Summary: Documentary examining the development, current state and implications of the nuclear arms race between the USA and the USSR, and the attitudes of some individuals concerned and affected.
Description: Contributors include Dr Herbert York, Dr John Foster (Chief of Research and Design at the Pentagon), Dr Jeremy Weisner, Brian Schwartz, Dr Edward Teller, Arthur Obermeyer and others. The organisation of a Minuteman Missile Command Post and the safeguards against irregular firing are illustrated, as is the functions of Strategic Command, Omaha, and the automatic command system. The attitude of the commander to his role. The implication of the ICBM system in terms of command and control. The development of the missile race in the 1960s, attitudes behind its subjective interpretation of Russia's intentions; divelopment of ABMs and MIRV; the dangers and alternatives to "machine response" to attack. SALT talks to "achieve stability in an armed world". Arms industry and US economy: dissent among scientists, students and subcontractors; unemployed PhDs. The spread of nuclear weapons; the future? "We may be dooming mankind."
Alternative Title:HORIZON [Series Title]
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 459
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1971
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC (Production company)
Time/Life (Production company)
Jones, Peter (Production individual)
Goodchild, Peter (Production individual)
Cumner Price, Alan J (Production individual)
Kersner, Olga (Production individual)
Ducker, Patrick L (Production individual)
Westheimer, Alfred (Production individual)
Edwards, Ron (Production individual)
Santacroce, Tony (Production individual)
Harris, Michael John (Production individual)
Walker, Bert (Production individual)
McGlue, Charles (Production individual)
Vaughan, Paul (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1876 ft; Running time: 52 mins
