Oppenheimer - The Father Of The Atomic Bomb (BBC DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: C+
The story
of J. Robert Oppenheimer is one of the most amazing of the 20th
Century, if not all time. Here was a man
who may have been a communist, yet gave The U.S. the atom bomb that helped it
finally crush the last resistance of the Axis Powers when Emperor Hirohito
called the first of two bombs dropped on Japan a rumor and myth. We all now know they built the bomb to end
all bombs and the 1980 TV mini-series Oppenheimer
- The Father Of The Atomic Bomb is now on DVD from BBC Home Video.
Sam
Waterston is pretty good as the title character, conflicted about so much,
understanding concepts few could even imagine.
This is as much a biography and character study of sorts, than a history
lesson, though it does have that aspect to it.
However, I feel now as I feel then that this was always a somewhat
uneven production despite the good casting and performances. It is a story that needs to be told and
retold, especially since it has been one that has been somewhat censored in
recent decades by certain questionable interests.
Running
seven hours over three DVDs, this is an ambitious production and could not have
arrived at a better time as the issue of nuclear proliferation has a new
immediacy. Einstein is often considered
the father of the bomb too, but I always looked at it as Oppenheimer finishing
what Einstein began. Sadly, the fact
that we live in the reality that we can destroy ourselves has not stopped us
from doing so by other means, but you will see the subtler circumstances all
this science came out of.
The 1.33
X 1 image originated on analog PAL videotape with some shots likely made in
16mm, but this material is dated looking and may even be a generation down,
though it is not digitally harsh but still weak, while the Dolby Digital 2.0
Mono fares better despite its dated sound.
It still is not as weak or worn as it could have been. That leaves the only extra as a good one with
a 25-minutes program in which the real Oppenheimer is interviewed by Edward R.
Morrow for his “See It Now” program.
Sadly, Morrow says it is an edited version of a conversation that went
on for a few hours. Hope we see that one
some day.
- Nicholas Sheffo
