Threads (1984 UK)

Documentary style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England; and the eventual long run affects of nuclear war on civilization. Written by Leisha Sibley

ABC (AtomicBombCinema) Group

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Nuclear's image in different period

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According to the topic " The end of the world as we know it" we can see that since this movie was created by USA during the Cold war period, therefore USA think that nuclear is the thing that may bring them to the end of the world and had the very horrible image about this kind of weapon while their image about this kind of weapon was very positive during the WW2 since it led them to beat Japan.


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More review about Threads

I found many review of this movie which came from a various country which not only UK.
It has a lot of comment which I think some review is very interesting.

See more review !!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

ABC Group: Notes about the music, special effects and other production points



I think the factor that added more tension into the film is news announcement.
In the first half of the film (before the explosion), most of the background sound used in the film is the news announcement.(from 3.22-3.48) It gives sense of stress and the current situations in the film are also updated to audience. Additionally, date and some information are announced by texts. (from 5.46-4.48)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Images from the film "threads"

The main cast












Karen Meagher, role as Ruth Becket




















Reece Dinsdale , role as Jimmy Kemp

Description:
This is perhaps one of the most masochistic films ever made. You are taken into the personal world of two British families in Sheffield (site of a major NATO installation), who have children that are about to be married. Thousands of miles away, World War 3 slowly starts, and the ultimate horror happens. Thermonuclear war breaks out. The world, literally, grinds to a halt, in one of the most scientifically accurate depictions of nuclear war since "War Game, The" (1965). Unlike the US film "Day After, The" (1983) (TV), the film gives detailed information as to what is happening on a scientific basis. You are shown how a worst-case scenario can happen, and what the effects are, as you follow the surviving members of the two families through the aftermath. The scenes of death, destruction and disease are so realistic, I had to shower after seeing this film for the first time. But what is most disturbing is that the film includes the long-term effects of global thermonuclear war, going into weeks, months, years, even decades. The film ends thirteen years after the nuclear attack, and the final frames of the film will burn into you like no other film ever will.



IMDB : link

Reference

Notes about the music, special effects and other production points


For technical aspects, the most interesting point is that there is no music used as background sound in any scene. I think the main reason is that the director attempted to add more tension in the film and make it looked more rea

At the explosion scene(from 00.35), the silence and flash is used to express a great impact of nuclear bomb. After that there are some pictures of the city that has been destroyed shown in B&W with the sound of wind blowing which make the scene look very terrifying. The sound of wind blowing also implies a climate change and fallout effect caused by the explosion.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Monday, November 8, 2010

"Movie's Plot"

I found the information about this film, hope to get you guys more knowledge about this movie.

Documentary style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England; and the eventual long run affects of nuclear war on civilization.Written by Leisha Sibley

It is the mid-1980's, during the Cold War. Ruth Beckett & Jimmy Kemp, residents of the British city of Sheffield are planning for their upcoming marriage and birth of their first child. Sheffield is home to a major R.A.F. base and has a major industrial base of steel production. But the Soviet Union marches troops into Iran, in a plan to convert it to a Soviet satellite state. The United States, the United Kingdom, and other members of NATO angrily condemn the Soviet aggression and military activity in the United Kingdom starts to mount, especially at the nearby R.A.F. base. The families of Ruth & Jimmy go about their daily business, paying little attention to what is going on in Iran. One spring day, without warning, the Soviet Union attacks the United Kingdom with ICBMs - two of which hit Sheffield, annihilating most of the city and its inhabitants. But what is even more horrifying is the aftermath that follows - a world without public order, clean food, water, electricity, or the ability to produce any of them. Ruth struggles for more than 10 years just to stay alive in this horrible, barren, radioactive homeland... Written by Derek O'Cain

Reference: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090163/plotsummary

"The Timeline in Broadcast of THREADS"

This film started to broadcast in September 1984 In BBC, UK television broadcast. And Next year (January 1985) was broadcasted In USA on Superstation WTBS. Moreover, after many year UK uses this film again to open in the National Film Theatre Museum Cinema (as part of the Apocalypse TV I: Out With a Bang season). In July 2000, UK was released the DVD version and in October and November 2004 ,UK was rebroadcasted this film again on BBC4.
In addition, this film got the 15 % rating when it broadcasted in UK


Reference

Biographies of the director, actors and others

The biographies of this film were including the director, main actors, main actresses and also others who concerned to produce this film. All of them are very important reason for a successful of this film and I will show the list of them in below.

DIRECTION

Director: Mick Jackson

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: BBC/Network 9/Western World TV
Executive Producers: Graham Massey, John Purdie
Producer: Mick Jackson
Associate Producer: Peter Wolfes
Production Managers: Matthew Kuipers, Jacinta Peel

SCRIPT
Script: Barry Hines

PHOTOGRAPHY
Directors of Photography: Andrew Dunn, Paul Morris
Camera Operator: Andrew Dunn

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Film Editors: Donna Bickerstaff, Jim Latham

SOUND
Sound Recordist: Graham Ross
Dubbing Mixer: Sound: John Hale
Assistant Dubbing Mixer: Simon Muir [uncredited]

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costume Designer: Sally Nieper
Make Up Designer: Jan Nethercott
Make Up Assistants: Carol Gibbs, Derek Lloyd

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Photography: Peter Wragg

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: Christopher Robilliard
Properties: Dorothy Elliott
Graphic Designer: Andy Coward

OTHER CREW
Assistant Floor Managers: Pennie Bloomfield, Simon Moorhead
Production Assistants: Elizabeth Downie, Wendy Plowright
Programme Advisors: Dr Arthur Katz, Dr David Holloway, Dr John Coggle, Dr John Dawson, Duncam Campbell, Eric Alley, Professor Joseph Rotblat

LOCATIONS
Locations: Spitewater Farm, Peak District National Park, UK; Curber Edge, Peak District National Park, UK

STUNTS
Stunts: Dorothy Ford

MAIN CAST

Karen Meagher (Ruth Becket)
Reece Dinsdale (Jimmy Kemp)
David Brierly (Mr Kemp)
Rita May (Mrs Kemp)
Nicholas Lane (Michael Kemp)
Jane Hazlegrove (Alison Kemp)
Henry Moxon (Mr Beckett)
June Broughton (Mrs Beckett)
Sylvia Stoker (Granny Beckett)
Harry Beety (Mr Sutton)
Ruth Holden (Mrs Sutton)

You can see more information about the Biographies in the website HERE