"We cannot let this be... the end." note
— The Narrator, at the film's ending
What starts as a dull 1961 spy flick abruptly turns into a Cold War propaganda piece when it turns out Sputnik has given the Soviets a decisive edge in the arms race.
For the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode see here.
Tropes:
- American Accents: Courtesy of Art Metrano.
- Artistic License – Nuclear Physics: If a nuclear bomb, even a small one, were detonated in Manhattan, the outer boroughs would not be unaffected.
- Big Applesauce: The last scenes take place in New York City — and the Big Apple is indeed about to be turned into the Big Applesauce.
- Bad "Bad Acting":
- Tanya. She sounds like she's just reading the script.
- The actor playing the blind man was just given one line: "Help me!" It was intended to engender pity and sadness, but his Dull Surprise delivery and bad timing just makes it bizarre and baffling.
- Downer Ending: The spy flick portion of the movie ends in failure as the attempted bombing of the Russian missile site fails and all the western spies are captured and killed. New York City is destroyed by an atomic bomb, with the implication that America is going to retaliate and the world is going to be destroyed.
- Dull Surprise: Many, thanks to the bad acting. The topper is a blind man wandering through the streets, who asks for someone to help him with absolutely zero emotion behind it.
- Eiffel Tower Effect: The Russian planners work in a room with a nice view of St. Basil's Cathedral.
- The End... Or Is It?: Inverted, as seen in the page quote. Rather than asking if this is the end, the narrator insists that we can not let this be the end.
- Halfway Plot Switch: Starts off as a spy flick involving an attempt to destroy a Russian nuclear missile. After the spies fail the last half becomes a glurge-filled propaganda film about New York City being nuked.
- Hollywood Tactics: So... New York City is nuked... and the Russians think they can get away with it... why? And nuking one city helps Russia with what...? And the international community will just let it happen...?
- According to the narrator during the Russian conference, bombing New York City will give full control of the United States to them. Say what?
- Husky Russkie: Who bears some resemblance to Tor Johnson.
- Joisey: One scene takes place in the township of Hazlet, located in Monmouth, NJ.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: The "English" spy who helps John and Tanya.
- The "Russian" interrogating him doesn't have an accent either.
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Spiritual Successor: To Invasion U.S.A. (1952). - Talking Heads: Almost the entire film are people talking, including the Soviets (without subtitles, no less.)
