{"id":3084,"date":"2007-04-30T13:58:12","date_gmt":"2007-04-30T20:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3084"},"modified":"2023-04-07T22:23:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-08T05:23:28","slug":"beginning-or-the-end-the-1947","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3084","title":{"rendered":"Beginning or the End, The (1947)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Our country <em>must<\/em> have an atomic bomb. It&#8217;s your job &#8212; and mine &#8212; to get it.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Poster-207x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-25067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Poster-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Poster-88x128.jpg 88w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Poster.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nScientists during WWII &#8212; led by Colonel Oppenheimer (Hume Cronyn) and General Groves (Brian Donlevy) &#8212; race to develop the first atomic bomb.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Atomic Energy<\/li>\n<li>Audrey Totter Films<\/li>\n<li>Brian Donlevy Films<\/li>\n<li>Hume Cronyn Films<\/li>\n<li>Hurd Hatfield Films<\/li>\n<li>Race-Against-Time<\/li>\n<li>Richard Haydn Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Walker Films<\/li>\n<li>Scientists<\/li>\n<li>WWII<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThough clearly dated, Norman Taurog&#8217;s <em>The Beginning or the End<\/em> remains a compelling docudrama about the Manhattan Project scientists and their work to develop an atomic bomb before the Germans and Japanese. We&#8217;re constantly reminded that bombs were considered the <em>least <\/em>noble application of atomic energy at the time; indeed, nobody involved in this collective undertaking is shown to be happy about the fact that the bombs they are developing will wreak such enormous devastation on humankind. Even the film&#8217;s very title indicates that, as early as 1947, scientists weren&#8217;t certain whether the incipient use of atomic energy signaled the beginning of a golden era, or the end of humanity. <\/p>\n<p>This general attitude is most effectively characterized by Tom Drake&#8217;s character, a young physicist who harbors a constant sense of unease about the ultimate purpose of his work; on the other hand, screenwriters Robert Considine and Frank Wead make sure to include plenty of dialogue about why America ultimately felt justified in dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It&#8217;s a sticky dilemma, and the film does an admirable job balancing the two perspectives. <\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, <em>The Beginning or the End<\/em> is marred by blatant sexism (women are exclusively secretaries or love interests); two distracting romantic subplots (Beverly Tyler as Cochran&#8217;s long-suffering wife is particularly annoying); stilted dialogue (the conversations between the scientists sound especially inauthentic); and some heavy-handed morality. Yet it remains a valuable first attempt at documenting the emergence of atomic power in the world, and for this reason alone, it&#8217;s worth seeking out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A compelling overview of the first atomic bombs, from their conception to their deadly deployment<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Explanation-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A fascinating glimpse of the tension felt during initial experiments with developing plutonium<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Pile-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A welcome depiction of the trepidation and genuine sorrow experienced by most involved with the bombs<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Trepidation-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tom Drake as the young physicist wracked with guilt<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Beginning-or-the-End-Cochran-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply for its historical importance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0039178\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1947\/02\/21\/archives\/atomic-bomb-film-starts-at-capitol-beginning-or-the-end-metro-study.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Our country must have an atomic bomb. It&#8217;s your job &#8212; and mine &#8212; to get it.&#8221; Synopsis: Scientists during WWII &#8212; led by Colonel Oppenheimer (Hume Cronyn) and General Groves (Brian Donlevy) &#8212; race to develop the first atomic bomb. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Atomic Energy Audrey Totter Films Brian Donlevy Films Hume Cronyn Films Hurd Hatfield Films Race-Against-Time Richard Haydn Films Robert Walker Films Scientists WWII Review: Though clearly dated, Norman Taurog&#8217;s The Beginning or the End&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3084\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3084"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90880,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3084\/revisions\/90880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}