The Documentary Film Radio Bikini

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In 1988 Robert Stone directed a documentary film titled Radio Bikini: the most terrifying and unbelievable story of the nuclear age. The film documented the United States’ nuclear weapons tests in a small chain of islands known as Bikini Atoll. This paper discusses the background of Bikini Atoll to include the native population, the preparation of the tests, the results of the tests, and what we learned from the tests. This paper will also show that the movie was not completely objective. Various references were used to show the events, circumstances and accounts for what took place in the experiments. THE DOCUMENTARY FILM RADIO BIKINI 3 The Documentary Film Radio Bikini The world as we know it was built with events and circumstances that many of us are unaware of. One of the most powerful and deadliest discoveries of the human race in the twentieth century was the development of the atomic bomb. Many are aware that we dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in the end of the Second World War, but what many do not know are the extensive research operations that evaluated the technology to be used in future military operations. In the summer of 1946, American Government and Military forces conducted this research in Operation: Crossroads which was performed in the Bikini Islands. More than 40 years later in 1988 director Robert Stone directed and produced a documentary on these tests which was named Radio Bikini: the most terrifying and unbelievable story of the nuclear age. The film was hailed by critics for the content of the film and its use of newsreels and military film for the movie as one critic said, “Wha... ... middle of paper ... ...rine would have suggested as retaliation for the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Works Cited Koppes, C. R. (1994). Radio Bikini. American Historical Review, 1050-1052. Moore, M., & Weisgall, J. M. (1994, May). The Able-Baker-Where's-Charlie Follies. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 25-34. Niedenthal, J. (2014, July 13). Bikini Atoll basic facts. Retrieved from Bikini Atoll: http://www.bikiniatoll.com Operation Crossroads: Fact Sheet. (2014, 07 13). Retrieved from Naval History & Heritage Command: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq76-1.htm Rushin, S. (2014, 07 13). History of the Bikini Bathing Suit. Retrieved from Bikini Atoll: http://www.bikiniatoll.com Stone, R. (Director). (1988). Radio Bikini:the most terrifying and unbelievable story of the nuclear age [Motion Picture]. Waters Jr., O. (2006). Piddly Poom to Spectacular Boom. Naval History, 24-28.

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