HackerTube
HomeLongsLikedHistoryWatch laterCategoriesPlaylistsSettings

Duck And Cover (1951) Bert The Turtle

Nuclear Vault1 HN recommender · recommended in 1 month, 2013-2022
YouTube
4.9M views · 17 years ago · other · evergreen

The 1951 US civil defense film 'Duck and Cover', starring Bert the Turtle, which taught schoolchildren to drop and shield themselves during a nuclear attack. It was shown to millions of children and is preserved in the National Film Registry.

HN uses it as an example of Cold War fear and persuasion, with some defending the advice as sensible against blast debris and others mocking it.

Military history & warfareWorld historyMedia, journalism & propaganda#duckandcover#nuclearwar#propaganda#1950s#civildefense

7 comments from Hacker News

@hedora2022 · in “Updated rules on preparedness for nuclear explosion”

Duck and cover; still laughable after all these years: ▶ this video "Fallout" is far more useful than current covid information sites. It's sad how far the US gov't has fallen in 70 years: link Remember: In case of nuclear blast, stick your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye!

JokeView on HN
@fossuser2021 · in “Nuclear War Survival Skills (1987)”

That came later iirc - initially they were thinking of using them prior to running infantry in. I think there are old public test videos where they actually did this kind of thing. I also recall a group of scientists trying to elevate the understanding of the e-risk (pugwash conference?). Basically people were becoming too comfortable with the idea of nuclear war because they knew how to “duck and cover” and had a little bomb shelter in the yard. See this: ▶ this video Dr. Strangelove is also worth watching for a satirical take from that time.

CitesView on HN
@lwneal2020 · in “Nuclear war is unlikely to cause human extinction?”

Today, the 1950's era "Duck and Cover" drills [1] are sometimes laughed at. However, in the event of an actual nuclear blast, some simple preparation would save lives. When a bright flash lights up the sky, people indoors will naturally run to the nearest window to see what happened. This is the wrong thing to do, because the bright flash of an explosion is followed a few seconds later by a pressure wave, turning the window glass into a fast-moving cloud of shrapnel. Just getting under a desk or table away from any windows improves your chances of survival. The advice is useful even if the flash is not caused by a nuclear weapon. Most of the injuries from the Chelyabinsk meteor [2] in 2013 were caused by window shrapnel. [1] ▶ this video [2] link

CitesView on HN
@jbay8082020 · in “Nukemap”

What philosophy do you think drove the production of these videos, if people didn't think nuclear war affecting them and their children was a real possibility? ▶ this video

CitesView on HN
@droopybuns2016 · in “Why We're Living in the Age of Fear”

Fear, like Sex, is a foundational human motivator that has been shown to persuade people to buy things. I don't believe there is anything new going on now. ▶ this video

CitesView on HN
@fennecfoxen2013 · in “For Nearly Two Decades the Nuclear Launch Code Was 00000000”

AND WHILE I'M HERE TALKING ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEMS and understandings thereof, allow me to rant about one of the most misunderstood videos of all time, Bert the Turtle ("duck and cover") -- ▶ this video -- Witness the crowds of people saying "lol but nuclear bomb! you're already dead!" Well, maybe you're right and you're already dead, but IF YOU'RE NOT DEAD YET then there's going to be a BIG BLAST WAVE OF DEBRIS heading your way IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, so you'd better look for some shelter, pronto. And get away from any windows, too, or you'll end up like those poor people watching the Chelyabinsk meteor, getting LACERATED by flying glass.

RecommendsView on HN
@sdoering2013 · in “Run. Hide. Fight.”

This so reminds me of the "Duck and Cover" Films ( ▶ this video ). And imho it seems as futile as these. I will not go down the route, as to discuss the right to own an carry guns... as this is just as futile.

CriticalView on HN
How Kodak Exposed Nuclear Testing13:20

How Kodak Exposed Nuclear Testing

Veritasium
6.7M views • 6 years ago
First Strike (Part 1)10:00

First Strike (Part 1)

filmsouth
3.2M views • 19 years ago
Don't Be a Sucker22:49

Don't Be a Sucker

US National Archives
2M views • 9 years ago
Ben Marking's Fake BBC Nuclear Attack Broadcast (Full Resolution, Uncut, Unedited)55:43

Ben Marking's Fake BBC Nuclear Attack Broadcast (Full Resolution, Uncut, Unedited)

Tooth
108K views • 5 years ago
Threads (1984) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]2:24

Threads (1984) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

HD Retro Trailers
1.2M views • 8 years ago
The Secret War4:55:46

The Secret War

Sergio IQ
552K views • 12 years ago
Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine4:23

Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine

liberalartist6
1.4M views • 16 years ago
Don't Be a Sucker - 194717:26

Don't Be a Sucker - 1947

Weirdo Video
1M views • 19 years ago
WikiLeaks: Collateral Murder (Iraq, 2007)17:47

WikiLeaks: Collateral Murder (Iraq, 2007)

People Over Politics
309K views • 14 years ago
Yes Prime Minister, Discussing Trident2:06

Yes Prime Minister, Discussing Trident

JBVids000
435K views • 14 years ago
Wargames Ending5:57

Wargames Ending

Techno947
1.2M views • 13 years ago
McNamara meets with Castro (Fog of War)1:35

McNamara meets with Castro (Fog of War)

8bitRicky
52K views • 14 years ago
Gulf of Tonkin:  McNamara admits It didn't happen.3:34

Gulf of Tonkin: McNamara admits It didn't happen.

compelled2283
169K views • 18 years ago
Mineshaft gap - Dr. Strangelove4:16

Mineshaft gap - Dr. Strangelove

pmw8000
290K views • 14 years ago
Nuclear Detonation Timeline "1945-1998"10:00

Nuclear Detonation Timeline "1945-1998"

Don't Blink
1.2M views • 16 years ago
Always/Never: The Quest for Safety, Control, and Survivability - Part 156:11

Always/Never: The Quest for Safety, Control, and Survivability - Part 1

Sandia National Labs
303K views • 11 years ago
That scene from War Games4:06

That scene from War Games

Greg Granito
2.3M views • 19 years ago
WarGames (11/11) Movie CLIP - The Only Winning Move (1983) HD3:00

WarGames (11/11) Movie CLIP - The Only Winning Move (1983) HD

Movieclips
1.1M views • 13 years ago
The Battle of Midway 1942: Told from the Japanese Perspective (1/3)41:46

The Battle of Midway 1942: Told from the Japanese Perspective (1/3)

Montemayor
19.7M views • 7 years ago
America's Nerve Gas Arsenal35:06

America's Nerve Gas Arsenal

Peter Klusman
182K views • 13 years ago