MovieChat Forums > This Is Not a Test Discussion > Impending Doom

Impending Doom

posted 16 years ago by escalera-2
22 replies | jump to latest

"This is Not a Test" is effective as is "Panic in the Year Zero" (also released in 1962) because growing up under the cloud of impending nuclear doom, nobody knew exactly how they would react when the missiles flew. I was ten years old when this movie and many like it were released.

At the time we were bombarded with reminders that we could at any moment be reduced to festering heaps. There was a headline, a news report on TV reminding us of the threat every day, as well as the Emergency Alert system tests on TV and radio ("...had this been an actual alert..."), there were the weekly "Duck and Cover" Drills in school ("Those of you sitting near the windows close the Venetian blinds before getting under your desk."), there was a canned food drive with the cans of food stacked up at the rear of the class so we'd have something to eat after the blast (every school day they stood as silent reminders of the idea that we'd be eating canned yams while our families were out roaming through the rubble, our dogs mutating into horrible monsters), the yellow and black signs with arrows pointing towards a "Bomb Shelter" ("Memorize their locations, children!"), TV commercials and magazine articles about a "Build-it Yourself!' Bomb Shelter, the Air Raid sirens tested every week (10 AM Fridays in Los Angeles) and even our breakfast cereals contained nuclear missile and launcher replicas ("Collect 'em All!"). We couldn't escape from the idea of the possibility.

Every child thought thought they would be brave and certainly survive somehow. All these movies and the giant bug films struck a chord.

"This is Not a Test" and movies in like them may seem corny now, but -- holy cow! -- not back then!

A good double feature might be "Atomic Cafe" with this title as a chaser.

[–] gary_overman 15 years ago

In its' own away, TINAT is a effective film , although it tended to promote some pretty ridiculous notions, such as a 200 mile blast radius. No weapon in either the US or the Soviet arsenal had such destructive power.
If they were 50 miles away from ground zero, they would almost certainly survive the intial blast, provided that flash from the detonation did not blind them.
I think that the three most sensible people in the film were Grandpa and granddaughter, and her boyfriend. And assuming the granddaughter and boyfriend reached the mine shaft in time with a good stash of food and water, their chances for survival were actually fairly good.
The cop, while his intentions were good, ultimately doomed the party by insisting that they remain in the trailer. The blast would not kill them but the radiation from the fallout certainly would, as exposed as they were. If Grandpa had told the others about the mine shaft, there is a darned good chance that they could have survived, as the walls of the mine would have shielded them from the fallout. Besides, (and I am usually pretty supportive of cops in general) his attitude genuinely sucked.
What any people caught in the open could have expected was a blinding flash of light, turning night into day, lasting for several seconds. I do mean blinding literally; if you look on the flash you likely will suffer from permanent retinal damage. Then, depending on how far away from ground zero they were, several minutes could elapse before the shock wave hits them. This will have two phases. The first could feel like an earthquake, and then the air will feel like a sudden altitude change. The shock wave from the ground will, IIRC, arrive first, and will be most severe in the area immediately surrounding ground zero and will lessen in severity the further out that you are. Heat may or may not be felt depending on the distance from the detonation.
All of the effects will be lessened the farther away from the blast that you are.
And then remember that you have the fallout to contend with after.

[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

I think I can throw it on and watch it again.

But, allow me to say this:

Back in the day (I don't know why it doesn't feel the same to me now, what with madmen at arm's distance of The Button), I think no one thought much about range. I thought THE BOMB was going to fall right on my head and, I suspect, everyone thought the same would happen to them.

I agree that Gramps was the smart one. He gave up his seat and share of the food and water so the youngsters would have a chance. Perhaps he cut out rest of the group because eh figured that the squabbling at the roadblock would have continued in the mine shaft and, providing everyone made it out of THAT, would go on afterwards.

The Police Officer was being level-headed and all, doing things as he saw fit. He just wasn't the guy to be in charge. He had the makings of a good traffic cop. Not a bad leader, but assumed to much.

Still, that's the way the story goes and the characters were well fleshed out.

I'll see if I change my mind about any of this after I have watched it again.

Good observations, Mr. Overman.

[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

Okay, I only got to see the first 15 minutes or so but I'll get back to it.

Now, the truck driver said that they were 15 miles from town and a missle something or another (fuel refinery?) was not so far away, I don't believe he specified a distance. But he figured they were at Ground Zero and that was a bit of drama on the character's part. They were, seemingly, in the vicinity of what would make a good target.

Without question, Gramps was the best man for the job of leading or at least advising the Police Officer. He was a smart guy.

The T-Bird girl is a dollface.

[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Hi guys. I haven't watched TINAT in a couple of years but will try to do so in the coming days...assuming there are any days still to come......

Gary's observations are always good, his knowledge and details accurate and specific, his conclusions scientific and logical.

What the hell are you trying to do to us, Gary? Ruin TINAT???!!!

[–] gary_overman 15 years ago

You guys are too kind to the old man of the group.

In any event, it always somewhat amuses me to see people that don't know what they are talking about trying to tell us about what nuclear devices can do. Oh, and hob, please don't think that this little peculiarity is restricted to liberal sites on the web, as I have seen it disturbingly often on some of the more conservative sites as well.
So, I am an equal-opportunity debunker.
On this one gun site that I am on quite often, one (unfortunately) frequent poster wrote that he had specialized training in the military and they told him that 'if you see the cloud, you're dead'. Hogwash. I've had the Civil Defense training and they told us that we can protect ourselves from the effects of even a fusion device, if it is not too close. And they told us how. Anyway, this guy has no credibility with me as he claims to read off officers and reporters, saying stuff to them that would merit a court-martial, and he is extremely loud and belligerent as well.
Anyway, back to topic (sorry for the rant). While over-all this film is pretty good, it does tend to represent the police in what is a rather dated manner. In the early 1960's, for example, you did what the police officer told you, and that was that. If the officer had not just insisted on total obedience and told the folks early on why they were being stopped, he might have gotten more co-operation. Instead, he seemed to take the approach of 'do it because I said to'. Thus, while he might have been doing his job, he came across as a complete jerk.
Again, thank you both once more for your very kind words.

[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

You're taking this little movie and giving it some good background. I think that it is necessary to know in order to understand why it is the way it is. Those were very different times.

The Police Man had a sense of duty. The character apparently had been trained to deal with the situation. He knew where to go and what had to be done and why. Did he have any family? He probably did. Then he would have been a knot of emotions and a lot of his actions were strained. He may have even been in the service during WWII or Korea. His sense of duty was very strong. He expected people to listen up like good soldiers. It was obvious that the bunch he had were everything but.

Sure, I'm projecting, but I don't think it would be far off the mark.

You had to be there -- that is, lived through the time --- to understand. Now, whipper-snappers might think "What was the big deal? That cop can't do that! I got my rights!"

As youngsters, we'd watch the the film taken at Hiroshima after the drop, and it was right in there, right in the pickle barrel, shot right in the center not from several miles away and it took little imagination to see our homes and major buildings reduced to the same state. ("My record collection!") Unrealistic? Maybe, but it was what we knew then and all we knew.

Nothing happened. No Nike missles went a-flyin'. They stayed in their neat little silos and mobile launchers. Those back yard fall-out shelters became symbols of our panic. Heh, heh, heh. Gosh, is my face red. "Bay of Pigs? You got all upset over nothin'! Nothin'!"

If they would only listen to Gramps...

[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

I think maybe you meant the Missile Crisis. The Bay of Pigs only involved Cubans, so who cares if Ricky Ricardo got splayed (as in, "You got some 'spaly-nin' to do")*** on the beach? How did that affect us Americans?? I'm goin' to the ballpark.

Personally, my primary reaction to the cop in this film is that "actor" Seamon Glass was positively the worst thespian ever to strut out of the Chorus. I'll have to check, but I strongly suspect this was his only film. Guess his talents had hit their Glass ceiling.

But true, his bullying, my-way-or-the-highway (literally) attitude wasn't exactly helpful.

Oddly, the one part of this I recall that struck me as the most realistic, for some reason, was his last radio message to his HQ, giving them his final information and making sure they knew where to look later on...assuming anyone was still around to look.

And we know what they'd find on that site, anyway.

First officer in radiation suit: "Well, that ol' moving van is just a puddle of melted tin."

Second officer in radiation suit: "Did you find any sign of survivors?"

"Nah, nothin'...'cept, we did find this charred bra, and oh yeah, a roasted poodle."

Second officer (chuckling): "Well, at least someone went out with a bang!"

"Yeah, man! Well, we'd better get back to the bunker. My air's running out."

See you guys in a few...

***For the benefit of Gary, re the recent comment by his junior senator, Tom Coburn, at the Sonia Sotomayor hearings.

[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

I stand corrected and bow-wow to the master.

Second officer in radiation suit: "Hey -- wait a second! What's that noise?"

First officer in radiation suit: "Something's moving up there...someone's crawling out of that hole..."

Second officer in radiation suit: "...it's a girl."

First officer in radiation suit: "Wait! There's a guy!"

Second officer in radiation suit: "Probably a looter!"

First officer in radiation suit: "Just what we need. You got a clean shot? Better pick him off."

Second officer in radiation suit: "Hold still...."

SOUND FX: (rifle shot) Bang!

Second officer in radiation suit: "That takes care of him."

First officer in radiation suit: (yelling) "You're safe now, Honey!"

Second officer in radiation suit: "I seen her first!"

[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

"I just saw me a potential rapist-murderer in the woods. I hung him. He ain't gonna rape and murder nobody."

Sayonara.

[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

"See you next Wednesday!"

[–] gary_overman 15 years ago

<Personally, my primary reaction to the cop in this film is that "actor" Seamon Glass was positively the worst thespian ever to strut out of the Chorus. I'll have to check, but I strongly suspect this was his only film. Guess his talents had hit their Glass ceiling.>

No, it actually was not the only movie he was in, as his film carreer lasted for about thirty years. but TINAT was one of his first films. Still, I agree with you here Hob: his acting in this film would hardly merit an Academy Award.

[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Yeah, I went and looked after I wrote that, and was shocked -- shocked -- to find he had this very long and productive career. I've seen some of the things he was credited in but never recognized the guy. Guess I'll have to re-look, if not re-evaluate.

I also see he's still alive, at 84 this year. I strongly suspect he's still capable of ordering us around and breaking us in two. So, Seamon, if you peek in on this exchange, I'm really, really, sorry!

Though unrepentant.

Back to the van!

[–] gary_overman 15 years ago

I like the way that one poster described Glass' character in this film: Barney Fife on steroids.
Good to have you back, my friend.

[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Yeah, but with real bullets and an aversion to panting poodles.

Actually, I'm just peeking in myself these past 24. Have to leave for another 6 or 7 days this afternoon, and then back only for another 24, but with full confidence that you and e-2 can carry on famously. But will be back more or less full time after next week. Have fun, guys, and make many Seamon Glass-worthy posts. Believe me, you don't want to upset him.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] escalera-2 15 years ago

dee2364 -- What did you think of this title? It must have some meaning to you since you apparently lived through those days. Any other titles come to your mind that shook you up then?

Thanks for your input.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] escalera-2 14 years ago

Thanks so much for the response, dee2364.

As noted by others, This Is Not A Test is hardly a masterpiece, but it is a notable entry, an artifact of the times, worth the time to watch it, and controversial. If not the movie itself, the scenario is worthy of discussion.

"Where were you in '62?"

[–] thegalaxybeing 14 years ago

I feel this film was unjustly panned. It accomplished exactly what it set out to do. I think many find it difficult to get past it's obvious low budget and unknown performers. Some don't care if a film is imaginative as long as it looks professionally made. To some a "professionally made" film must have a big budget or at least have the traditional Hollywood Feel. I know this film has some negative issues, but it certainly gets it's point across.

I saw this on TV as an 8 or 9 year old boy (about 1963/64) and it's ending really chilled me. I tried to find it but couldn't remember the title. One day, I got a dollar DVD with four sci-fi movies on it and as I saw the plot unfolding I realized I had finally found the movie.

This film's starkness helped to emphasize the paranoia. The filmmakers and cast accomplished a lot with merely a road, some cars, some flairs, a radio, a dog, some liquor bottles, a gun, and a large truck.

[–] escalera-2 14 years ago

Agreed. Good points, good points.

I've read your stuff before, thegalaxybeing, and I've come to appreciate your input. My thanks for sharing your thoughtful opinions.

Rats! -- now I'll have to watch this title again someday soon!

[–] thegalaxybeing 14 years ago

Thank you for the kind words

[–] henrimaine 7 years ago

Thanks for these comments. Interesting to read the memories of people who actually experienced those times of nuclear scare. I can imagine that back in the day this small movie could have been rather effective. I personally remember the later years of Cold War. The nuclear drill was not so frequent anymore, but the possibility of nuclear holocaust was still printed in my mind.