Robert Stone’s Academy Award–nominated documentary reconstructs the 1946 Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. Built largely from previously unseen U.S. government archival footage and eyewitness accounts, the film recounts the relocation of the Bikini Islanders and the experiences of American sailors who were exposed to radioactive fallout during the experiments. The documentary later aired as part of the PBS series American Experience.
Directed by Robert Stone
environment
nuclear weapons
nuclear testing
american experience
marshall islands
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.6 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
W.H.P. Blandy
Self (archive footage)
Albert Einstein
Self (archive footage)
Crew
Robert Stone
Director
Robert Stone
Editor
Robert Stone
Director of Photography
Robert Stone
Producer
Kevin Rafferty
Associate Producer
Mary Ellen Porto
Assistant Sound Editor
Popular Reviews
2 reviews
glort
9.2★ · 05/03/25
this is a 5 star movie in my heart where it is about 40 minutes longer and spends more time with the bikinian people and the juxtaposition of archival propaganda footage with the forced relocation and starvation of the bikinians is more fully realized. alas that’s not quite what this is but it’s still one of the craziest camera zoom outs in film history. what can i say but death to america !
this is a 5 star movie in my heart where it is about 40 minutes longer and spends more time with the bikinian people and the juxtaposition of archival propaganda footage with the forced relocation and starvation of the bikinians is more fully realized. alas that’s not quite what this is but it’s still one of the craziest camera zoom outs in film history. what can i say but death to america !
glort
9.2★ · 02/10/21
watched this first when i was maybe 9 - rewatching now i’m realizing just how impactful it was on me. wish it showed us more about the forced relocation of the bikinian people; if i remember correctly it doesn’t really mention the starvation and abandonment they faced afterwards. anyway fuck the us and the us military forever
watched this first when i was maybe 9 - rewatching now i’m realizing just how impactful it was on me. wish it showed us more about the forced relocation of the bikinian people; if i remember correctly it doesn’t really mention the starvation and abandonment they faced afterwards. anyway fuck the us and the us military forever
