Oppenheimer [DVD]

The recent release of the 1976 Adams Chronicles on DVD left only the release of Oppenheimer to complete the bifecta of the two finest dramatic miniseries ever broadcast on PBS. This seven part series was originally filmed in 1980 as a joint BBC and WGBH (Boston) production and was shown over seven consecutive weeks beginning May 11, 1982 as part of the PBS program American Playhouse. It depicts 15 years in the turbulent life of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who died in 1967, at the age of 62, but whose life and career remain controversial to this day. The story begins in 1938, when Dr. Oppenheimer was already recognized as a brilliant theorist in both particle physics and astrophysics (he was co-author of a prescient paper, along with graduate student Hartland S. Snyder, developing equations based on Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, demonstrating the possibility of a star collapsing in upon itself and forming a black hole). Together with Dr. Ernest Lawrence, Oppenheimer had turned the University of California at Berkeley into a renowned center for teaching physics. Sharply played by a distracted, self-absorbed and often edgy Sam Waterston, Dr. Oppenheimer is portrayed as a somewhat vain and preening professor, surrounding himself with an adoring clique of occasionally shallow yet brilliant students. He almost unconciously flits through 1930's left-wing circles, never seeming to land anywhere. Fascism is on the rise in Europe and Japan, and the Communist Party is in the vanguard of what the script labels - somewhat ironically given Stalin's immanent pact with Hitler - as 'uncompromising opposition'.This period will prove to be the source of his later difficulties, especially his troubled affair with the Communist Party member Jean Tatlock, as well as the left-wing affiliation of his brother and sister-in-law. Oppenheimer always refused to join the party, expressing doubts about life in the Soviet Union. Oppenheimer eventually heads the Manhattan Project, the crash program to develop an atomic bomb, which was successfully exploded in the New Mexico desert in July 1945. After the war, Oppenheimer was a chief advisor to the newly created United States Atomic Energy Commission, using the position to lobby for international control of atomic energy and to avert a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. He angered many politicians with his outspoken political opinions during the McCarthy era. Eventually, he had his security clearance revoked in a much-publicized and heavily politicized hearing in 1954. In that hearing, the lukewarm endorsement of Dr. Edward Teller, developer of the Hydrogen bomb, proved especially damaging to Oppenheimer. Teller's relationship with many colleagues was damaged, as well.Waterston's performance as Oppenheimer is stunning: revealing subtle aspects of the physicist's personality that only a wonderfully realized performance can provide. His large supporting cast, playing the famous scientists surrounding Oppenheimer, is equally superb. Especially noteworthy is David Suchet (Poirot) as the complex, enigmatic Edward Teller, carefully avoiding portraying the 'heavy' or malign presence he might easily have become. Edward Hardwicke is Enrico Fermi, playing his brilliance with a touch of humor. Kate Harper is a poignant Jean Tatlock. Manning Redwood is Gen. Leslie Groves, the military leader of the project, in charge of a group of unruly scientists he regards as flakes, prima donnas and security risks. The entire ensemble cast is magnificent.This seven hour series is one of the finest ever shown on American television. Our world was created out of these events, they are impossible to overdramatize. From science to world affairs, this series has it all. The events depicted here are enthralling. Most strongly recommended.Mike Birman.

President Harry S. Truman once said that the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.Seven years before Richard Rhodes' superb Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", the BBC produced a seven-part miniseries, "Oppenheimer", that was a character study of the people who designed and built the weapon that ushered in the Atomic Age, permanently joining science and technology to the state (and, in particular, the military), not merely making history, but changing the world forever.The production is impeccable, the casting nothing short of miraculous; not only the main characters, but even secondary characters bear uncanny resemblances to the persons portrayed. In particular are Sam Waterston in the title role of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project, who was based at the Los Alamos, NM, laboratory (the site for which he personally chose); Manning Redwood as General Leslie R. Groves, who oversaw the entire Manhattan Engineering District (the project's formal name); David Suchet as physicist, and ultimate nemesis of Oppenheimer, Edward Teller (who, nearly forty years later, whispered into Ronald Reagan's ear and brought us the Strategic Defense Initiative - "Star Wars") and Jana Sheldon as Kitty Oppenheimer. The attention to detail is uniformly excellent throughout.Part thriller, part love story - and ultimately a tragedy, this series faithfully recreates a chapter in world history - and that of science - that we dare not forget. Highest recommendation.(NOTE: Viewers who enjoy this series will also enjoy Jacob Bronowski's13-part series "The Ascent of Man" and the BBC film of Michael Frayn'splay "Copenhagen".)

I was lucky enough to see "Oppenheimer" when it was first broadcast on PBS, and have been checking Amazon literally for years, patiently waiting for it to be released on DVD (I think I pre-ordered it five years ago). Now the wait is over, for one of the great film dramas is about to hit the shelves... and I'm sure it will fly off the shelves as it should. The question is: Why has it taken so long for this amazing production to be released on video? Where has it been all these years? Well produced and exacting in detail, accuracy and drama, this story of the "father of the atomic bomb" is grips the viewer from the first few minutes to the last episode. Of course, we've all seen the famous footage of the Trinity test (over and over), but this film tells Robert Oppenheimer's story so well, it looks like the test footage was made for this film, rather than the other way around. The final episodes of the film well illustrates the heartbreaking and tragic end of the great physicist's career. Public television should have rebroadcast this wonderful program long ago. Let's be thankful it is finally available to the general public on DVD. Kudos to the producers and to Sam Waterston - for turning in the finest performance of his career.

Parts of the DVD did not work. Was blanked out

The series is beautiful.I have read many books on the subject and the film reconstructions are very precise.The actor in a leading role is perfect and expresses beautifully the Oppenhimer feelings.

I vividly remember seeing the original series back in 1980 and being hugely impressed with the production in every respect. Having just completed viewing it again my memory served me well!. It has lost none of it's power. A superb production with Sam Waterston especially dominating with what appears to be an accurate portrayal of Oppenheimer. Supporting cast equally impressive with David Suchet as Edward Teller "Father of the Superbomb" suitably manic and rather scary.!. The tension in the build up to testing the bomb wa sgripping, even when history tells us that the test was successful. The moral implications of use of atomic weapons also well handled. One very small criticism was the time between the test and the actual dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was really skimped in a couple of minutes. For purely dramatic effect it maybe could have been more detailed. Other than this definitely 5 stars and highly recommended both as drama and a historical document. Finally the quality of the transcription is excellent considering the age of the original.

I'd seen this on TV when it first came out so I knew it was excellent. Seeing it again did not disappoint me and I'm happy to have it to watch whenever I choose. The bonus interview with Oppenheimer himself was very moving and special because of the tremendous vulnerability of his wide open personality so brutalized by the way the government betrayed him and by his sheer brilliance. Sam Waterston should watch this portrayal over a few times to get him back to the kind of thing he should be doing rather than the thing he is.

Nothing to dislike. I viewed it.

A good example of how many people were branded communists simply because they were anti-fascist. With most western governments being appeasers the only country willing to fight the fascists was the USSR. Film shows how many scientists suffered as a result.