Today is the sixty-seventh anniversary of the day the United States dropped the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, which, when combined with the bombing of Nagasaki a few days later, would bring an end to the second world war. The dropping of that bomb was a very controversial action, and it is not my intent to debate whether or not President Truman made the right choice by doing so.
What I do want to do is recommend a movie which depicts this action and its effects on the crew involved in it. The movie, Above and Beyond, is from 1953 and stars Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker. Although it's a Hollywood movie and, therefore, probably saw much license being taken, it does depict the stress and uncertainty felt by the crew dropping the bomb, specifically focusing on the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. Making the decision to go through with that mission was not something he took lightly, nor was it without personal consequences. Mr. Taylor (as Colonel Tibbets) and Miss Parker (as Mrs. Tibbets) both play their roles to perfection, bringing their characters' very agonized emotions to life brilliantly.
Above and Beyond, a wonderful drama with some excellent aerial footage, would make a fabulous discussion piece. I do believe the film is out on DVD; however, it is also available, in several different parts, on YouTube. Try to catch it if you can.
(Just FYI, this film could easily have been included when I listed my 5 favorite Robert Taylor films yesterday; I was hard-pressed to determine if this one, Bataan, or Escape would take positions 4 and 5. Ultimately, I chose the other two over this one, but only by the narrowest of margins. I really like this film and highly recommend it.)
Happy viewing!!!
I'm not big on war movies but I'll look for this on youtube and give it a try, since I do admire Robert Taylor so much! And also, 4 stars...it must be pretty good:)
ReplyDeleteI've got "Dangerous" on again while I do some painting:)
I can actually do some war films---even those without women and romance in them; however, I can't take a steady diet of them. This film, though, does have a romantic/personal storyline, so it's much more than just a straight war film. I think you will like it.
DeleteOne of my favorite war films...I love Robert Taylor & Eleanor Parker. As to the A- bombs being dropped, everyone in my family who lived before and during the war thought it was a hard decision but a necessary one at the time.
ReplyDeleteMost people I know believe that as well. Still, though, being in the position of having to make that decision would be agonizing.
DeleteI can't believe I've never heard of this movie! It looks well worth it - thanks for recommending!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I hope you get a chance to see it.
DeleteGreat movie. The relationship vs security aspect is well examined - you keep your mouth shut, no matter the consequences. Should be required viewing for those handling classified info today...
ReplyDeleteIf he had told his wife---with the contingency that she tell no one---things may have been so different. For what if she told one person, swearing them to secrecy, yet that person told "just one person"...and on and on.
DeleteThis is a wonderful film. One of my favorite scenes is when Paul comes home one to hear sounds from someone working on the plumbing. Lucey tells him that she has found someone to fix the plumbing. "Who?", asks Taylor and Lucey says "One of the sanitary engineers". The plumber turns out to be one of the scientists with the Manhattan Project.
ReplyDeleteLucy was pretty clueless, wasn't she? Of course, she had no reason to suspect they were doing anything out of the ordinary at that base.
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