how ludicrous the idea of nuclear war was, and is. The producers of this film spent years going through declassified governmental film archives to find some of the most chilling, and hilarious, footage ever taken. It also tells how the US government screwed over the Bikini Islanders, and has some fine coverage of the spoon-feeding of propaganda to the US public through the 40's and 50's.

A great movie for just a laugh, or for some interesting historical perspective on a unique time in the recent US past. I loved the clip of the guy who invented a lead-lined suit, put it on his son, and then had him try to ride a bike. Could we have possibly been this gullible just a few decades ago? Can you say "duct tape and plastic sheeting"?

Duck and cover everyone!