Red Nightmare

I could not remember the name of this movie. I saw this about 35 years ago in 1971 and never did know the name of the movie. I was in a very small town in Colorado (Rangely) and the movie makes one think of a small town being infiltrated by terrorists. Well, it's 2006 (August) and we have another wave of xenophobia spreading across the country. I love Jack Webb even though he exemplifies true patriotism and love of country. I served in the military in the Persian Gulf War and believe in defending this country from attack. I have read several of the reviews and many of the readers attack Webb as being too right wing and zealous. But people, this was his nature to begin with. Look at all of his productions (Dragnet, Adam 12, Emergency) and he believed in the USA and also his generation lived to defend the country. He was essentially, 'America's Greatest Generation' and he believed in the country. We live in a different era now and generations question loyalty vs. right wing fervor. Jack Webb was caught up with loyalty to American and it's institutions so give this movie a break and view it as harmless. But bear in mind the 80/20 of the Army. 20% defending freedom for 80% who don't really care!!! Mark Lockwood, Lubbock Tx...

I've been showing this Cold War chestnut to my Constitutional Law students for at least fifteen years. I screen it during our examination of First Amendment cases from the 50s and early 60s. That was when the Supreme Court initially upheld convictions of leading American communists (mostly older, suit wearing and essentially harmless types). Increasingly alarmed that First Amendment freedoms were being sacrificed to fears of a "putsch" that never seemed to be imminent or even real, the Court began overturning convictions while simultaneously expanding free speech protections.

The older students remember the times but most are in their early to mid-twenties and they can't believe tax dollars paid for Jack Webb, employing his best "Sergeant Friday" monotone, to warn Americans about the danger of taking freedom for granted and ignoring the threat of insidious Soviet subversion.

What gets the most laughs are the domestic scenes where "Father Knows Best" is hijacked to deliver the political message. The housewife is a stay-at-home who is assured by her laid back husband that she's no worse a nag than most spouses. The kids are just so adorable. Even the teenage daughter determined to marry her sweetheart can't mount more than a mild sullenness when dad objects to an early marriage. Sheesh!

Hubby's "Red Nightmare," his night of a bad dream, gives a good portrayal of the 1950s view of how the Communists - domestic and conquering - would wipe out all our freedoms. Reflecting the fears that swept Hollywood in the age of HUAC and Mc Carthy, the viewer is assured that this very important film was produced under "the direct supervision of Jack L. Warner."

If you want to really get a flavor of that fear-laden time, check out http://www.conelrad.com.

I got this expecting a camp riot. What I found was a fairly standard propaganda piece, a bit confused at times but generally aware of itself enough to stay "on message" as the phrase goes these days. Jack Webb, though obviously rightist, was too knowledgeable and talented to let things get completely out of control. As a result, the film isn't as funny as originally billed; it really provokes no strong response in me at all. Ho-hum.

Basically a good 1950's propaganda film to make fun of on a rainy day. But if you can't appreciate it's camp value I'd suggest you skip it. Otherwise it would make a good follow up movie to The Atomic Cafe and Reefer Madness

Looking back today, it's still hard to believe that as late as 1962 we'd be seeing propaganda films like this. But then, this was made around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, so in that sense it figures. But in a way, one can see why some people would believe (as many reference books have claimed) that this piece came out in or around 1957, since the '50's were the height of anti-Communist hysteria in America, although Mr. Webb's necktie and jacket lapels were far too narrow for that year, more appropriate for the early '60's. Another key that this was a 1962 piece, if nothing else, was the presence of a young actress who within a year would go on to become the first Bobbie Jo Bradley on "Petticoat Junction", Pat (billed here as Patricia) Woodell. The year this was filmed, she also put in guest shots on some Warner Bros.-produced shows such as "Hawaiian Eye" (whose star, Robert Conrad, also appeared here) and "The Gallant Men", being at the time she was under contract to that studio.