THREADS - The nuclear war movie that traumatised a generation

[Sheffield History]

THREADS - The nuclear war movie that traumatised a generation

The British anti-war classic 'Threads' is coming to Blu-ray.

 

 

In 1984 a bomb went off on British television.

That bomb was Threads, a well-researched TV movie about nuclear war. Unlike so many other movies, books, and television shows that deal with the subject of nuclear weapons, Threads showed what life was like for normal people on the ground during a nuclear war. It is one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever seen on screen.

Threads traumatized an entire British generation. The BBC only aired it twice—once in 1984 then again in 1985, on the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan—then put it in a vault for 20 years.

When TBS aired it in the US in 1985, media mogul Ted Turner introduced it personally. “The more we know about what could happen, the less chance it is that it will happen,” the millionaire told Americans before airing the unsettling feature.

Despite its power and enduring relevance, Threads has always been tough to find outside of Britain. That’s about to change. On January 30, a restored Blu-ray and DVD will hit store shelves, complete with new interviews with the cast and crew.

“Severin has actually been trying to license the film for the better part of 10 years, because of our admiration for the film and it's powerful effect,” Josh Johnson of the film distributor Severin Films —the company bringing Threads back—told me via email. “That said, it is coming back at the perfect time because we once again find ourselves in the frightening position of a potential nuclear conflict.”

Threads is set in the British manufacturing city of Sheffield in 1984. It tells the story of a nuclear war as viewed from the normal people of the city. There’s no great military presence, heroes, or moral to the story. The geopolitical reasons for the war happen in the background and quickly stop mattering once the 1-megaton nuke slams into the city.

In the moments after the blast, people die horrifically. One of the great misunderstandings of nuclear war is that it’s over in an instant. There’s a flash of light, and those who disappear into it are lucky. But many survive the initial blast only to slowly perish from radiation poisoning, suffocate under rubble, or feel their own flesh slough off from nuclear heat. 

Threads isn’t a movie about humanity's ability to struggle and survive. There’s no message of hope and people don't band together to make it through. This isn't I Am Legend or Armageddon where the brave sacrifice of a single person can save the day.

Instead, society breaks down. Local cops use their fading power to abuse Sheffield’s residents, executing looters and rounding up the sick and infirm. Millions die and Britain regresses and enters a new dark age.

It’s an important movie. The Hawaii nuclear alert false alarm earlier this month was a reminder that we’re still terrified of nuclear war, but rarely do we consider in detail what that war will actually look like. Threads dares to show audiences what they don’t want to consider—that the aftermath of nuclear conflict is far worse than what happens in a flash.

 

The 2K restoration of threads hits Blu-ray on January 30

 

 

[Athy]

I saw it when it was first aired and remember thinking, "Strong stuff", and recall scenes showing people shuffling along in ragged clothing (the threads of the title, I suppose) but can't recall much other detail.

[lysander]

I saw it first time around and noted  with not a little cynicism that the Council's Chief Executives were living in the Peak district....and thought how observant of the films director/writer to have them ( at the time it was rumoured that to get on at SCC a paid up membership of the Labour Party was a distinct advantage) living away from the City that paid them.

It was a frightening film especially as the Cold War was warming up again and instant destruction was a real, and ever present, possibility

[unrecordings]

I always thought 'with hindsight' documentary would have been good. I remember a Michael Moore documentary in the 90's where he (seemingly) managed to track down and visit the Soviet missile base that targeted his home town of Flint, Michigan. Now we know more of the de-classified civil defence planning there's a great untold story

 

[LeadFarmer]

I think the blu-ray is only being released in America, you can buy it from Amazon.com and I've heard its region free.

 

And why oh why have they put Bradford City Hall on the front cover of the dvd?

[unrecordings]

Yes, after my initial excitement I realised the BBC released it twice on DVD (2005 and 2012 ish if I remember correctly). Then my better half reminded me we had the DVD, watched it, then got rid of it and vowed never to watch it again...

They've at least got one of the formats right allbeit a little OTT

[unrecordings]

...although I now notice that they've mixed in some of the Bradford image on the 'destroyed' version of the cover