J. Robert Oppenheimer was brilliant, arrogant, proud, charismatic — and a national hero. Under his leadership during World War II, the United States succeeded in becoming the first nation to harness the power of nuclear energy to create the ultimate weapon of mass destruction — the atomic bomb. But after the bomb brought the war to an end, in spite of his renown and his enormous achievement, America turned on him, humiliated him, and cast him aside. The question this film asks is, “Why?”
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE presents The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer, featuring Academy Award-nominated actor David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, The Bourne Ultimatum) as Robert Oppenheimer. From multiple Emmy Award-winning producer David Grubin (RFK, LBJ, Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided), The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer features interviews with the scientist’s former colleagues and eminent scholars to present a complex and revealing portrait of one of the most important and controversial scientists of the twentieth century. The two-hour film traces the course of Oppenheimer’s life: his rarefied childhood, his troubled adolescence, his emergence as one of America’s leading nuclear physicists, his leadership of the Los Alamos laboratory, and his tragic humiliation.
{ note: originally broadcast as part of American Experience , Running Time: 1 hr 45 min }
AFTER the documentary – we can have a brief discussion session. NOTE: You must supply your own soda pop and popcorn! 🙂 Trivia may also follow, so bring your Jeopardy hats too!
Agenda:
6:00 PM – Welcome and Introductions, Chapter business update; (on your own) Pizza, Popcorn and Soda Pop
6:05 PM – Documentary
7:45 PM – End of Documentary; Start of Q & A; Group Discussion
7:59 PM – Wrap Up
ALL times are in EST/EDT (UTC-4 or UTC-5) depending upon local day light savings times in when effect
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/410968