The Cold War began in 1945 with the end of WWII and ended 44 years later with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War was fought on many fronts, none of which included an actual battlefield. The main players in the Cold War were the United States promoting a Free Market Economy (laissez-faire capitalism) Capitalist Society and on the opposing Communist Socialist side were the Former USSR (Russia / Soviet Union), Nazi Germany, Chain, Korea, and other minor Asian & Eastern European countries. The four main battlegrounds for the war were, The Arms Race (Military Power), The Space Race, Political (ideological), & Economical. The Arms Race & Space Race players were mainly the US and the USSR, as both frantically tried to reach the moon first and produce the worlds first Nuclear and Atomic Bombs flagrantly spending large portions of their governmental budgets on building preventative military forces. The Political or Ideological battle was fought with spies and diplomats alike, but the main battlefront was newspapers, TV, and radio headlines laden thick with propaganda and biased media reports. The economical battle was fought on the playing fields of international trade with tariffs, sanctions, and trade embargoes.Topics on this DVD include: The Arms Race, History of Nuclear / Atomic Bombs, Cold War, Military Building, Anti Communist Propaganda
Included Films:
Brink Of Disaster
Brink Of Disaster
Produced: 1972
Length: 22 Minutes
Brink of Disaster is a bombastic lambasting of any alternative American behavior and opinions that differ from conservative values. The specific target is 1960s student activism. During the opening credits, the film captures footage of actual riots, marches, and protests, including the march on the Pentagon and the protests at Lafayette Park. Juxtaposing these images with footage of the Berlin Wall and the invasion of Hungary, the narrator comments that protesters have been duped by the Commies into thinking that America needs to change. Using some startlingly revisionist history, the film moves into a fantasy walk through when characters are visited by Great Americans from the past like Ben Franklin. (There are some nice shots of Jerry Rubin and H. Rap Brown). These wise sages tell stories about America and what the country is really all about. Incredible for its vitriol and outrage, Brink of Disaster remains one of the most telling films produced by conservative America in response to the cultural revolution.
Dew Line Story
Dew Line Story
Produced: 1960s
Length: 27 Minutes
A neat piece of cold war history! This film explains the D.E.W. Line (Distant Early Warning Line), an expensive network of military radar placed in northern Canada to detect Soviet bombers heading towards America. This was possibly the first incarnation of failed attempts at protection from nuclear attack during the cold war. The DEW Line, though costly in construction, became outdated after the advent of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. But this film serves as a captivating peak at cold war military attitudes and projects. The DEW Line Story is an interesting step on the way towards acceptance of mutually assured destruction.
On Guard! The Story of SAGE
On Guard! The Story of SAGE
Produced: 1956
Length: 12 Minutes
On Guard! The Story of SAGE is the amazing tale of a wacky precursor to the Star Wars nuclear defense plan. SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) was the first computer system used for American air defense during the Cold War. SAGE was built to prevent enemy bombers from coming unnoticed into US airspace. Images of children playing or sleeping punctuate the reasons for such tight security. The computer is astonishingly huge by modern standards, taking up two floors of IBMs SAGE building, and containing 56,000 electron tubes. The computer is shown being maintained by well-dressed workers as though it were the queen in a beehive. A veritable museum of old technology, the film contains priceless images of vintage electronics. On Guard! The Story of SAGE is a fun and informative classic film that deserves to be seen.
Secure The Blessings
Secure The Blessings
Produced: 1951
Length: 23 Minutes
Secure the Blessings is an exaggeratedly patriotic film that centers on the principles of democracy. The film follows an American house wife, factory owner, a senator, and others. All of these characters are facing a dilemma or issue and they are torn between doing what is right for themselves and their families versus what is better for the whole. But the point is that they are allowed to make decisions because of democracy. Through the proper education that they received as children, it is possible for them to use problem solving skills and thinking objectively to come to the right decision. Education is strongly promoted. The link between solid logic, knowledge, and reason is closely tied to democracy. Overall, Secure the Blessings is an informative relic of a strongly patriotic 1950s.
Subversion and Espionage Directed Against The Military
Subversion and Espionage Directed Against The Military
Produced: 1950s
Length: 9 Minutes
This Cold War video was made to train soldiers and government workers about the vital importance of keeping classified government information safe in a time where there are many countries trying to obtain it through clandestine activities. The Russians are after us! This was the common mentality during the Cold War. As the film will explain, there are many ways in which other countries try to steal important secret information and these agents are very sophisticated in their activities. Befriending an American official is one tactic. In order to obtain information but in order for this to not occur people must remain vigilant. The film makes public safety paramount, and insists on a unified American front when it comes to intelligence. It makes for a funky viewing of a different time when Americans had radically different concerns than they do today.
