Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone will present his new documentary, "The Bomb," in a free public showing at Stanford University Friday, Feb. 22.

Stone will appear on a panel along with Daniel Ellsberg, the former U.S. military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times, to answer questions following the one-hour show, which is part of a ten-part U.S. history series Stone created for the Showtime cable television network.

Also on the panel, to be moderated by Stanford emeritus history professor Barton Bernstein, will be American University historian Peter Kuznick, who co-authored with Stone "The Untold History of the United States," a companion book to the TV series.

In a separate presentation a week later, on March 1, Bernstein -- who has published and lectured widely on the atomic bomb -- will present his own interpretation of President Harry S. Truman's 1945 decision to drop the bomb.

Stone won Oscars for directing "Platoon" (1986), "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), and for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Midnight Express" (1978).

The Stone-Kuznick interpretation contends the atomic bombing of Japan was unnecessary, conflicting with most standard interpretations as well as general public opinion, Bernstein said.

The Feb. 22 film showing and panel discussion will be at 6 p.m. in Room 02 in the basement of the Lane History Building, 450 Serra Mall, near the parking oval. The room seats about 155.

Bernstein's March 1 talk will be at 6 p.m. in the same building in Room 205.

Cosponsors of the Feb. 22 and March 1 events include Stanford's American Studies Program; the Center for International Security and Cooperation; the Department of Communications; the Film and Media Studies Program; the Science, Technology and Society Program and the Stanford Institute for International and Cross-Cultural Education.

— Palo Alto Weekly staff

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