The Day After (1983) Part 9

Few American movies have dealt as graphically with nuclear holocaust as The Day After, which accounted for the controversy that surrounded the telefilm at the time of its initial network broadcast. In previous films, nuclear warfare was a matter for crusading politicians or military might, but here, both are kept in the background (the airman played by William Allen Young is more concerned with returning to his new wife than his duties) and the focus is fixed firmly on middle America--literally so, as the setting is Lawrence, Kansas, the near-center of the country. Audiences are briefly introduced to a representative cross-section of American life, including a doctor (Jason Robards), a young bride-to-be (Lori Lethin), a graduate student (Steve Guttenberg), and an academic (John Lithgow), before the Bomb hits nearby Kansas City. The ensuing destruction is utterly horrific, but a few manage to survive to struggle vainly with rising radiation levels and the slow, inevitable collapse of society. As a protest vehicle, The Day After is a triumph--its scenes of nuclear devastation remain the most powerful statements against nuclear armament ever depicted. It's buoyed by strong direction from Nicholas Meyer, who previously specialized in fantasy (Time After Time), and a capable cast who weather the material with grim determination.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• The
• Day
• After
• Nuclear
• Holocaust
• War
• Bomb

[UnbreakableKGB]

Actually you can taste it.. or what appears to be the affects of it. Like a metallic taste in your gums.

[thatswassupone]

@thedrmat sad but true.

[TheReboot70]

thought "threads" was much more realistic.now that was sobering.this was sanatized for U.S. audiences because of the FCC.the reality would have been far more horrific.they felt we could'nt have handled it.this was also very very overacted.

[Django5198]

@wambam99999 Yeah I got that wrong. Harrisonville is about 45 miles south east of KS City right? That would probably make the distance between H and L about 90 miles. Just at slow walking pace it would take more than a day and with limited food and water and fallout everywhere they would be dead in basically no time. But it's just a film and it doesn't make it any less disturbing

[wambam99999]

@Django5198 It's waaaaaay more than 45 miles from Harrisonville to Larryville. They'd probably be dead before they reached the KS state line.

[Django5198]

At 7:44 he says they gotta get to Lawrence before they die of radiation and he came from Harrisonville which is about 45 miles away!!! In reality they would have died before they got to Lawrence

[utar88utar]

@AnarchistGoth "it's a beautiful DAY", mate

[Purplecatsoup30]

Denise, you stupid fucking bitch. Just let her die, folks. It's called natural selection.

Even though I don't believe in evolution XD

[willsco76]

@thedrmat...Your 100% correct, and if it does happen I'll be in a prime target with my arms and my eyes open.

[whiskerchild]

@AnarchistGoth

I do too.