Sputnik Documentary Provides Glimpses into Cold War Fears

By Alexis Madrigal

 

Sputnik Mania is a new film made to coincide with Thursday's 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union's launch of the Sputnik I satellite.

Based on a book by Paul Dickson and directed by David Hoffman, the documentary contextualizes the scientific achievement of the launch within the Cold War and the looming threat of nuclear annihilation it created. A 1958 Gallup Poll (pdf) Hoffman dug up found that "60% of Americans thought that nuclear war was imminent and that 50% of the American population would likely die [in that war]."

Among the many interesting clips available at Sputnik Mania's website are Soviet promo footage of the 184 pound satellite that seems straight out of Bioshock, pre-orbit John Glenn appearing on Name That Tune three hours after the satellite launch, declassified H-bomb footage, and testimony from some of the many people who poured into the streets to watch Sputnik pass in the night. Frank O'Rourke of Oklahoma City describes the scene. "Just at the time the Russians had said, a tiny light appeared at the southwestern horizon and glided over our heads. Some of us cried. I stood in awe."

As you will undoubtedly hear many times this week, satellites are commonplace now, but the launch of Sputnik into geocentric orbit was a truly novel and global event. Given that the old people of 1957 had grown up without cars, let alone airplanes, the pace of change the launch revealed must have been astonishing.

The film debuted at the Seattle International Film Festival back in May under its festival title, Fever of '57, but hopes to see wider release in conjunction with the anniversary.