Tales of Tomorrow: Blunder

Tales of Tomorrow: Blunder Originally broadcast on ABC on Friday, August 10, 1951 at 9:30 PM ET. Plot: A scientist is determined to proceed with a fission test despite warnings from his peers that he is making a mistake. Analysis: Like our last episode of Tales of Tomorrow, this show reflects a great fear of the early 50s, the fear of destruction by atomic weapons or by a simple mistake made by someone too stubborn to listen. Substitute a political leader for the scientist in the story who is determined to stop the other side, regardless of what might happen, and you have an idea of the paranoia and fear that existed at the time. All this despite pleas to remain calm, it could not POSSIBLY come to that. Could it? It is really not my place to soapbox on the pros and cons of nuclear power, given I am just a television critic and here for historical analysis, but the plot does raise the age old question of just because we can, does it mean we should? It is very difficult to put a genie back in a bottle once you have let it out, after all. It is, I suppose, just as topical a question now as it was in 1951. As for the show itself, it is quite good at building the feeling of suspense and fear about what might happen. I do not suppose it is a coincidence that there are ads for the World War II refugees in need of aid in Europe and for United States savings bonds during the broadcast either. Analysis: Technically, the show is fine with just a few visual and audio miscues, due to it being live television. Given it’s a kinescope, the quality of the image is not very sharp, but you can still make out fine detail and not be distracted by the performance. If you would like to watch Blunder, it is included with twelve other episodes in Tales of Tomorrow: Collection One (http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Tomorrow-Col....3424148 &sr=1-1). As before, this is only a portion of the first season of Tales of Tomorrow, but is relatively inexpensive if you would like to take a look. Next time, a trip out West with an American folk hero.