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Motion Picture MP66-18

The Decision to Drop the Bomb

Administrative Information

Footage
1080 feet
Running Time
30 minutes
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
NBC News Produced: Fred Freed, Written: Fred Freed, Director: Len Giovannitti and Fred Freed, Ex Producer: Irving Gitlin. 1965, NBC News presentation
Restrictions
Restricted
Description

Part three of a three part television documentary about events leading up to the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

Date(s)
1965

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Moving Image Type
Motion Picture

Shot List

  • Reel 1
     
0:00   1945 - Alamagordo, New Mexico – scenes of preparation of blast. General Farrell tells of preparation of bomb for blast. Dr. Oppenheimer and General Groves also talk about preparation.
3:40   Scenes at test site.
4:00   General Groves, Dr. Conant and Dr. Bainbridge talk on preparation.
7:00   Scene at test site.
7:10   General Groves continues talk on preparation.
8:35   Blast.
9:35   Comments on blast.
10:00   Dr. Oppenheimer describes reaction of onlookers.
11:00   Blast view and view of blast site.
11:30   General Groves tells of telling Truman at Potsdam; James Byrnes tells of hearing of blast.
12:30   Potsdam meeting scenes.
13:15   509th B-29 flying over Japan (Van Kirk tells of flying over Japan).
13:50   Truman at Potsdam making decision.
14:00   Bundy reads Stimson’s words on decision. Byrnes talks of decision. General Groves talks on decision.
15:20   Truman talking about decision (later 1960’s).
15:40   Byrnes talking about decision (later 1960’s).
16:00   B-29’s arrive on Tinian with bomb.
16:20   Potsdam scenes – McCloy tells about decision to tell Russia. Britisher tells about decision to tell Russia. Byrnes continues telling about telling Stalin. McCloy continues telling about Stalin. Byrnes continues telling about telling Stalin.
19:20   General Farrell tells of order to drop the bomb.
20:30   Potsdam – Byrnes issuing ultimatum to Japan
21:00   Aerial shots of Japan and Imperial Palace. Three Japanese tell of Japanese attitudes and decision.
22:20   Truman leaving Potsdam.
22:45   Tinian – B-29’s prepared and loaded. Crew briefing (voice over by General Farrell). Van Kirk described crew’s reactions and a crew member also describes crew’s reactions.
24:45   Shots of crew at aircraft.
25:30   Shot of Japan and then USS Augusta.
25:45   Shot of aircraft take off (voice over General Farrell).
25:50   Huntley wraps up, quoting Stimson.
27:00   Panoramic shots of Nagasaki and Hiroshima devastation.