The Day After

I remember viewing this movie back in the 80's. The movie still scares me today. With all the wars and fighting going on. World War 3 is still a high possibility. Nobody is ready, not even myself. This movie is a must see for everyone. A Very realistic Nucular War movie.

The day after is an awful reminder about the unavoidable question. What if ? . The lethal consequences of a supposed nuclear attack and the complex process of reconstruction, moral, spiritual, physical; a crude and devastating portrait about that mere possibility. A issue in which most of people prefer to overlook.

Jason Robards stars in this movie about an all-out nuclear exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States.

The movie is set in and around Lawrence, Kansas. There is an air force base nearby, as well as approximately 150 nuclear missile silos. All in all, this part of the country has a huge target on it's back. The Soviets have invaded West Germany, and tactical nuclear weapons have been used by each side. But these tactical nukes are only the beginning, as each side eventually fires off their ICBMs.

The lives of several families in Kansas are about to change forever. Robards stars as Dr. Russell Oakes. As soon as the missiles strike, he begins helping patients suffering from widely varying degrees of injuries. Although injured himself, he, along with other doctors and nurse Nancy Bauer (JoBeth Williams), continues to treat patients.

John Cullum stars as Jim Dahlberg. He and his wife Eve (Bibi Besch) own a farm very close to one of the missile silos. Their daughter Denise (Lori Lethin) is planning her wedding day. Suddenly, the peace is shattered as the missile silo near their home opens up and releases its deadly cargo. Eve is upstairs making the bed as if nothing is happening. Jim is forced to drag his wife, who's kicking and screaming, to the basement. Meanwhile, Denise pauses to pick up her wedding dress, which she'll never be able to wear, on her way to the basement. The Dahlbergs are joined later on by Stephen Klein (Steve Guttenberg), a University of Kansas student who was on his way home to see his parents when the missiles hit.

John Lithgow stars as Joe Huxley, a professor who attempts to re-establish communications after the attack by placing a small receiver on the roof of a building.

I was eighteen years old when this program was aired on network television. I can still remember being glued to the screen as the missiles were launched at the Soviets while the Soviet missiles destroyed Lawrence, Kansas. The special effects, including the billowing mushroom clouds, are very good, and the other aspects of the attacks, such as the onset of nuclear winter and the devastating effects of radiation poisoning, are handled very well, too.

I recommend this movie very highly. The acting is very good, and the story is chilling. Although the threat of nuclear war has greatly diminished in the years following the release of this movie, viewers can still get a glimpse of what could possibly happen. Let's hope it never does.

As old as this movie is, it still gives us a perfect warning against making the mistake of never taking anything for granted. What we may have today, may not be there tomorrow. Unfortunately, as long as there a thousands of nuclear weapons spread around the world, the scenes shown in this film still present a very real possibility for future events.

This is very scarey but could be possible. Jason Robards was really great in his part & everything was so believable. COULD ALL HAPPEN.