| Cold War | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Narrated by | Kenneth Branagh |
| Composer | Carl Davis |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Pat Mitchell andJeremy Isaacs |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 46 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CNN |
| Release | September 27, 1998 (1998-09-27) – April 4, 1999 (1999-04-04) |
Cold War is a twenty-four episodetelevision documentary series about theCold War that first aired between September 27, 1998 and April 4, 1999.[1] It features interviews and footage of the events that shaped the tense relationships between theSoviet Union and theUnited States.
The series was produced byPat Mitchell andJeremy Isaacs, who had earlier in 1973 produced the World War II documentary seriesThe World at War in a similar style.Ted Turner funded the series as a joint production between theTurner Broadcasting System and theBBC. It was first broadcast onCNN in theUnited States between September 27, 1998, and April 4, 1999,[2] andBBC Two in theUnited Kingdom. Writers includedHella Pick,Jeremy Isaacs,Lawrence Freedman,Neal Ascherson,Hugh O'Shaughnessy andGermaine Greer.Kenneth Branagh was the narrator, andCarl Davis (who also collaborated with Isaacs withThe World at War) composed the theme music. Each episode would feature historical footage and interviews from both significant figures and others who had witnessed particular events.
After the series was broadcast it was released as a set of twelve (NTSC) or eight (PAL)VHS cassettes.[1]
The series was released on DVD by Warner Home Video on May 8, 2012, inNorth America.[3] The archival footage has been cropped for widescreen presentation instead of being left in the original format[4]
Each episode lasts approximately 46 minutes.
| No. | Title | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Comrades" | 1917 (1917)–1945 | |
Both the United States and the Soviet Union drifted apart after theRussian Revolution of 1917, theRussian Civil War and theParis Peace Conference. Diplomatic and extensive trading relationships were established under Roosevelt, but relations soured following the Sovietoccupation of the Baltic States andeastern Poland. After Hitler broke theMolotov–Ribbentrop Pact the Western powers worked closely with theSoviet Union during theSecond World War. Distrust reemerged as Stalin's plans for placing Eastern Europe in the Soviet Union's sphere of influence became apparent towards the war's end, and came to the fore at thePotsdam Conference, just before theatomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Interviewees includeGeorge F. Kennan,Vladimir Yerofeyev, Zoya Zarubina, Hugh Lunghi andGeorge Elsey. The pre-credits scene shows the US Congress nuclear bunker atThe Greenbrier, and introduces the television series by explaining how for several decades the world was close to anuclear holocaust. | |||
| 2 | "Iron Curtain" | 1945 (1945)–1947 | |
The wartime allies demobilise – the United States enjoys its economic strength and resurgence while Britain and the rest of Europe is exhausted. A new series of purges takes place in the Soviet Union, and is ravaged byfamine. Germans are expelled from territories now given to Poland by the Soviet Union, and differences emerge over Germany's post-war rehabilitation. Stalin increases his grasp on Eastern Europe, although does not intervene on the side of the Communists in theGreek Civil War. Britain's power influence goes into decline, weakened from the war and asevere winter. Food shortages threaten stability throughout Europe. The United States begins to adopt a more assertive foreign policy, countering Soviet influence inTurkey andIran. Interviewees includeLord Annan,Sir Frank Roberts andPaul Nitze. The pre-credits scene featuresWinston Churchill's 1946 "Iron Curtain" speech inFulton in the United States, which set the tone for confrontation. | |||
| 3 | "Marshall Plan" | 1947 (1947)–1952 | |
For both altruistic and self-serving purposes, the United States provides massive grants of aid to the countries of Europe in the form of theMarshall Plan. Stalin, concerned that the intent of the Marshall Plan is to weaken Soviet influence in Europe, prevents countries in its orbit from participating, and establishes the rivalCouncil for Mutual Economic Assistance. Communists come to power through acoup in Czechoslovakia in 1948. Tito, while originally aligned to the Soviet Union, adopts a more independent foreign policy and eventually switches to receiving Marshall Aid Assistance. TheCIA and theCatholic Church conspire to help oust theItalian Communist Party and its coalition allies in the1948 Italian election. The Marshall Plan has the effect of modernising European economies and societies, bringing Western Europe closer together, and closer to the United States. Interviewees includeVladimir Yerofeyev,Gianni Agnelli andGiulio Andreotti. The pre-credits scene portrays the squalor in post-war Italy, and Truman delivering hisTruman Doctrine speech of 1947. | |||
| 4. | "Berlin" | 1948 (1948)–1949 | |
By 1947, the United States placed as a high priority the revival of the German economy, an approach opposed by the Soviet Union. After the introduction of aDeutsche Mark the Soviet Union began to allow increasingly stringent checks on passenger and cargo flows travelling to the French, British and American sectors of Berlin, located in the heart of East Germany. This ultimately led toa blockade on all rail and road transport linking West Berlin, but an extensive airlift operation (Operation Vittles) allowed the city to survive. The Communists were however successful in staging aputsch in the Berlin municipal government, eventually leading to the divisions of both Berlin and Germany. Interviewees includeGail Halvorsen,Sir Freddie Laker andClark Clifford. The pre-credits scene shows theBerlin Airlift in operation. | |||
| 5. | "Korea" | 1949 (1949)–1953 | |
Korea after the Second World War was occupied by both the Soviets and the Americans, who respectively installedKim Il-sung andSyngman Rhee as leaders. With Soviet support,North Korea invaded the South in 1950, pushing the unprepared South Korean and US forces back toPusan. The world responds, both to combat communism and demonstrate support to theUnited Nations. Afterlanding at Inchon and liberating Seoul, United Nations forces advance into North Korea. This unsettlesMao Zedong, who on Stalin's request sends Chinese forces into North Korea to support them and pushes the UN back. Eventually both sides are more or less atstalemate in the centre of Korea. After countless talks, eventually an armistice is signed. Communism was contained, but Korea would remain divided. Interviewees includeLucius D. Battle,Paik Sun-yup andJohn Glenn. The pre-credits scene shows a battle in progress – the first "hot war" of the Cold War. | |||
| 6. | "Reds" | 1948 (1948)–1953 | |
The fears the leadership of both sides had were projected inwards towards their own people. In the United States theHouse Committee on Un-American Activities and theTydings Committee carried out investigations into alleged Communist sympathisers in US public life, in particular theState Department andHollywood. In the Soviet Union apersonality cult emerged around Stalin, and a repressive police environment and comprehensive surveillance kept the population fearful. In response toYugoslavia's maverick foreign policy, Stalin inspired thePrague Trials to warn Eastern European leaders not to stray away from emulating the Soviet model. Repression in the Soviet Union peaked with the investigations into the so-calledDoctors' Plot, just before Stalin's sudden death in 1953. Interviewees includeArthur Kinoy,Ralph de Toledano andBoris Pokrovsky. The pre-credits scene shows a Soviet labour camp and its victims. | |||
| 7. | "After Stalin" | 1953 (1953)–1956 | |
Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet leader after the death of Stalin. Khrushchev rolls back a number of oppressive measures that existed under Stalin, restores relations withYugoslavia and redirects resources to consumer needs. In asecret speech to the Soviet leadership he condemns Stalin's ruthless rule. West Germany is allowed to rearm, provoking the formation of theWarsaw Pact. Khrushchev still wants Eastern Europe to remain within the Soviet orbit – he sends in troops to quell revolts inEast Germany,Poland and, most significantly,Hungary. Interviewees includeAnatoly Dobrynin,Charles Wheeler andSergei Khrushchev. The pre-credits scene shows life in Soviet Union under Stalin's personality cult. | |||
| 8. | "Sputnik" | 1949 (1949)–1961 | |
As a consequence of theatomic spies, the Soviet Union joined the nuclear club, and the two superpowers compete to develop their nuclear arsenals. The Soviet Union's launching ofSputnik further heightened a sense of vulnerability in the United States, and results in the rapid development of nuclear-armed missiles, and defence-related education. Blamed for a perceivedmissile gap, Eisenhower is replaced byJohn F. Kennedy as US President. The Soviet Union is seen to have taken a solid lead in thespace race afterYuri Gagarin's successful return to Earth. Interviewees includeJoseph Rotblat,Boris Chertok,Andrew Goodpaster,Herbert York andGherman Titov. The pre-credits scene features the first Soviet nuclear test in 1949. | |||
| 9. | "The Wall" | 1958 (1958)–1963 | |
West Germany, and West Berlin, become more affluent, prompting a surge of East Germans to cross the borders inBerlin, kept open under theFour Power Agreement on Berlin. Khrushchev's demands that the Americans, British and French leave Berlin are opposed, and prospects for a peaceful resolution are dashed after the Soviets pull out of theParis Summit in 1960 as a response to theU-2 incident. Overnight on August 12, 1961 East German police and military units divided the city of Berlin, and work commenced on building theBerlin Wall. Initialtensions culmulate in a stand-off between US and Soviet tanks. Kennedy visits Berlin in June 1963 and delivers hisIch bin ein Berliner speech. Interviewees includeAnatoly Gribkov,Valentin Falin,Stefan Heym,Egon Bahr,Raymond L. Garthoff andConrad Schumann. The pre-credits scene features East Berliners seeking to flee into the West. | |||
| 10. | "Cuba" | 1959 (1959)–1962 | |
Fidel Castro comes to power following theCuban Revolution. Cuba aligns itself with the Soviet Union and the government starts nationalising American interests, resulting in the United States imposing an economic boycott, and the failedBay of Pigs Invasion. Following the detection of Soviet medium range missiles stationed in Cuba, the United States imposes a blockade on the island, and the Soviet Union mobilises for war. TheCuban Missile Crisis is eventually resolved through secret negotiations, in which the USSR and the United States agree to withdraw missiles from Cuba and Turkey respectively. Interviewees include Fidel Castro,Walter Cronkite,Pierre Salinger andTheodore Sorensen. The pre-credits scene has interviews of Fidel Castro,Robert McNamara andAnatoly Dobrynin explaining how close they felt the world was to a nuclear holocaust. | |||
| 11. | "Vietnam" | 1954 (1954)–1968 | |
After losing theBattle of Dien Bien Phu the French leave Vietnam. A stream of refugees flee to the south after the Communist north institute a harshland reform program. The north, with Soviet military assistance, seeks to reunify the country by using theViet Cong to destabilise the South, prompting American intervention which escalates after theGulf of Tonkin incident. American casualties mount in an increasingly unpopular and seemingly purposeless war that was difficult to wage successfully. PresidentLyndon B. Johnson's stature is reduced following theTet Offensive. Thebombing of North Vietnam is interspersed with peace negotiations, which prove fruitless. Interviewees includeRobert McNamara,William Westmoreland,Nguyen Vo Giap,Bui Diem,Jack Valenti andClark Clifford. The pre-credits scene portrays the destruction caused by theVietnam War. | |||
| 12. | "MAD" | 1960 (1960)–1972 | |
The United Statesnuclear strategy ofcounterforce, intended to counter a Soviet conventional attack by targeting military facilities, is discredited following theCuban Missile Crisis. Instead Defence Secretary McNamara adopts the doctrine ofMutually Assured Destruction (MAD), with the belief that the targeting by the superpowers of each other's cities would deter a nuclear war. Both sides step upnuclear testing and acquire more nuclear weapons, in particular submarines capable of unleashing retaliation should the opponent strike first. The Soviets choose to follow a more defensive doctrine and introduceanti-ballistic missiles, which the United States seek to counter withmultiple independently targetable reentry vehicles. The arms race remains expensive, controversial and, as demonstrated in thePalomares incident, not without risk. However some small promise of arms control comes from theSALT Treaty. Interviewees includeRussell E. Dougherty,William Kaufmann andHarold Brown. The pre-credits scene has McNamara explaining how MAD was the foundation fordeterrence. | |||
| 13. | "Make Love Not War" | 1960 (1960)s | |
The United States entered the 1960s with strength and self-confidence. Kennedy increased arms production, bringing an economic boom toCalifornia. Rising expectations led to thecivil rights movement growing stronger, despite the rough response from authorities which regarded them as Communist inspired. More of America's youth became increasingly hostile to theVietnam War, and embraced newcounterculture and permissive definitions of the American ideals of freedom. Fractures in America's society became increasingly violent, and the latter half of the 1960s broughtrace riots, theassassination of Martin Luther King Jr. andof Robert F. Kennedy and theChicago Convention protests. With the political left appearing divided and radicalised,Richard Nixon is voted into office. Interviewees includeIrwin Allen Ginsberg,Rennie Davis,Bobby Seale andEugene McCarthy. The pre-credits scene showsThe Beatles touring the United States. | |||
| 14. | "Red Spring" | 1960 (1960)s | |
Likewise the Soviet Union started the decade withgrowing openness and optimism. There was also an emerging cohort of youth with no memory of the privations and purges of the past, and who had a taste for Western music and fashion that alarmed the established order. Khrushchev sought, with limited success, to make the Soviet consumer economy more affluent, and he initiated housing construction and the poorly organisedVirgin Lands Campaign. Khrushchev's erratic leadership style, his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and a poor 1963 harvest eventually led to his removal from power. Czechoslovakia had an even more profound transformation underAlexander Dubček, who introduced human rights and free market reforms. However thePrague Spring was opposed bySoviet general secretaryLeonid Brezhnev, and wasended abruptly in 1968. Interviewees includeMiloš Forman,Vladimir Semichastny,Vasil Biľak andYevgeny Yevtushenko. The pre-credits scene show Khrushchev and Czechoslovak leaderAntonín Novotný demonstrating solidarity in 1964, in contrast to the Soviet Union ruling by brute force four years later. | |||
| 15. | "China" | 1949 (1949)–1972 | |
Following theChinese RevolutionMao Zedong aligns China firmly with the Soviet Union. China becomes the recipient of Soviet aid, supports Communist movements worldwide and confronts the United States in Korea and in theTaiwan straits. Domestically China experienced upheaval and disaster with the post-revolution land reforms, theGreat Leap Forward and theCultural Revolution. A range of factors, including Khrushchev's apparent acceptance of co-existence with the capitalist West and his refusal to share Soviet nuclear technology with China, led to theSino-Soviet split and eventualconflict. Both sides become deeply distrustful of the other, particularly after China develops nuclear weapons. Sensing an opportunity to contain the Soviet Union, in 1972 the United States suddenly and unexpectedly moves to reestablish ties with China. Interviewees includeWu Ningkun,Marshall Green,Liu Binyan,Stepan Chervonenko andHenry Kissinger. The pre-credits scene showsNixon's visit to China, only six years after theCultural Revolution. | |||
| 16. | "Détente" | 1969 (1969)–1975 | |
Nixon builds closer relations with China and the USSR, hoping to leverage an honourable US exit from Indochina. The Soviet Union is fearful of a US-Chinese alliance, but summits between Nixon and Brezhnev lead to a relaxation of tensions and concrete arms control agreements.Willy Brandt'sOstpolitik strategy also normalises West German relations withEast Germany, the USSR and Poland. Although deeply unpopular domestically, US bombing of Cambodia andHanoi succeeds in bringing North Vietnam to the negotiating table, leading to theParis Peace Accords in 1972. Deeply resented by South Vietnam, the Accords ultimately fail to prevent Saigon's fall three years later. In 1975 reapproachment continued with theHelsinki Accords, which enshrinedhuman rights and territorial integrity, and the symbolicApollo–Soyuz Test Project. Interviewees includeMelvin Laird,Valeri Kubasov,Winston Lord,John Ehrlichman andGerald Ford. The pre-credits scene shows a Soviet cartoon demonstrating the futility of the arms race. | |||
| 17. | "Good Guys, Bad Guys" | 1967 (1967)–1978 | |
Under détente the superpowers continued their rivalry, but carefully avoided direct conflict by courting allies in thedeveloping world.Israel moved closer to the United States after theSix-Day War, whileEgypt erratically maintained its ties with the USSR. During the subsequentYom Kippur War the United States reluctantly supplied aid to Israel, but when it became apparent the Egyptian Army was on the verge of destruction the Soviet Union threatened to intervene. The United States held its ground, brought the two warring sides to the negotiating table, and demonstrated it was the preeminent power in the Middle East. InAngola the Cuban-backed People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) manages to retain power,staving off attacks from theCentral Intelligence Agency-backedNational Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA), the South African-backed National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and foreign mercenaries. Cuba also intervenes in theOgaden War, defending MarxistEthiopia from Somalia. Interviewees includeSaad El Shazly,Abba Eban,Simcha Dinitz,Holden Roberto,Pik Botha andJimmy Carter. The pre-credits scene shows a group of Africans watching a film possibly about Communism, with the narrator noting American fears of Soviet expansionism in the post-colonial world. | |||
| 18. | "Backyard" | 1954 (1954)–1990 | |
The United States saw the emergence of leftist movements in different Latin American countries as threatening to its commercial interests, and secretly plotted with military strongmen and middle class interests concerned with the land reforms andnationalisation policies of new governments. InGuatemalaJacobo Árbenz wasousted by a CIA-inspired coup in 1954. Similarly US meddling in Chile's economic and political spheres weakenedSalvador Allende grip on power, and he was ultimately deposed by his own military in 1973. The United States sent troops to theDominican Republic in 1965 andGrenada in 1983, and trained and supported various acquiescent juntas, including a brutal regime inEl Salvador. InNicaragua the United States secretly supported theContras against the leftistSandinista government; eventually military actions and economic sanctions push Nicaraguans into voting for anti-Sandinista politicianVioleta Chamorro in 1990. Interviewees includeFrank Wisner,Hortensia Bussi,Nikolai Leonov,Violeta Chamorro andDaniel Ortega. The pre-credits scene explains that although the USSR avoided intervening in the region, following theCuban Revolution Castro andChe Guevara sought to spark "100 Vietnams" across Latin America by initiating guerrilla movements. | |||
| 19. | "Freeze" | 1977 (1977)–1981 | |
Carter's ambitious proposals for total multilateral nuclear disarmament are rejected by Brezhnev; his championing ofhuman rights does not win favour either. TheHelsinki Accords encourage writers to establishCharter 77 inCzechoslovakia. The visit ofPope John Paul II revitalises Polish nationalism, while in the Soviet Union high profile dissidents andrefuseniks gains popular attention. The Soviets continue a conventional arms race, draining resources from a demoralised consumer economy.SALT II is signed, to the consternation of many Europeans because of the Treaty's"double track" provisions concerning the deployment of newSS-20 andPershing II missiles. Carter's failure to exercise American resolve and strength over theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan, theIran hostage crisis and anoil shock ultimately costs him the1980 elections, and the United States decisively swings to a more confrontational foreign policy underRonald Reagan. Brezhnev successfully leans on Polish leaderWojciech Jaruzelski to crack down on theSolidarity movement. Interviewees includeJeane Kirkpatrick,Lech Wałęsa,Václav Havel andHelmut Schmidt. The pre-credits scene shows the United States basking in confidence during itsbicentennial, with the narrator noting détente would shortly be over. | |||
| 20. | "Soldiers of God" | 1975 (1975)–1988 | |
Nur Mohammad Tarakicomes to power inAfghanistan and attempts to modernise the country on Marxist-Leninist lines, provoking a rebellion from more traditional power brokers in the country. The Soviets are initially reluctant to intervene militarily, but respond after Taraki is violently replaced byHafizullah Amin who is considered to be destabilising influence. TheSoviets invade Afghanistan, and soon find themselves unprepared facing a hostile army ofmujahideen insurgents, secretly armed by the Americans who see the war as an opportunity to wear down the Soviet Union. To achieve mobility in Afghanistan's rugged terrain the Soviet Union uses helicopters, but are thwarted byStinger missiles. Atrocities are committed by Soviet and mujahideen forces. Eventually Soviet forces would leave Afghanistan under the terms of theGeneva Accords, but bloodshed would continue with rival mujahideen forces fighting each other. Interviewees includeCaspar Weinberger,Artyom Borovik andZbigniew Brzezinski. The pre-credits scene shows a battle in progress and presents the views of the superpowers – the Soviet Union did not want to lose face by being defeated in aproxy war. | |||
| 21. | "Spies" | 1944 (1944)–1994 | |
Throughout the Cold War both sides sought intelligence about their opponents usingspies,satellites and other means. For political reasons, scientists working on theManhattan Project provided nuclear secrets to the Soviets. British agentsGeorge Blake andKim Philby passed on to the Soviet Union the identities of Western intelligence assets, and the presence of theBerlin Tunnel. Conversely, Soviet ColonelOleg Penkovsky gave the West vital details of Soviet nuclear vulnerabilities. Intelligence services are also used to silence dissent, in particular inEast Germany. After the Cold War an investigation revealed the Soviet Union had been aware of a number ofdouble agents operating in its midst from information provided by a CIAmole,Aldrich Ames. One such agent,Oleg Gordievsky, managed to flee the Soviet Union, butAdolf Tolkachev andDmitri Polyakov were arrested, tried and executed. Interviewees includeMarkus Wolf,Ted Hall,Oleg Kalugin,George Blake,Yuri Modin andAldrich Ames (who was serving a life sentence). The pre-credits scene shows Polyakov being arrested by the KGB. | |||
| 22. | "Star Wars" | 1981 (1981)–1988 | |
Reagan's 1983 "Evil Empire" speech sets the tone for a more aggressive US posture against the Soviet Union, and the costly arms race is renewed. He hopes that space-based anti-missile systems known asStrategic Defense Initiative (SDI) could render nuclear weapons obsolete, but the Soviet Union is concerned of upsetting theMAD paradigm that had kept the world safe.Gorbachev assumes power in the Soviet Union, setting toreform the Soviet economy andencourage greater openness. He bonds well with both Reagan andMargaret Thatcher, charismatic to Soviet sensibilities, but the SDI issue prevents arms control agreements being made inGeneva Summit orReykjavík. The weakness of the Soviet system is revealed by theChernobyl disaster andMathias Rust's Red Square stunt. Knowing the Soviet Union could not compete with SDI without the economic welfare of its people being severely curtailed, whose exposure to popular culture and foreign media has led to raised expectations, Gorbachev eventually agrees to a landmark agreement, theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Disarmament commences, under the maxim ofdoveryai, no proveryai. Interviewees includeDonald Regan,Sir Charles Powell,Roald Sagdeev andMikhail Gorbachev. The pre-credits scene shows an advertisement for Reagan's 1984 election campaign. | |||
| 23. | "The Wall Comes Down" | 1989 (1989) | |
Gorbachev makes clear Eastern European countries were free to determine their own destinies. In PolandSolidarity enters intonegotiations with the Government, and would end up winning a landslide election. InHungary the Government chooses to symbolically reinterImre Nagy, and open its frontier withAustria, which is then crossed by increasing numbers of holidaying East Germans.Erich Honecker refuses to implement reforms, despite subtle pressure from Gorbachev and growing protests across East Germany. The bloody end todissent in China is never far from the minds of protesters. Just asprotests reach a peak, Soviet forces in East Germany are stood down, and Honecker is replaced by an unimpressiveEgon Krenz. As a concession travel restrictions are lifted but the new regulations are miscommunicated, and theBerlin Wall is suddenly and irrevocably breached by masses of East Germans. In the momentum, the fate of communism in East Germany is sealed. Interviewees includeMikhail Gorbachev,Miklós Németh,Egon Krenz andGeorge H. W. Bush. The pre-credits scene includes Gorbachev explaining that by 1989, force alone could not secure the world. | |||
| 24. | "Conclusions" | 1989 (1989)–1991 | |
Gorbachev and Bush meet atMalta in December 1989 to consider the recent dramatic events. Only the previous week the Communist governmentresigned inCzechoslovakia; and shortlyNicolae Ceaușescu would be deposed and executed in the bloodyRomanian Revolution. Gorbachev permitsGerman reunification and removes Soviet troops from Europe, but fails to secure financial support from the West. As the Soviet economy collapses, Gorbachev faces opposition from both reformers and hardliners. Sharing their abhorence of Soviet disintegration, Gorbachev brings in hardliners to his government andcracks down on the Lithuanian independence movement. However they later turn on Gorbachev and stage acoup.Boris Yeltsin is instrumental in rallying the public and military to defeat the coup. Sidelining Gorbachev, Yeltsin sets the course for Russia to leave the Soviet Union by establishing theCommonwealth of Independent States. The Soviet Union ends on 26 December 1991, and in his Christmas Day address Bush announces the Cold War is over. The cost of the Cold War is considered in retrospect. Interviewees includeMircea Dinescu,Alexander Rutskoy andCondoleezza Rice. The pre-credits scene features Bush and Gorbachev explaining how uncertain the world had suddenly become. | |||
The VHS version is formatted with 4:3 aspect ratio, common for CRT television sets. The interviews are cropped on the sides to fit television screen.
The DVD version is formatted with 16:9 aspect ratio, suitable for widescreen television sets. The archival film is cropped on top and bottom to achieve wider aspect ratio.
