“The Bomb” tells a powerful story of the most destructive invention in human history, outlining how America developed the nuclear bomb, how it changed the world and how it continues to loom large in our lives. The program premieres on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 on PBS in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the detonation of the atomic bomb. Through state-of-the-art transfer techniques that have turned recently declassified images into vivid, jaw-dropping footage, viewers witness the raw power and strangely compelling beauty of rare views of above-ground nuclear tests.
Related Programs
PBS continues to offer timely, relevant programs that look at history and the human experience. The premiere of "The Bomb," will be followed at 10 p.m. by "Uranium: Twisting The Dragon's Tail,” a two-part program that provides a fascinating journey through the complex history of the most controversial substance on Earth. Additionally, NOVA “Nuclear Meltdown Disaster,” which airs on July 29 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV, pays homage to the brave workers who stayed behind as an earthquake and tsunami crippled the nuclear power plant in one of history’s worst nuclear accidents.
The documentary includes interviews with historians Richard Rhodes, Martin Sherwin, Robert Norris, Sergei Khrushchev and others, along with men and women who helped build the weapon piece by piece. Audiences also hear from former Secretary of State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense William Perry, who reveal how the bomb was viewed inside government circles, as well as those who hold firsthand memories of seeing the first mushroom clouds fill the skies. This groundbreaking film provides captivating insights through its masterfully restored footage and its assembly of voices who were there when the atomic age began.
“The arc of this story is filled with fascinating breakthroughs, agonizing human dilemmas, and unintended consequences,” said Bill Margol, Senior Director of Programming and Development for PBS. “'The Bomb' provides a comprehensive look at the nuclear age and offers a chance for current generations to understand the indelible impact this discovery and invention had, and continues to have, on all of us.”
