I'm a fan of both Gary Cooper and Fritz Lang films, and while I don't think this film is either person's greatest work, I did enjoy it.
I think it's important to think about the time this was filmed and to think about how close it was to the events at the time, coming mere months after the US had bombed the Japanese.
I think it was an important step at the time to make us aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons.
I felt the film was careful not to turn into a propaganda piece trying to stir up hatred and fear.
I also enjoyed see the "average" (if we all looked like movie stars) people doing what they could to fight the enemy. This wasn't supposed to be a trained James Bond, just someone truly concerned with helping as he could.
I think what I liked best about the film is that it actually featured strong female characters. There was a famous and respected female nuclear physicists (in a world where women are STILL discriminated against in the sciences at Ivy League schools)! There was a female spy. There was a schoolteacher turned resistance fighter. There were evil women who killed. Women were just as much a part of everything that went on as anyone else.
*Spoiler warning* Without revealing too much, I'd like to say that I also like the ending! I liked seeing that duty was chosen over escape or personal comfort. Coming from a woman (who has probably been socialized that men/love is everything) - that was refreshing to see in a movie! No unrealistically wrapped up happy ending.
I think it's important to think about the time this was filmed and to think about how close it was to the events at the time, coming mere months after the US had bombed the Japanese.
I think it was an important step at the time to make us aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons.
I felt the film was careful not to turn into a propaganda piece trying to stir up hatred and fear.
I also enjoyed see the "average" (if we all looked like movie stars) people doing what they could to fight the enemy. This wasn't supposed to be a trained James Bond, just someone truly concerned with helping as he could.
I think what I liked best about the film is that it actually featured strong female characters. There was a famous and respected female nuclear physicists (in a world where women are STILL discriminated against in the sciences at Ivy League schools)! There was a female spy. There was a schoolteacher turned resistance fighter. There were evil women who killed. Women were just as much a part of everything that went on as anyone else.
*Spoiler warning* Without revealing too much, I'd like to say that I also like the ending! I liked seeing that duty was chosen over escape or personal comfort. Coming from a woman (who has probably been socialized that men/love is everything) - that was refreshing to see in a movie! No unrealistically wrapped up happy ending.