Philosophical strands about religion, science, family life and the evil of communism form a tangled web in this astonishing artifact from America’s deep Cold War period. It’s so fiercely ideological that one would think it was produced by some cult religion, but it was made in Hollywood! On the other hand it is anything but a simplistic anti-Commie rant. Rather it is an imaginative fable about the clash of economic and spiritual movements that guide the fates of individuals as well as nations, and points out the perils of unregulated venture capitalism (familiar?) as well as Communism. Mixed up in this stew of ideologies and bizarre plot twists are some very profound and intriguing ideas that are still being embraced today. Admittedly overwrought and melodramatic, it nonetheless functions as a time capsule back to the early 50s and should be seen by every political-science and theology student today. Simply put; amazing.