FALLOUT
© ATOM 2013 A STUDY GUIDE BY BRUCE DENNETT
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-329-8 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au To the teacher,
How to make the best educational use of the documentary Fallout (Lawrence Johnston, 2013) is ultimately based on your professional judgement and 1 discretion. 2 Depending upon your class and personal 1: NEVIL SHUTE 2: STANLEY expertise, you can: KRAMER 3: AVA GARDNER Fallout ON LOCATION 4: HIROSHIMA 1 Simply show from start to finish and then use (PHOTO: WAYNE MILLER) this study guide. Hence it becomes a kind of enriched research task.
2 Have students read through the study guide first so that they have at their disposal a preview of Fallout – in other words, they know what to look for as they watch. This allows you to pre-test aspects of your students’ knowledge and skills.
3 Break the viewing of Fallout into manageable units or sections, and vary the student activity from, for example, watching for five to ten minutes at a time, to 3 writing, to discussion, to researching, and back again. This approach gives you more immediate control of the resource and how it can best meet the needs of Preface your class.
Above all, this study guide is not intended to be definitive Fallout is an insightful documentary that can or prescriptive. Rather, it is intended to serve as an be viewed on a variety of levels. A study of the additional resource to support learning. documentary has direct relevance to the study of History, English, Social Sciences, Religious Studies, the Physical Sciences and Media.
At the most basic level, it is the story of the writing 4 of the novel On The Beach by Nevil Shute, the making of a major Hollywood motion picture in Australia and the ongoing resonance of Mr Shute’s vision. Beyond that it is also the story of the creative process, which is the topic of the documentary, and offers insights into:
1 how the idea for Nevil Shute’s novel On The Beach was born – for English students the novel is part–science fiction, part-tragedy and also a warning about the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons; 2 how the famous film director Stanley Kramer took the novel and translated it into a motion picture – for students of media, drama and
history on film, both Fallout and Stanley SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Kramer’s film open fields of study into the power of both the written word and cinematic images; 3 the fragile and tenuous grip that the human species has on life on the planet.
2 DONNA ANDERSON GIDEON HAIGH
in the development of the atomic bombs used Overview of the content of against civilians in Japan. Fallout The decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan Fallout begins by focusing on the issue of nuclear remains controversial. Were they just used to bring weapons. Author and journalist Gideon Haigh the war to a speedy end? Or as Paul Ham suggests makes the point that Nevil Shute, through his in his book Hiroshima Nagasaki, were there other novel On The Beach, brought the issues of nuclear factors involved? Some historians, notably Gar weapons and the threat that they posed to life on Alperovitz, have argued that the bombs were used the planet to a wide and general audience. as a warning to the Soviet Union of America’s military might. If this is true, the Cold War began Fallout then traces the life of Nevil Shute Norway sooner than many of us assumed. from his childhood in Britain until his ultimate move to Australia as an internationally acclaimed Were both bombs needed? Historians have again novelist (Shute had already written fifteen pointed out, as noted in Fallout, that the Hiroshima published novels in the UK before relocating to bomb and the Nagasaki bomb were different Australia). types. Did the scientists and the Generals want the chance to use, test and compare the bombs and Although the real name of the creator of On The discover which of them was deadlier? Beach was Nevil Norway (Shute was his middle name), he became better known as Nevil Shute, Many of these issues are explored in Oliver the nom de plume he used as a writer. The Stone’s upcoming series and interview/ documentary follows this separation and reviews article with Philip Adams:
The fact that, as noted in Fallout, Neville Shute In general, the second part of Fallout then moves took more of an interest in just how his book was on to the making of the film version of On The filmed in the case of On The Beach than any of his Beach (Stanley Kramer, 1959). This introduces other novels provides evidence that On The Beach the filmmaker, the producer and director Stanley was perhaps more personally important to him Kramer. The focus becomes: than his other novels. It combined his two roles as engineer and author and may have challenged - turning a book into a film; his conscience as a consequence of his observing - the career of Stanley Kramer; the role played by scientists in creating the tools - the Hollywood stars – Gregory Peck, Ava of death and destruction and ultimately their role Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson – who came to Melbourne, Australia, to make the film; - the clash between Nevil Shute and Stanley Kramer during the making of the film version of
the novel; SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 - the response of the American government to the film; - the international response to the film.
Fallout concludes by addressing the ongoing threat posed to life on the planet due to nuclear weapons. There are more countries that have access to PAUL HAM nuclear weapons now than ever before. 3 2
2 3
1: STANLEY KRAMER WITH NOVEL ON THE BEACH Research – going further for deep 2: R100 PREPARES TO MAST 1 understanding 3: ANTHONY PERKINS AND FRED ASTAIRE 4: HIROSHIMA MOTHER AND CHILD (PHOTO: 1 As you watch the first part ofFallout that WAYNE MILLER) If terrorist groups gained access to nuclear material reviews Nevil Shute’s life and career, construct they are more than likely to use it as part of their a timeline highlighting the main events of terror campaign. Shute’s life, laid next to the key historical events of his times. The last image on the screen in the documentary 2 Although Fallout does not specifically mention is the explosion of an atomic bomb with its now the famous British inventor Barnes Wallis by familiar mushroom cloud. name, he and Shute crossed paths. Wallis was the lead designer of the British airship Task – Make up your own mind R100. Wallis and Shute were both linked to the secret British World War II organisation In the first minutes of the documentary, Gideon known as the Department of Miscellaneous Haigh described On The Beach as ‘the most Weapons Development. Wallis designed the important Australian novel of all’. bouncing bomb (shown in Fallout that was used to smash the German dams on the Ruhr Conduct a class discussion: Do you agree with this during World War II). Fallout in fact makes description of On The Beach? use of film footage from the motion picture The Dam Busters (Michael Anderson, 1955). During the discussion, think about and share your Research the life and times of Barnes Wallis to ideas on the following points: deepen your understanding of the scientific and technological world that Nevil Shute worked in -- Is On The Beach really an Australian novel? before he became a world-famous novelist. Nevil Shute was born and educated in Britain. As Fallout notes, the appeal of Australia for Barnes Wallis:
all share the same fate. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 -- If you agree with Haigh, why is On The Beach so important?
4 The Day After and On The Beach
In 1983, Nicholas Meyer directed The Day After. The film focused on the consequences of the outbreak of a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
Although both The Day After and On The Beach were described as ‘science fiction’ and ‘drama’ and were made more than thirty years apart, each of 1 these films had a major impact on public opinion. Both films attracted criticism from the American government of the time when they were made.
The Day After: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2B7sdLPMfc
Also enter into YouTube: ‘Film of A bomb tests’
Watch the various documentaries and parts of feature films that deal with nuclear energy and the atomic bomb. How do the films you have chosen increase your understanding of the context of atomic bomb testing?
Make a note of the aspects of bombing tests that strike you as interesting. Do you think the context is different today?
Think:
In Fallout, Nevil Shute’s daughter pointed out that 2 her father had suffered a number of heart attacks during his life, the first while still only in his thirties.
Consider whether, and how, Shute’s earlier life – The Manhattan Project including the death of his brother during World War and the development of I, his own expectation of service in that war and the atomic bomb then service in World War II, combined with his heart attacks – might have influenced his thoughts Fallout shifts to a focus on the about life and death that appear as such powerful development of the atomic bomb. 3 themes in On The Beach. This section includes a reference to the famous comment made by Robert 1: SITE OF ATOMIC TESTS IN Oppenheimer, the physicist in charge of the MARALINGA 2: HIROSHIMA Manhattan Project who, after seeing the awesome – CIVILIANS AND JAPANESE power of the first nuclear explosion, quoted a line TROOPS (PHOTO: WAYNE from a famous Hindu text: ‘I have become death, MILLER) 3: HIROSHIMA – ELDERLY FEMALE SUFFERING the destroyer of worlds’. RADIATION ILLNESS (PHOTO: WAYNE MILLER) 4: HIROSHIMA There are a number of very good films that deal – JAPANESE TROOPS (PHOTO: with the Manhattan Project and the risks of nuclear WAYNE MILLER) war; see the YouTube links below to see parts of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 these films:
Fat Man and Little Boy (Roland Joffé, 1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91lZ7xQOdPc
Day One (Joseph Sargent, 1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxcAqvfPvSI 4 5 1
- The Defiant Ones (1958) - Inherit the Wind (1960) - Judgement at Nuremberg (1961) - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
Kramer’s award-winning films were seen as progressive and challenged audiences to think. In doing so, they had the potential to change FRED ASTAIRE social attitudes. Beyond that, many of Kramer’s AVA GARDNER films celebrate the potential power of the ordinary person to influence the laws and governments of The creators of On The 1: NEVIL SHUTE AT POND their day. Beach HEAD, 1945 2: AVA GARDNER AND GREGORY PECK AT FRANKSTON STATION Research two of the films from this list and note the Nevil Shute the novelist and themes that seemed to attract the director. Stanley Kramer the filmmaker Stanley Kramer:
- No Highway (1948) - A Town Like Alice (1950) - The Far Country (1952) - In the Wet (1953) - Beyond the Black Stump (1956) - The Rainbow and the Rose (1958)
Note the themes that seemed to occupy the novelist.
Nevil Shute:
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer was a successful Hollywood film director and producer. In addition to On The Beach, he had an impressive list of award-winning films to his credit, including: 2 6 3
• If you answered no, why not? 1 2 • Would you change your mind if all the people that you knew and loved would still be alive? • If you answered yes, why? 1: ANTHONY PERKINS 2: AVA ages, different societies and religions have thought • Would you change your mind if all the people GARDNER AND MANAGER about ideas of a life after death, renewal, and even that you knew and loved where long dead? 3: FRED ASTAIRE, GREGORY reincarnation. • Should the age of a person make a difference PECK AND AVA GARDNER 4: CAST when it comes to the possibility of a ‘second Go to the following links: chance’ at life? -- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archive/ • Is the death of a young person more tragic than old-news-pages/first-cryogenic-centre/ the death of an old person? If so, why? If not, story-e6frfhjf-1111112167332/ why not? -- http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/07/waking -up-to-the-future-the-cool-world-of-cryogenic One of the minor characters in the novel and the -stasis/ film is Jennifer, the infant daughter of Lt Peter Holmes and his wife Mary. You will see that cryogenics is the science of freezing the remains of people who have died in Think about the power of the two pieces of imagery the hope that at some time in the future, medicine used by Stanley Kramer in the film. The first is the and science will have found a cure for whatever character of Jennifer. In your view, what does she illness or injury was responsible for the person’s represent? death. The body will then be thawed out and brought back to life. Select one of the themes from the list below that can be linked to the image of the little girl. Explain Write a brief response (2–3 lines) to each of the in 5–10 lines how the filmmakers of On The Beach questions below and then compare your answers and Fallout develop that theme. with those of other members of the class. -- Innocence • Would you want your body to be frozen after -- Hope?* you died in the hope that at some time in the -- The future future you might be brought back to life? -- Family
*Why do you think there is a question mark next to the theme of hope?
Another powerful piece of imagery and irony (an idea that challenges what we expect, or the obvious meaning) used by Stanley Kramer in the closing scenes of the film is the banner that had
been seen early in the film at a religious meeting. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 The banner reads ‘There is still time, brother’. At Christian revival meetings, this expression means that there is still time for sinners to repent their sins and be saved.
In your view, what meaning does the message ‘There is still time, brother’ have for the film audience? 4 7 1 2
Follow the YouTube link below and look and listen carefully to the scene where Dr Julian Osborne (Fred Astaire) tries to explain what happened and 1 why all the people on earth are going to die.
1: HIROSHIMA – CIVILIANS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc7y8xs6QXw Rating – you make the AND JAPANESE TROOPS (PHOTO: WAYNE MILLER) Then imagine what you would do, or say to classification 2: HIROSHIMA – ELDERLY FEMALE SUFFERING other people in the scene, if you were one of the Imagine your class is a special committee set up to RADIATION ILLNESS (PHOTO: characters in the film faced with the same fate and decide whether or not the documentary Fallout or WAYNE MILLER) 3: DONNA the same arguments. ANDERSON ON LOCATION either of the film versions of On The Beach (Stanley Kramer, 1959; Russel Mulcahy, 2000) be shown in • Would you, like Mary Holmes, just want people schools. to stop talking about the end of life on the planet? Would you want to put it out of your Use this document and the focus questions set out mind and worry about it later? Or would you below as part of a class discussion: want to say something? • If you choose to be silent, write an interior • Is the ending of the films On The Beach and monologue: that is, write what your character the documentary Fallout too ‘dark’, or too would be thinking during this scene. Put depressing and frightening? into words exactly what is going on in your • Do the films and the documentary encourage character’s mind. This should include every young people to be too critical of those in thought and observation, large and small. Or, authority? What is the impact of a highly critical if you want to speak out, write a dialogue: population on society? take note of a point in the scene when you • In the films, the government encourages think that you would speak. You are now the suicide and suggests that it is expedient – do novelist or the screenwriter. You can let your you agree? character interrupt the others part-way through the scene, either to agree, to disagree or to Empathy add something. Or you can wait until the others have stopped speaking and then have your say. Emotional understanding through • If you think that you would want to say a writing task. something, what would you say?
Interior monologue, also known Use the YouTube links set out below to watch SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 sometimes as ‘stream of the 2000 made-for-television remake of the film consciousness’ or dialogue directed by Russell Mulcahy:
Imagine that you are a character in -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv_OJBBa the film. You are not one of the main F48&list=PLF31E9A5765EFE9CD characters, but you get to see and 3 hear many of the same things that Write a 1000-word critical review of both versions. they do. Consider the similarities and the differences 8 PRODUCTION CAMERA
CREDITS Camera Equipment Written and Directed INSPIRATION STUDIOS LAWRENCE JOHNSTON SOUND Sound Equipment
Produced by MURRAY TREGONNING PETER KAUFMANN, & ASSOCIATES Sound LAWRENCE JOHNSTON Post Production
Editor BILL MURPHY ALCHEMY A.S.E.2 POST Cinematographer PRODUCTION
KATIE MILWRIGHT Editing Facility JUMP CUT Composer POST PRODUCTION ANTONY PARTOS Assistant Editor WAYNE MILLER Sound Design ADAM CONNOLLY LIVIA RUZIC Photo/Graphics Enhancement between the versions. Note how the Sound Recordist depiction of some of the characters PETER KAUFMANN ZOFIA NOWICKA changed between 1959 and 2000. Sound Mixer Post Production Facility Consider specifically how and why the BLUE POST KEITH THOMAS role of the scientist Julian Osborne, Facility Manager Script Editor and Additional played in 1959 by Fred Astaire, was DR HELEN CALDICOTT Writing PETER MILLINGTON expanded in the 2000 version, when Bryan Brown played the role. PETER KAUFMANN Online Editor/Colourist PETER PILLEY Research and Archival Follow your interests – Research Post Production Script RAPHAEL COCKS more to think about LAWRENCE JOHNSTON PHILIP DAVEY ORIGINAL The documentary provides a number of topics that students might want to explore further: PETER KAUFMANN MUSIC PENNY CHAI Composer 1 Photojournalism – The photographer Wayne AMREE HEWITT ANTONY PARTOS Miller is featured in the documentary. Miller LEX MIDDLETON was one of the first photographers to record Music Producer KAZUYO PRESTON the damage done to Hiroshima by the Atomic WES CHEW ELIAS SAVADA Bomb. Consider the nature and power of Orchestrator photojournalism. Are there some images that Legals SHAUN MILLER JESSICA WELLS are worth a thousand words? Insurance FIUA PTY LTD 2 Nuclear Energy – Should we pursue nuclear Violins LISA STEWART Completion Guarantor energy for peaceful purposes? Is it safe? AND MYEE CLOHESSY FIRST AUSTRALIAN Look at the film The China Syndrome (James Viola STEFAN DUWE COMPLETION BOND Bridges, 1979) and research the events linked PTY LTD, CORRIE Cello to Fukushima nuclear incident in 2011 and the SOETERBOEK, DAVID ANNA MARTIN-SCRASE Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the USA NOAKES Piano ANTONY PARTOS in 1979 and make up your own mind. 3 Nuclear activism and fear for the future International Sales Agent MUSIC RECORDED – Research the famous ‘Ban the Bomb’ MELIMEDIAS ASIA AND MIXED AT SONAR Movement from the 1960s and find out more PACIFIC PTY LTD, MUSIC about the Australian anti-nuclear campaigner GUILLAUME CATALA Dr Helen Caldicott. How do you think Neville International Distribution
Shute and Stanley Kramer would feel about ZORN PRODUCTION SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 the ‘nuclear issue’ today? Do we, as the INTERNATIONAL, documentary suggests, have more reason to be RODOLPHE DIETRICH concerned today than in the past?
9 AVA GARDNER AND GREGORY PECK
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