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In the mid-1970s, the British government secretly made a series of information films to tell the public how to prepare for nuclear war. They would be broadcast on terrestrial television if a nuclear exchange seemed unavoidable. Thankfully, they were never aired, and remained unseen. Recently declassified, they are collected here on this unique DVD and make for fascinating - if terrifying - viewing.
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39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Depending on your point of view Protect and Survive is either a dazzlingly cynical or a very naive attempt at preparing UK citizens for what to do in the event of nuclear attack. Protect and Survive is a chilling reminder of how basic those preparations were and shows the changes that had took place by the late 1970s; previous war-time preparations had meant evacuations and civil defence. When Protect and Survive was made these preparations had been abandoned in their entirety and the public had to quite literally, fend for themselves.
The 20 basic films which make up Protect and Survive walk the viewer through every stage of a nuclear crisis. It starts by explaining nuclear explosions, the dangers of nuclear weapons and what the warnings sounds are. From here (assuming the crisis became worse) further films explained how to prepare your home and family. Finally as attack became increasingly likely these instructions insisted on you taking action NOW and the final film warns you there may not be any medical support to help you and should the worst happen, on what to do with the dead.
These films do have a genuinely nightmarish quality about them; the finality of the late Patrick Allen's tone and the hideously simple graphics rounded out by the chilling musical signature played at the end of every film. They are a fascinating glimpse into the past of what could have been the last television programmes anyone would ever see as they were designed to play continuously on all channels should nuclear attack seem likely. In the more than 30 years since they were made, they have not lost their power.
The 20 basic films which make up Protect and Survive walk the viewer through every stage of a nuclear crisis. It starts by explaining nuclear explosions, the dangers of nuclear weapons and what the warnings sounds are. From here (assuming the crisis became worse) further films explained how to prepare your home and family. Finally as attack became increasingly likely these instructions insisted on you taking action NOW and the final film warns you there may not be any medical support to help you and should the worst happen, on what to do with the dead.
These films do have a genuinely nightmarish quality about them; the finality of the late Patrick Allen's tone and the hideously simple graphics rounded out by the chilling musical signature played at the end of every film. They are a fascinating glimpse into the past of what could have been the last television programmes anyone would ever see as they were designed to play continuously on all channels should nuclear attack seem likely. In the more than 30 years since they were made, they have not lost their power.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Contains the full collection of the Protect and Survive films that were made in the 1970's in case of nuclear. Apart from a couple of them making brief appearances in Threads [1984] and shown in their entirety in Charley Says... The Best Public Information Films In The World [1970] they have never been seen.....until now. Also included are some interesting films from the 50's 60's and 70's detailing preparations for war.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
A must for the cold war buff, this is a real piece of recent apocalyptic history.
One word sums this up, optimism. With Uncle Joe Stalin on the warpath we needed to know what to do when the balloon went up and these short films told us. Have you built you inner core or refuge? Stocked up on supplies? You can do that now!
In that case, when you hear the attack warning, all you have to do is:
Paint the windows white or block them up,
turn off the gas electric and water,
turn off pilot lights,
isolate oil supplies,
dampen down fires,
shut windows and draw curtains (but take down net curtains?),
fill the bath sink and wash basin and cover them,
assemble the family,
pile furniture against the inner core or refuge,
block the chimney and vents,
bring two dusbins inside (one for waste the other for bodily waste),
tidy up flamable materials from the house,
make sure you have a bucket of water on each floor
and finally, push in the aerial on you portable radio.
You should have closed doors to prevent the spread of fire but you used those to build your shelter.
If you survived that, congratulations! Now what to do having survived the apocalypse...ah here we are, page 28 'Action After Attack' point 26, damn, in my haste to avoid armageddon, I neglected to tape up the handle or remove the chain from the lavatory! Oh well, point 29, 'Minor Repairs To Keep Out The Weather,' I'm just off to poly-filla these cracks in the wall. Cup of tea anyone?
The film only takes into account the effects of one bomb. Britain had more nuclear targets per acre of land than ANY other country. Well over 20 aimed at London alone. Thats just the important middle bit not the whole place.
Pair this up with the protect and survive booklet. The fact that these were produced at all is a sobering thought. Worth getting, be prepared.
One word sums this up, optimism. With Uncle Joe Stalin on the warpath we needed to know what to do when the balloon went up and these short films told us. Have you built you inner core or refuge? Stocked up on supplies? You can do that now!
In that case, when you hear the attack warning, all you have to do is:
Paint the windows white or block them up,
turn off the gas electric and water,
turn off pilot lights,
isolate oil supplies,
dampen down fires,
shut windows and draw curtains (but take down net curtains?),
fill the bath sink and wash basin and cover them,
assemble the family,
pile furniture against the inner core or refuge,
block the chimney and vents,
bring two dusbins inside (one for waste the other for bodily waste),
tidy up flamable materials from the house,
make sure you have a bucket of water on each floor
and finally, push in the aerial on you portable radio.
You should have closed doors to prevent the spread of fire but you used those to build your shelter.
If you survived that, congratulations! Now what to do having survived the apocalypse...ah here we are, page 28 'Action After Attack' point 26, damn, in my haste to avoid armageddon, I neglected to tape up the handle or remove the chain from the lavatory! Oh well, point 29, 'Minor Repairs To Keep Out The Weather,' I'm just off to poly-filla these cracks in the wall. Cup of tea anyone?
The film only takes into account the effects of one bomb. Britain had more nuclear targets per acre of land than ANY other country. Well over 20 aimed at London alone. Thats just the important middle bit not the whole place.
Pair this up with the protect and survive booklet. The fact that these were produced at all is a sobering thought. Worth getting, be prepared.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Protect and Survive ( and survive uni asssignments)
This DVD contains pivotal footage as issued by the government, to be aired in the event of a nuclear war. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Harvey737
Interesting and gives a great insight to the time.
A very interesting DVD with most of the Protect and Survive public information films from the Cold War. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2009 by Joe Redhead
Protest and Survive
They wanted people to stay in their own homes to maximise the death rate, both from the blast and the fallout and disease afterwards. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2008 by Blitzkrieg Bopper
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