Atomic City, The (1952)

The seven-year-old son of leading nuclear physicist Frank Addison (Gene Barry in his big-screen debut) from Los Alamos, New Mexico (the “Atomic City” of the title) is kidnapped while on a school outing to nearby Santa Fe by a group of Communist spies.

The ransom for young Tommy Addison (Lee Aaker) is top secret information on America’s latest H-bomb.

Frank and his wife Martha (Lydia Clarke, Mrs Charlton Heston) initially try to deal with the spies alone, but the tempo becomes blistering when the government gets wind of the abduction and swings into action.

The FBI – who make it clear that they consider protecting America’s nuclear secrets and the capture of the spies more vital than saving young Tommy’s life – close in on the spies only to have the trail (and the quarry) literally blow up in their faces.

More investigation produces another trail, and finally, everything winds up in a fine, exciting climax amongst Puye Indian ruins atop a craggy mesa.

Director Jerry Hopper milks a familiar situation for more suspense than you might expect, and Lee Aaker is a skilful child actor who grabs the viewer’s sympathy right from the start. The film – made by Paramount for less than $500,000 – was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.

Dr Frank Addison
Gene Barry
Martha Addison
Lydia Clarke
Russ Farley
Michael Moore
Ellen Haskell
Nancy Gates
Tommy Addison
Lee Aaker
Insp. Harold Mann
Milburn Stone
Emil Jablons
Bert Freed
FBI Agent George Weinberg
Frank Cady
‘Greg’ Gregson
Houseley Stevenson Jr.
Donald Clark
Leonard Strong
John Pattiz
Jerry Hausner
Dr Peter Rassett
John Damler
Robert Kalnick
George Lynn
Mortie Fenton
Olan Soule
Arnie Molter
Anthony Warde
David Rogers
Norman Budd
Marion Fenton
Mary Carroll
Peggy Marston
Bonnie Kay Eddy
Sydney Fenton
Louis Lettieri
FBI Agent Smitty
William Meader
Dr Gus Schwambach
Joseph Mell
Dr Hodgins
Harold Miller
Henry 
Hans Moebus

Director
Jerry Hopper