A 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.
Editing
Jarring cuts between cheery PSAs and apocalyptic reality.
Direction
No narration needed—the footage indicts itself.
Practical Effects
Real duck-and-cover drills that aged like milk.
Director
Jayne Loader
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The directors found most footage in government archives marked for destruction. The military literally tried to bury this.
This film helped spark the 'atomic nostalgia' boom of the 1980s—Fallout games, Stranger Things, your aesthetic Pinterest board all descend from here.
US
