The Beginning or the End (1947)

In the riveting docudrama, The Beginning or the End (1947), the genesis of the first atomic bomb unfolds with gripping intensity. Told through a cinematic relic discovered in a time capsule hundreds of years in the future, the narrative is guided by the voices of Robert Oppenheimer (Hume Cronyn) and Major General Leslie Groves (Brian Donlevy). Their tale begins in the sinister shadows of the Nazis' ambition to create an atomic bomb, a goal that sends tremors of fear across the globe. In response, the United States, in a desperate alliance with Britain and Canada, embarks on a clandestine journey to harness the volatile power of the atom. The story meticulously details key milestones in this scientific odyssey: Fermi's triumphant atomic chain reaction, the monumental task of constructing the vast complex at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the birth of the first plutonium supply. The plot then transports us to the barren landscapes of the Nevada desert, where the atomic beast is first unleashed in a test that forever alters the course of human history. The climax reaches a crescendo with the harrowing deployment of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a moment that is both a victory and a tragedy, marking a chilling new era of warfare. The Beginning or the End (1947) is a cinematic exploration of the razor-thin line between scientific advancement and the potential for global destruction.

The Beginning or the End is a documentary movie featuring John Litel.

The Beginning or the End is currently streaming on TCM.