This 1951 film, sponsored by the U.S. Federal Civil Defense Administration, attempts to convince citizens to stay in their cities and fight in the event of a nuclear attack and nuclear war in America. Framed by a conversation between a newspaper editor and his colleague, the film claims that by fleeing threatened cities, citizens would be traitors contributing to decreased productivity and low morale. Instead the film insists citizens stay in their cities to help fight fires, clean up debris, and aid their neighbors. The film claims that people should not fear radiation and nuclear fallout as it clears up in a day or two. This downplaying of the dreadful effects of radiation is a recurring theme in American Cold War propaganda. Many different scenes showing war-torn European cities and mass evacuations, and even footage of New Yorkâs Holland Tunnel and Penn Station, punctuate this amazing civil defense film that's rank with propaganda techniques.
