Greg Mitchell’s new short film, his fifth in five years, was the first time he’s worked with his son Andy. The pairing is excellent as the Mitchells’ explore the story of the semi forgotten film THE BEGINNING OR THE END. It's the story of how an anti-bomb film was twisted into a pro-bomb tale.
The film was started when Edward Tompkins, one of the scientists working on the Manhattan project sent a letter to Donna Reed, about possibly doing a story about the creation of the atomic bomb. He was a former teacher of Reed's and he knew there was more to the story than what everyone was told and hoped to get both the good and bad out there. She took the idea to her producing partner and they were off and running. However along the way the project, which was planned to be an honest look at the bomb and what happened ran into official intervention when Leslie Groves, who was the man who ran the project, was made the liaison with the government. Honest and impartial went out the window and big brush whitewashing went in instead.
In an age where the media is being openly manipulated by the government, here is a prime example of the government altering the story for their own means. Out was the pro and con examination of the atomic problem, and in its place was a fictional love story about sacrifice for the greater good. The film makes it clear that what the filmmakers wanted to do went out the window as soon as Groves was the advisor.
HOLLYWOOD BOMB is a head trip. It’s a look back at time we thought was better than it is now to a time where it really wasn’t. The government had its agenda and it was going to make sure we livied in an atomic age. It’s a chilling tale about a film that was neutered and lessened by the interference.
Very much a film to search out the film HOLLYWOOD BOMB - HOW PRESIDENT TRUMAN AND GENERAL GROVES DESTROYED THE FIRST NUCLEAR EPIC.
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