Customer Reviews

Enola Gay: Rain of Ruin [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first watched this movie, originally titled "Rain of Ruin," in 1995 on the History Channel and found it to be an excellent overview of the scientific, political, and military history of the Manhattan Project and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It's one of the few documentaries that are simultaneously dramatic and educational. The film begins with a brief countdown and then BOOM!-- The test shot in the New Mexico desert fills the screen. Eerie, spine-tingling music plays in the background while the narrator describes the scene. I'm a teacher and this opening sequence grabs my middle school students and draws them in. The movie's strength, however, lies primarily in its juxtaposition of film footage and interviews with surviving scientists and military men. The most helpful commentary is supplied by Fred Ashworth, a weapons expert who flew on Bock's Car to Nagasaki. His expertise and detailed reflections add a lot to an already fact-filled documentary. Conspicuously missing from the film, though, is Paul Tibbets, the commander of the 509th air group and the pilot of the Enola Gay. An added plus is the recounting of the harrowing Nagasaki mission, which is often overshadowed by the Enola Gay's bombing of Hiroshima. I highly recommend this as an educational source for students in grades eight and above and for adults who are interested in the atomic bomb, the war against Japan, or this time period in general.

I had to think hard to recall a video or any media production for that matter, that was void of a musical score. I present this as my first finding in this video, for remarkably, I found that it does matter that there is some sort of thematic music to accompany the narration. Somehow I always thought of myself as immune to such "trivialities" of media production, but when it is actually missing, it DOES make a difference.

So what you get with this production is a factually detailed and quite interesting narration of the story of the atomic bombs -- minus the music. The story covers everything pertinent to the issue, from the science of the Manhattan Project to the biographies of the scientists and military personnel involved, to the building of the B29's and the selection of the pilots to the actual bombing missions. Archival footage both still and reel is used and it is fairly effective, though not of great quality. Interviews with the men involved in the missions are included, but once again, the style in which the interviews are conducted is less than polished.

I was surprised, actually, at the lack of quality from a History Channel production. The facts are there, the package though is missing.

It would probably bore the typical high school student (maybe even some college kids), but for the WW2 buff, it will work.

I think this was a great help in teaching history. There was some music in the background. My children were not bored and it brought together the fighting in the island area and the bombing. I'm not a history buff, just a mom that wants the movies we watch to be educational and interesting.

I think this was a great help in teaching history. There was some music in the background. My children were not bored and it brought together the fighting in the island area and the bombing. I'm not a history buff, just a mom that wants the movies we watch to be educational and interesting.