Bert The Turtle Duck And Cover Atomic Fallout Film (1951)

This Duck and Cover civil defense film is the original "nuclear attack safety film" that assures children protection from atomic bombs by getting low to the ground and covering up. A pillar of 1950s history, this hilariously ineffective nuclear survival technique has been satirically mimicked on countless occasions. The cutesy film features the animated character Bert the Turtle showing kids the classic “duck and cover” way to survive a nuclear attack. Bert is walking down the street, minding his own business, while the “duck and cover” theme song plays in the background:

There was a turtle by the name of Bert
and Bert the turtle was very alert;
when danger threatened him he never got hurt
he knew just what to do...
He ducked! [inhalation sound]
And covered!
Ducked! [inhalation sound]
And covered!

A monkey in a tree then dangles a little piece of dynamite in Burt’s face, causing Burt to hide in his shell for cover, escaping the resulting explosion that takes out both the monkey and the tree! The film then switches to a live action family picnicking and the narrator advises children that when they see the flash of the bomb, they can survive as long as they crouch down and take cover. Duck and Cover is a riotous classic film exemplifying American governmental fear prevention and political propaganda.