Atomic Attack

This teleplay has New York hit with a nuclear Pearl Harbor, several other cities as well. Phyllis Thaxter is at home with her two daughters Patty McCormack and Patricia Behrens when the flash is shown and the shock wave hits in their Hudson Valley suburb. The story concerns how the family copes, especially because dad was more than likely in New York at the time.

Robert Keith plays a J. Robert Oppenheimer like scientist who had certain security clearance problems before the attack. He's a bit paranoid understandably. A young Walter Matthau is also in this, also playing a doctor with civil defense training. By the way the Russians are never mentioned, the attackers are referred to as 'the enemy'.

I suppose we should be grateful those paranoid days are gone. This film is a painful reminder.