Hitler’s Sunken Secret (Nova)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Film: B-

 

 

In a potential race to make the world’s first nuclear bomb, The Nazis had an advantage because the science that eventually bore the resulting nightmare was partly created by German Scientists.  Part of this had to do with something called heavy water, which has more of certain atomic components than usual and Norway was where it was most plentiful.  Hitler’s Sunken Secret is the latest installment of the WGBH/PBS series Nova to look back at the science going on during World War II and why a ship had to be sabotaged so The Nazis could not get the seemingly innocent substance.

 

Though officials in Norway were puzzled as to why Germany would go though any trouble to get this, British Intelligence and their allies in The United States knew better at a time where a nuclear bomb was top secret.  Resistance fighters were taking no chances and socked the ship, getting it to sink in the deepest place possible.  The only other problem was whether any of the barrels that could have had the heavy water made it to Germany.  This is another solid installment that shows yet another thankfully ruined opportunity for the original Axis Of Evil, though it is not that simple.  That is why you should definitely catch this one.

 

The letterboxed 1.78 X 1/16 X 9 image is not bad, featuring some nice new shots as the sunken ship is investigated, as well as location footage of the building where the heavy water was manufactured.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no Pro Logic surrounds, but is nicely recorded.  The editing of older film, stills and sound also works well.  The only extras once again are printable materials via DVD-ROM and a weblink.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo