The Beginning or the End (1947)
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- Passed
- 1h 52min
- Biography, Drama
- 19 Feb 1947 (USA)
- Movie
A docudrama detailing the research, development and deployment of the first atomic bomb, as well as the bombing of Hiroshima.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Brian Donlevy | ... |
Major General Leslie R. Groves
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| Robert Walker | ... |
Colonel Jeff Nixon
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| Tom Drake | ... |
Matt Cochran
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| Beverly Tyler | ... |
Anne Cochran
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| Audrey Totter | ... |
Jean O'Leary
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| Hume Cronyn | ... |
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer
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| Hurd Hatfield | ... |
Dr. John Wyatt
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| Joseph Calleia | ... |
Dr. Enrico Fermi
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| Godfrey Tearle | ... |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
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| Victor Francen | ... |
Dr. Marré
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| Richard Haydn | ... |
Dr. Chisholm
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| Jonathan Hale | ... |
Dr. Vannevar Bush
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| John Litel | ... |
K. T. Keller
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| Henry O'Neill | ... |
General Thomas F. Farrell
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| Warner Anderson | ... |
Captain William S. Parsons, U.S.N.
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| Barry Nelson | ... |
Colonel Paul Tibbetts Jr.
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| Art Baker | ... |
President Harry S. Truman
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| Ludwig Stössel | ... |
Dr. Albert Einstein
(as Ludwig Stossel)
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| John Hamilton | ... |
Dr. Harold C. Urey
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| Frank Ferguson | ... |
Dr. James B. Conant
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Tom Stevenson | ... |
Dr. E. P. Wigner
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| John Gallaudet | ... |
Dr. Leo Szilard
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| Nella Walker | ... |
Grace Tully
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| Edward Earle | ... |
Charles G. Ross
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| Moroni Olsen | ... |
Dr. Arthur H. Compton
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| Norman Lloyd | ... |
Dr. Troyanski
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| Jim Davis | ... |
Pilot at Tinian
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| Charles Trowbridge | ... |
Walter S. Carpenter Jr.
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| Frank Wilcox | ... |
Dr. W. H. Zinn
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| Henry Hall | ... |
General Brehon Somervell
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| Paul Harvey | ... |
Lieut. General W.D. Styer
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Larry Johns | ... |
Quaker Scientist
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| Robert Emmett Keane | ... |
Dr. Rand
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| James Bush | ... |
Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence
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| Trevor Bardette | ... |
Clinic Doctor
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| William Wright | ... |
Colonel John Lansdale
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| Damian O'Flynn | ... |
C. D. Howe
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Richard Abbott | ... |
Danish Underground Leader (uncredited)
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Philip Ahlm | ... |
Armed Guard (uncredited)
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John Albright | ... |
Quaker Scientist (uncredited)
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| Erville Alderson | ... |
Secretary of War Henry Stimson (uncredited)
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| Kirk Alyn | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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Rod Bacon | ... |
Crew Member (uncredited)
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| Frank Baker | ... |
Canadian Officer (uncredited)
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| Walter Baldwin | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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| John Banner | ... |
German Laboratory Assistant (uncredited)
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| Gregg Barton | ... |
Enola Gay Navigator (uncredited)
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Holger Bendixen | ... |
German Submarine Commander (uncredited)
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| Lee Bennett | ... |
Sergeant (uncredited)
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| Joseph E. Bernard | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Margaret Bert | ... |
Townswoman (uncredited)
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| Robert Bice | ... |
Co-Pilot (uncredited)
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| William Bishop | ... |
2nd Lieutenant - Electronics Officer, Enola Gay (uncredited)
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| Carlyle Blackwell Jr. | ... |
Armed Guard (uncredited)
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| Larry J. Blake | ... |
Tough Military Policeman (uncredited)
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| Stanley Blystone | ... |
Civilian Guard (uncredited)
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John Bogden | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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| Charles Bradstreet | ... |
Airport Guard (uncredited)
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Tex Brodus | ... |
Enola Gay Ground Crewman (uncredited)
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| Paul Bryar | ... |
Army Officer (uncredited)
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Tom Burton | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Roy Butler | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| George M. Carleton | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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James Carlisle | ... |
Industrialist (uncredited)
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Douglas Carter | ... |
Quaker Scientist (uncredited)
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| Ed Cassidy | ... |
Rafferty (uncredited)
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Frank Chalfant | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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| Spencer Chan | ... |
Japanese Naval Officer (uncredited)
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Peter Chong | ... |
Japanese General (uncredited)
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Bron Clifford | ... |
Chaplain (uncredited)
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| Bruce Cowling | ... |
Enola Gay Ground Crewman (uncredited)
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Ralph Crane | ... |
Weatherman (uncredited)
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| Frank Dae | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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Bert Davidson | ... |
Armed Guard (uncredited)
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Boyd Davis | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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Harry Denny | ... |
Passing Officer (uncredited)
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| Tom Dillon | ... |
Gregor (uncredited)
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| Ralph Dunn | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Dick Earle | ... |
Industrialist (uncredited)
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Helen Eby-Rock | ... |
Townswoman (uncredited)
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| Blake Edwards | ... |
CIC Man (uncredited)
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Frank Erickson | ... |
Attendant (uncredited)
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| Herbert Evans | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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Lloyd Everett | ... |
Enola Gay Ground Crewman (uncredited)
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Budd Fine | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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| William Forrest | ... |
Brigadier General (uncredited)
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| Ted French | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Arno Frey | ... |
Nazi Official (uncredited)
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Paul Fung | ... |
Japanese Radar Officer (uncredited)
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Jack Gallagher | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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John Gannon | ... |
Orderly (uncredited)
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Stewart Garner | ... |
Communications Officer (uncredited)
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Kenneth Gibson | ... |
President Truman's Secretary (uncredited)
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Tom Gibson | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Frederick Giermann | ... |
Nazi Officer (uncredited)
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Bob Gilbert | ... |
Lieutenant - R.C.M., Enola Gay (uncredited)
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Jon Gilbreath | ... |
Attendant (uncredited)
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William Graeff Jr. | ... |
Emergency Switch Operator (uncredited)
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Clarke Hardwicke | ... |
Enola Gay Co-Pilot (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Scientist on Plane (uncredited)
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Harry Hayden | ... |
Harried Editor (uncredited)
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| Bill Hickman | ... |
Barometric Observer (uncredited)
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| Russell Hicks | ... |
General (uncredited)
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| Earle Hodgins | ... |
Gate Guard (uncredited)
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| Jimmie Horan | ... |
Soldier at Airfield (uncredited)
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James Horne Jr. | ... |
Barmetric Observer (uncredited)
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Anne Howard | ... |
English Laboratory Assistant (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Hunt | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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| Selmer Jackson | ... |
Senior Engineer (uncredited)
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| John James | ... |
Engineer (uncredited)
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William Janssen | ... |
Instrument Operator (uncredited)
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| Bobby Jordan | ... |
Radioman on Tinian Receiving A-Bomb Message (uncredited)
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| Tommy Kelly | ... |
Mack (uncredited)
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John B. Kennedy | ... |
Self - Newsreel Narrator (uncredited) (voice)
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Mike Killian | ... |
Senior Engineer (uncredited)
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| Martin Kosleck | ... |
Dr. O. E. Frisch (uncredited)
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| Paul Kruger | ... |
Construction Engineer (uncredited)
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| Al Kunde | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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| Peter Lawford | ... |
Member of Military Personnel (uncredited)
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| Nolan Leary | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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Jack Lee | ... |
Gen. Groves' Aide (uncredited)
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William F. Leicester | ... |
Enola Gay Flight Engineer (uncredited)
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Frank Leigh | ... |
British General (uncredited)
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James B. Leong | ... |
Japanese Army Officer (uncredited)
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Weaver Levy | ... |
Japanese Sailor (uncredited)
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Donald S. Lewis | ... |
Secret Service Man (uncredited)
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King Lockwood | ... |
Colonel Nichols (uncredited)
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| Richard Loo | ... |
Japanese Officer (uncredited)
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| Robert Malcolm | ... |
Keith (uncredited)
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Jack Manolas | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Chris-Pin Martin | ... |
Mexican Man (uncredited)
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| Louis Mason | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
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Roger McGee | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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Michael McGrath | ... |
Dr. Kistiakonsky (uncredited)
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Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart | ... |
Radio Operator (uncredited)
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| Patricia Medina | ... |
Mrs. Wyatt (uncredited)
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Danny Merrill | ... |
Scientist (uncredited)
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Sybil Merritt | ... |
Cute Guide (uncredited)
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| Torben Meyer | ... |
Milkman (uncredited)
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| Howard M. Mitchell | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Forbes Murray | ... |
Briefing Officer (uncredited)
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Merlyn Nelson | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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| James Nolan | ... |
President Roosevelt's Bodyguard (uncredited)
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| Wedgwood Nowell | ... |
Industrialist (uncredited)
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| Larry Nunn | ... |
Worried GI (uncredited)
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| Fred Nurney | ... |
Nazi Officer (uncredited)
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Ray Page | ... |
Meter Man (uncredited)
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| Eddie Parks | ... |
Bewildered Civilian (uncredited)
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| Charles Peck | ... |
GI Messenger (uncredited)
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Ray Pemberton | ... |
Electronics Engineer (uncredited)
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Bob Pepper | ... |
Crewman (uncredited)
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George Peters | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Tom Pilkington | ... |
Man with Counter (uncredited)
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| Otto Reichow | ... |
Nazi Officer (uncredited)
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| William Roberts | ... |
Enola Gay Radio Operator (uncredited)
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| Ellen Ross | ... |
Waitress (uncredited)
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Carl Saxe | ... |
German General's Aide (uncredited)
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| Frank J. Scannell | ... |
Winne (uncredited)
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Jerry Schumacher | ... |
Nazi Officer (uncredited)
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| Hans Schumm | ... |
Nazi Police Officer (uncredited)
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Dorothy Scott | ... |
Laboratory Assistant (uncredited)
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Robin Short | ... |
Young Scientist (uncredited)
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Leslie Sketchley | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Buster Slaven | ... |
Enola Gay Assistant Gunner (uncredited)
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J. Lewis Smith | ... |
Wolfish Soldier (uncredited)
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Eunice Soo-Hoo | ... |
Japanese Child (uncredited)
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Robert Spencer | ... |
Nuclear Scientist (uncredited)
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Jack Sterling | ... |
Enola Gay Tail Gunner (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Man at Time Capsule Ceremony (uncredited)
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Cedric Stevens | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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| William Tannen | ... |
Soldier at A-Bomb Test (uncredited)
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Richard Terry | ... |
Enola Gay Radarman (uncredited)
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David Thursby | ... |
English Bobby (uncredited)
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Frank Tomlinson | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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George Travell | ... |
Tinian Co-Pilot (uncredited)
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H.T. Tsiang | ... |
Prof. Okani (uncredited)
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| George Turner | ... |
Pilot (uncredited)
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| Harry Tyler | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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William Van Vleck | ... |
Evictee (uncredited)
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Leslie Vincent | ... |
English Junior Scientist (uncredited)
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| Emmett Vogan | ... |
Medical Major (uncredited)
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Hans von Morhart | ... |
Danish Customs Man (uncredited)
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| Eddy Waller | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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| Constance Weiler | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Harry T. Wensel | ... |
Wensel (uncredited)
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Carl Wester | ... |
Construction Engineer (uncredited)
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| Guy Williams | ... |
Enola Gay Bombardier (uncredited)
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Ronald Wong | ... |
Japanese Child (uncredited)
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Jack Worth | ... |
Nazi Officer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Norman Taurog | ||
Written by
| Frank Wead | ... | (screen play) |
| Bob Considine | ... | (original story) (as Robert Considine) |
Produced by
| Samuel Marx | ... | producer |
Music by
| Daniele Amfitheatrof | ||
Cinematography by
| Ray June | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| George Boemler | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Ballbusch | ... | montage effects |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| Hans Peters | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edwin B. Willis | ||
Makeup Department
| Jack Dawn | ... | makeup creator |
Production Management
| Sergei Petschnikoff | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Stanley Goldsmith | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Frank E. Myers | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| F. Keogh Gleason | ... | associate set decorator (as Keogh Gleason) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Special Effects by
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | special effects |
| Donald Jahraus | ... | special effects associate |
| Warren Newcombe | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Paul Mantz | ... | aerial director of photography (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Bobby Webb | ... | casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Irene | ... | costume supervisor |
Music Department
| Sidney Cutner | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leo Shuken | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| William A. Consodine | ... | military technical adviser: Manhattan Project (as William A. Consodine Col. A.U.S.) |
| David Hawkins | ... | scientific technical adviser: Los Alamos, New Mexico (as Dr. David Hawkins) |
| W. Bradford Shank | ... | scientific technical adviser: Los Alamos, New Mexico |
| Charles W. Sweeney | ... | military technical adviser (as Charles W. Sweeney Lt. Col. A.C.) |
| Edward R. Tompkins | ... | scientific technical adviser: Oak Ridge, Tennessee (as Dr. Edward R. Tompkins) |
| H.T. Wensel | ... | scientific technical adviser (as Dr. H. T. Wensel) |
| Paul Van Sloun | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Hal B. Wallis | ... | advisor (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Tony Owen | ... | acknowledgment: for his cooperation (as Mr. Tony Owen) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Century Pictures (1948) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1948) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner Archive Collection (2015) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- U.S. Army (special thanks)
- Western Electric (sound system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Docudrama on the development of the first atomic bomb. Told from the perspective of a film recovered from a time capsule several hundred years into the future, the story is narrated by Robert Oppenheimer (Hume Cronyn) and Major General Leslie Groves (Brian Donlevy) beginning with the Nazis stated goal of developing an atomic bomb. Along with Britain and Canada, the U.S. reacts by beginning its own atomic program. The major developments are all presented: Fermi's successful atomic chain reaction; building the huge complex at Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the production of the first supply of plutonium; the testing in the Nevada desert; and finally the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Behind a forbidden door is a terrifying secret! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $5,737,760 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | At the time of this production, there was a legal requirement that permission had to be obtained from well-known living public figures to be depicted on film. Several prominent scientists refused permission, including Niels Bohr, Sir James Chadwick and Lise Meitner. This unfortunately gave the film the appearance the Manhattan Project was more all-American than it really was. See more » |
| Goofs | In the movie the character Matt Cochran (played by Tom Drake) has an accident in the laboratory on Tinian that eventually kills him from radiation poison, but he is credited with saving 40,000 lives because of his self-sacrifice of bare-handedly separating the radioactive materials. This incident did not happen on Tinian. Rather, it reflects a similar accident that killed Canadian scientist Louis Slotin at Los Alamos NM in May 1946. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped (1995). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The opening credits, in light of a print of the film being locked in a time capsule to be opened in 2446, include the following: "You are about to see the motion picture sealed in the time capsule for the people of the 25TH Century." Subsequently, the end credits include the following in light of the opening statement: "To the people of the 25TH Century, This was THE BEGINNING. Only you, and those who have lived between us and you, can know THE END" See more » |
| Quotes |
End Title Card:
To the people of the 25th Century: The was THE BEGINNING. Only you, and those who have lived between us and you, can know THE END. See more » |