Host Jack Webb tells of what America would be like under communism. Produced in the early sixties,this is a frightening tale of a typical American family, and what that same family would look like under the "Red Nightmare". Just the facts. mam.

One note: After reviewing some of the comments made concerning this film, I feel compelled to state the following: Before anyone criticizes this film, you have to judge it in terms of the the time it was produced. Anyone of us who lived through the cold war can well remember the strong concern (or fear or paranoia if you like) that was ever present at the time. We remember as kids being told to go under our school desks, to roll on the ground when a flash was heard and to memorize exactly where the nearest fallout shelter was. We as a people were still new to explosives that could destroy the world in one blast. It was frightening as it should have been. Remember air raids (in addition to fire drills) in school? Remember conelrad?

Although this film is somewhat "over the top", we didn't know that at the time. We, as a nation were scared. Did you have a fallout shelter in your home, complete with rationed food and water in it? How about all those civil defense volunteers running around with their white helments? And don't forget radiation which could could carry for miles; killing it's victims at a slow, painful rate. This was all new to us and we didn't know what do expect.

This short film should not be viewed as funny or camp. It is, instead, a reflection of what we, as Americans were fearing at the time. And with good reason.

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Reviewer: gl1200phil - favorite - October 4, 2013

Subject: pathetic Sorry, I really couldn't watch after the bf of that gorgeous daughter (Pat Woodell-the 1st booby jo[sorry fer laughing at own dumb pun/joke] from pettycoat junction) before commies, said, " Warrants? We don' (sic) need no stinkin' warrants!) It just hit a bit too close to home after that POS "W", nullified/or tried to nullify the constitutional rights to: search warrants, search and seizure, the right to a fair & speedy trial, the right to confront your accusers in a court of law. Allowed: rendition, folks to be imprisoned indefinitely without communication with a lawyer or family, war profiteering. You know, the same type of tactics (cept profiteering ) used by a certain meglomaniac nationalistic socialist party in the middle of the previous century. But hey, they're ignorant or don't care, cuz that doesn't hold a candle to the fact that a black (BLACK? Oh heaven forbid!!!) president wants everyone to have health care. I am behind the idea but I believe the method isn't the best way to achieve the desired outcome. Now I'll be branded by the Kool Aid drinkers as a commie pinko. Badge of honor baby!

I'm sorry I'm way off topic, I just can't read that garbage and not respond.

peace n blessings baby!!! - October 4, 2013pathetic

Reviewer: kco1960 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 30, 2013

Subject: All Star Cast I'm giving this propaganda film five stars mainly because of the casting. Jack Kelly (Maverick), Jack Webb (Dragnet), Andrew Duggan (Lancer), the recently departed Jeanne Cooper (Young and Restless whose cast devoted an entire episode to her memory), Robert Conrad (Wild, Wild, West), Peter Brown (Lawman), Peter Breck (Big Valley), and Mike Road (listen very closely to his voice as the communist prosecutor as you'll recognize it as the original voice of Race Bannon in Jonny Quest and Zandor in The Herculoids). - July 30, 2013All Star Cast

Reviewer: Super YiaYia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 2, 2011

Subject: Great Documentary RED NIGHTMARE....



THE COMMUNISTS ARE COMING, FIRST CANADA THEN THE USA!



We had a direct threat from the communist's (Red, Red's). Their mission: to take over the world.



Yes, Red Nightmare seems ridiculous today. Movies like this helped a lot. Reminded us 'do not take your freedom for granted'; and that the communist regime is an insidious enemy.



Communism was a CANCER in our country! It needed to be CUT-OUT. These movies made us aware.



I wonder what our grand-children/ great-grandchildren will say about us? Interesting hmmmmm.



Red Nightmare was well done, and the acting was really believable. The picture/sound was good. Good history lesson for all ages. Jack Webb is awesome!



Just saying.....



PS please forgive grammar/spelling errors - August 2, 2011Great Documentary

Reviewer: I_loved_this movie! - - July 2, 2011

Subject: Not everyone swallows propaganda 50 years ago there certainly were Americans who were aware that our government was conducting bogus propaganda on us. These people were seemingly in the minority, and could be branded as kooks, commies, pinkos, hippies, and unamerican. But they did exist. The schools were busy indoctrinating children with fear and nonsense drills, to make sure that "we as a nation were scared".



In 2051 people will look back 50 years and see with the same perspective the bogus propaganda and manufactured fear that the government conducted on us in the beginning of the 21st century. The same deliberate indoctrination of schoolchildren with bogus fear.

Most people will say that "We didn't know that at the time". But there were in fact a minority in America who saw it clearly WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING.

That minority is of course branded today as kooks, traitors, terrorists, conspiracy theorists, truthers; and still by some even, "commies". - July 2, 2011Not everyone swallows propaganda

Reviewer: kfinn - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 2, 2011

Subject: Public Domain?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Kev­inMartinFinnJr



Kevin Greetings, I'm trying to find out if this video is in the public domain or if it needs to be licensed. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. If you'd care to discuss feel free to contact me on facebook.Kevin - July 2, 2011Public Domain?

Reviewer: demji57@gmail.com - favorite favorite favorite - June 26, 2011

Subject: Prophetic propoganda... Yes, this is typical of the heavy-handed "Commie-phobic" propaganda of 50 years ago, and for that reason it's both mildly fascinating and also rather tedious to watch. But it's also really depressing--because if you consider our current "state of the union" we're currently actually living much of the Communist lifestyle dipicted in this film. Consider how our public schools are increasingly becoming simply "Government indoctrination centers"... how, under the Patriot Act, your home can be entered and searched without a warrant (or even your presence)... how we are increasingly becoming monitored in all of our activities and movements--and many other similarities. 'Kind of gives you the impression that 50-60 years ago we had "government experts" studying repressive political systems around the world and saying, "Gee--this isn't bad...but how can we improve upon it and make it even better? How can we crush a population--without them hardly even realizing it?" demji57@gmail.com -- June 26, 2011Prophetic propoganda...

Reviewer: Nikonwilly - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 5, 2011

Subject: Corporation VS Communism There isn't much left of Jack Web's America...where one goes to bed at night with nary a worry!

Now you are slaving at 2 low wage jobs to simply keep the Corporate bill collector of your back!

The governments revolving door policy that appoints corporate thugs to positions of power, creating laws that support their corporate profit schemes has destroyed most of Web's middle class America.

Today every American institute has a corporate lackey behind it making the rules which suck every penny, Mr. average American earns!

What could be nastier than good old Communism..the deceitful way the corporation has slowly taken over and made you dependent upon their slave wage jobs...or what is left of them.

Capitalism is nothing but a slower form of slavery...where eventually a few of the chosen own the whole!

The idea that there is still a so called, "American Dream" is nothing more than home grown propaganda!

With our Government back the Corporation we don't stand a chance ...get ready for the barb wire because when it finally get's to be too much the people will eventually revolt!

I pledge allegiance to Goldman Sachs and to the divided States of The Corporation! - March 5, 2011Corporation VS Communism

Reviewer: Dr Feel Rotten - favorite favorite favorite - February 28, 2011

Subject: Jack, jack, Jack Why do you always contradict yourself?



"Responsibility is a privilege, an inherent right.."

Is this anything like breathing oxygen perhaps? Maybe even tougher like drinking water or eating food to survive?

Yes, here in the good old USA being alive with a heart beat we consider it an earned privilege that only the upper classes should have and you lowly scum who don't work as a hedge fund managers only live by consent. Isn't is great to be an American?



C'mon Jack..hire a copy editor who can read..and oh yeah...think.

Ron..shudda you face you steenking flea bagger - February 28, 2011Jack, jack, Jack

Reviewer: billbarstad - favorite favorite - January 23, 2011

Subject: Ah, The Red Scare hugozoom pointed out, this was televised in 1962, the same year as the



Watching this, I was struck by how the portrayed communists are so much like the far right in this country. They both want to take away our liberties. They both hate our government. They both have repressive ideologies. They both see things that aren't there. Try watching it and replace 'communist' with 'lunatic fringe', and see what you think.



Watch for an early appearance by Robert Conrad. Aside from a trip down memory lane, this wasn't an entertaining half-hour for me. Aspointed out, this was televised in 1962, the same year as the Cuban Missile Crisis . That was the only time I felt the fear of nuclear war around me. I never feared a communist takeover. There just wasn't any of that in my neighborhood. There were no bomb shelters. The only designated shelters were downtown. Hardly noticed them. School was the place fear was pushed, and that was in the form of filmstrips and various civil defense drills. It didn't take. Oh, it was in the paper and on TV, but no one I knew took it seriously. Maybe common sense reigned in the Pacific Northwest. Still seems to do so.Watching this, I was struck by how the portrayed communists are so much like the far right in this country. They both want to take away our liberties. They both hate our government. They both have repressive ideologies. They both see things that aren't there. Try watching it and replace 'communist' with 'lunatic fringe', and see what you think.Watch for an early appearance by Robert Conrad. Aside from a trip down memory lane, this wasn't an entertaining half-hour for me. - January 23, 2011Ah, The Red Scare

Reviewer: Ron Raygun - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 23, 2011

Subject: New World Order The film demonstrates "incremental" loss of freedoms and the trashing of the U.S. Constitution. The film was made in 1962, and today 49 years later, the U.S. Congress passes a law making everyone purchase health insurance. Is this Constitutional? And what happens when one prefers individual freedom to government iron-fist mandate? And when Comrade Khrushchev banged his shoe on the podium at the U.N. in 1960, yelling "We Will Bury You", did anybody listen? Judging by some of the comments, it would appear that there are some that do not take their liberty seriously. - January 23, 2011New World Order

Reviewer: KAJ1959 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 25, 2010

Subject: Very interesting Actually this PSA for the Defense Department was produced by Jack Webb while he was under contract to Warner Bros. in the early 60s. Interesting that it was made after the Berlin Wall went up. A prime example of Cold War propaganda (for lack of a better word) that proliferated until the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall.



There are some fine actors in this spot which make this less than camp: Jack Kelly (Bart Maverick), Jeanne Cooper (Kay Chancellor from The Young and the Restless), Andrew Duggan (Lancer), Peter Breck (Big Valley), and Robert Conrad (Hawaiian Eye, Wild Wild West). Kelly, Duggan and Conrad were Warner Bros. contract players at the time.



All in all, very enlightening. - September 25, 2010Very interesting

Reviewer: cathyftr - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 7, 2010

Subject: This is almost as funny as.. the ad I had seen some years back on local Virginia TV for the so-called "ex-gay" group Exodus International using the the Brady Bunch tune "Time to Change" while showing clips of people dancing and flashing on the screen such stuff as "David Dolan..gay until 9/15/2002"..oh and that number 1-800-NEED HIM !!!



..but this clip DOES have the great Jack Webb so I gave it four stars !! - September 7, 2010This is almost as funny as..

Reviewer: malscott - favorite - September 3, 2010

Subject: ancient screwball hilarity omg!! this HAS got to be be the biggest load of crap i have seen!! its amazing if anyone actually took this hilarious joke of a film which is much like reefer madness seriously. - September 3, 2010ancient screwball hilarity

Reviewer: hugozoom - favorite favorite favorite - June 27, 2010

Subject: release date According to ImdB, this came out in 1962. - June 27, 2010release date

Reviewer: 2muchtv - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 26, 2010

Subject: Rediscovered!



If you live through this era then this show is a turbo-nostalgic blast! If you didn't, Red Nightmare might not make sense at all.



Check Saw this once on a late night cable access channel show, delighted it has come to the archive.If you live through this era then this show is a turbo-nostalgic blast! If you didn't, Red Nightmare might not make sense at all.Check snopes.com to learn that Joe Friday never really said "just the facts, ma'am" That was from a spoof of Dragnet performed in the late 50s on a comedy record. - June 26, 2010Rediscovered!