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How We Stole the Atomic Bomb (1968) movie poster

Timeline

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb (1968) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1968 · 90 mins · Italian
Directed by
Niazi Mostafa
Starring
Lucio Fulci, Enzo Andronico, Alessandro Tedeschi, Adel Adham, Fortunato Arena, Franco Franchi

Franco, an Italian fisherman, watches a U.S. Air Force plane carrying a nuclear weapon crash into the Mediterranean off Egypt. He is then pursued by Ciccio, a shady spy working for a secret organization led by the ruthless Dr. Si (Yes), who wants the bomb to blackmail the world. The two form an alliance, each hoping to claim the atomic device.

Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Events in order (14)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like How We Stole the Atomic Bomb
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle

14 events in order · contains spoilers

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of How We Stole the Atomic Bomb (1968) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Bomber crash and Franco stranded

    An American bomber carrying nuclear weapons crashes into the sea off the Egyptian coast. Franco and his father are fishing nearby; the crew flee in a lifeboat, leaving Franco stranded on the wrecked craft that washes ashore. Franco is left alone with the threat of the weapons in the wrong hands.

    Where
    Off the coast of Egypt

  2. Franco kidnapped by SPECTRALIS

    Agent 87, a member of the criminal organization SPECTRALIS, abducts Franco to locate the nuclear weapon. The operation is directed by Pasqualino, who forces Franco to reveal or guide them to the bomb's whereabouts. Franco is drawn into a dangerous game of espionage.

    Where
    SPECTRALIS base, Egypt

  3. Ciccio's failed interrogation

    At the SPECTRALIS base, Ciccio tries to pressure Franco for information using a torture device. The attempt backfires when Ciccio demonstrates the required torture pose himself, exposing the absurdity of the threat. The failed interrogation plants the seed for an uneasy alliance later.

    Where
    SPECTRALIS base, Egypt

  4. Franco escapes to a train station

    Franco escapes confinement and reaches a train station in Egypt, where he struggles to communicate due to the language barrier. He tries to buy a railway ticket to Palermo but cannot speak Arabic. A nearby Italian priest helps translate, and Franco buys a cappuccino; Cinzia notices his loud shouting and takes an interest.

    Where
    Train station, Egypt

  5. Spies clash at the base

    Three spies—James Bomb, Modesty Bluff, and Derek Flit—attack Ciccio at the SPECTRALIS base. They are more focused on outdoing each other than on Franco, brawling until Ciccio manages to slip away unnoticed. The chaotic encounter leaves the trio still without the bomb.

    Where
    SPECTRALIS base, Egypt

  6. Cinzia's trap and Franco's rescue

    Cinzia lures Franco to her hotel room with the promise of a night together, though she works for Dr. Yes. While she is distracted, Bomb, Bluff, and Flit break in to abduct Franco but fail; Ciccio arrives, retrieves Franco, and takes him back to the base.

    Where
    Hotel room, Cairo

  7. Plot to plant a fake bomb

    Franco and Ciccio endure a tense lie-detector session where Ciccio probes Franco about the bomb; Franco insists he knows nothing. Fearing his own safety, Ciccio agrees to team up with Franco to plant a fake bomb that can be found to mislead their pursuers.

    Where
    SPECTRALIS base

  8. Franco and Ciccio contact Cinzia and plan to meet Dr. Yes

    Franco and Ciccio contact Cinzia, who believes their claim that they have found the bomb. She arranges a meeting with Dr. Yes at his underground villa outside Cairo, setting up the next phase of their ruse.

    Where
    Underground villa outside Cairo

  9. Dr. Yes resurrects a mummy using the bomb's energy

    Dr. Yes uses the bomb's radiation to revive the mummy Nabuco Sonor, aiming to use the energy to awaken the Queen of the Dead. The experiment advances when a thumb twitch signals progress, confirming the plan might work. Franco and Ciccio's fake bomb is integral to triggering the ritual.

    Where
    Dr. Yes's underground HQ

  10. Franco and Ciccio deliver the fake bomb

    Franco and Ciccio present the fake bomb to Dr. Yes, expecting to be sacrificed to Nabuco Sonor for their deception. They discover the bomb is not real, which foils the mummy-activation attempt for the moment. The ruse buys them time as tensions rise.

    Where
    Underground HQ

  11. Derek Flit revealed and abducts the two

    The supposed mummy turns out to be Derek Flit in disguise. Flit, aided by Bomb and Bluff, overpowers Dr. Yes's men and abducts Franco and Ciccio, escalating the conflict and leaving Dr. Yes's plans in ruins.

    Where
    Underground HQ

  12. Spies feud and radio ends the hunt

    In the desert, Bomb, Bluff, and Flit fall out over who deserves credit for turning Franco and Ciccio over to their superiors. Their squabble is interrupted by a live radio report announcing the United States has claimed there is no nuclear bomb on the crashed plane. The revelation shifts the pursuit away from the two captives.

    Where
    Egyptian desert

  13. Franco and Ciccio on the fishing boat

    Franco takes Ciccio aboard his fishing boat to sail back toward Italy after the chaos. While pulling in the nets to cast off, they discover the actual bomb tangled in the nets, proving the danger is far from over.

    Where
    Beached fishing boat, near Egyptian coast

  14. Weeks later: life on a yacht with the bomb

    Weeks later, Franco and Ciccio are aboard a luxurious yacht, living in comfort while the bomb remains in their possession. They use it to blackmail world leaders by telephone, attempting to avert nuclear destruction on their own terms.

    Where
    On a yacht at sea

Last updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:32

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Timeline questions answered

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of How We Stole the Atomic Bomb (1968): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Franco being chased by SPECTRALIS?

SPECTRALIS, an international crime organization led by Dr. Yes, wanted to recover the nuclear weapon from the crashed American bomber. Since Franco was the only person who witnessed the crash and was stranded on the wreckage, they believed he knew the bomb's location or could lead them to it.

  • franco
  • spectralis
  • nuclear weapon
  • chase
  • spy
Q2

What was Dr. Yes trying to do with the mummy?

Dr. Yes planned to use the radiation from the nuclear bomb to revive an ancient Egyptian mummy called Nabuco Sonor, also known as the Queen of the Dead. He believed the bomb's energy could bring the mummy back to life as part of his scheme to threaten the world.

  • dr yes
  • mummy
  • nabuco sonor
  • resurrection
  • radiation
  • egyptian
Q3

Why did the US government claim there was no nuclear bomb on the plane?

The US government likely made the announcement to defuse international panic and prevent their enemies from searching for the weapon. This cover-up allowed the situation to cool down, though the bomb was actually real and still at large.

  • united states
  • nuclear bomb
  • announcement
  • cover-up
  • plane crash
Q4

How did the real bomb end up in Franco's fishing nets?

When the American bomber crashed, the nuclear weapon fell into the Mediterranean Sea. The fishing nets that Franco and his father were using caught the bomb as it drifted underwater. Since the crew abandoned ship in a lifeboat, the bomb remained hidden in the ocean until Franco pulled it up weeks later while preparing to leave.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Franco and his father were fishing near the crash site when the bomber went down.

  • fishing nets
  • bomb discovery
  • mediterranean
  • aftermath
  • real bomb
Q5

Why did Ciccio decide to help Franco escape?

After the lie detector revealed Franco knew nothing about the bomb's location, Ciccio realized his superiors would kill him for failing to retrieve the weapon. Facing execution, he chose to team up with Franco and plant a fake bomb to mislead SPECTRALIS and buy himself time to survive.

  • ciccio
  • franc联盟
  • lie detector
  • fake bomb
  • survival
  • betrayal
Q6

What was the purpose of planting a fake bomb?

Franco and Ciccio planted a fake bomb hoping SPECTRALIS would find it and believe they had recovered the real weapon. This ruse was meant to throw their pursuers off the scent and give Franco and Ciccio time to escape without being killed for failing to deliver the actual nuclear device.

  • fake bomb
  • deception
  • plan
  • escape
  • misleading pursuit
Q7

Who was the mummy that Dr. Yes tried to resurrect?

The supposed mummy was actually Derek Flit, one of the three spies competing for the bomb. He disguised himself as the Egyptian mummy Nabuco Sonor to infiltrate Dr. Yes's operation. When revealed, Flit and his fellow spies overpowered Dr. Yes's men and abducted Franco and Ciccio.

  • derek flit
  • mummy disguise
  • spies
  • betrayal
  • infiltration
Q8

Why did the spies (James Bomb, Modesty Bluff, and Derek Flit) keep fighting among themselves?

The three spies were more concerned with outdoing each other and claiming credit for catching Franco than with actually completing their mission. Their constant bickering and rivalry repeatedly allowed their targets to escape, demonstrating the film's parody of incompetent spy characters.

  • james bomb
  • modesty bluff
  • derek flit
  • spies
  • infighting
  • rivalry
  • comedy
Q9

How did Franco and Ciccio end up living on a yacht with the bomb?

After the US announced there was no bomb, the pursuit of Franco and Ciccio ended. They returned to Franco's fishing boat and discovered the real bomb tangled in the nets. Instead of turning it in, they kept it and used it to blackmail world leaders by telephone, eventually earning enough money to live luxuriously on a yacht while threatening to use the bomb if their demands weren't met.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the bomb was caught in the nets as they prepared to sail home.

  • yacht ending
  • blackmail
  • wealth
  • world leaders
  • telephone threats
  • fortune
Q10

What was SPECTRALIS trying to achieve with the nuclear bomb?

SPECTRALIS, led by Dr. Yes, wanted the nuclear bomb to blackmail world governments and achieve their criminal objectives. Dr. Yes also had the additional plan of using the bomb's radiation to resurrect the ancient mummy Nabuco Sonor, which he believed would give him ultimate power.

  • spectralis
  • dr yes
  • nuclear blackmail
  • world domination
  • criminal organization
Q11

Why did Ciccio's interrogation of Franco fail?

Ciccio attempted to torture Franco using a brutal device to extract information about the bomb's location. However, his demonstration of how the torture worked backfired when he got stuck in the awkward pose himself, exposing the absurdity of his threat and failing to intimidate Franco.

  • ciccio
  • interrogation
  • torture device
  • failure
  • comedy
  • slapstick

Movie threads

More Movies Like How We Stole the Atomic Bomb, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes How We Stole the Atomic Bomb tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Absurd Spy Spoofs and Parodies like How We Stole the Atomic Bomb

Laugh-out-loud comedies that mock the serious world of espionage. If you enjoyed the hilarious take on espionage in How We Stole the Atomic Bomb, you'll love these movies. This collection features spy spoofs and parodies that prioritize slapstick humor and satirical plots over genuine suspense, perfect for fans seeking a lighthearted and comedic escape.

  • satirical
  • slapstick
  • playful
  • escapist
  • humorous
  • absurd
  • Tone: light, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, gag-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a familiar spy movie structure—a chase for a powerful MacGuffin, a clash with a villainous organization—but every serious beat is undercut with humor. Characters are often inept, plans go hilariously wrong, and the world-threatening stakes are treated as a joke, leading to a cheerful resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they all share a core comedic intent: to parody the tropes of the spy genre. They connect through their light tone, fast-paced succession of gags, and the presentation of potentially intense scenarios as purely humorous setups.

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb movie poster

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb

1968
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow movie poster

Police Academy: Mission to Moscow

1994
Flying Saucer Daffy movie poster

Flying Saucer Daffy

1958
Corky Romano movie poster

Corky Romano

2001
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege movie poster

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

1989
Silent Movie movie poster

Silent Movie

1976
Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission Implausible movie poster

Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission Implausible

2014
Carry On Up the Khyber movie poster

Carry On Up the Khyber

1968

Lighthearted Misadventures and Chases like How We Stole the Atomic Bomb

Fast-paced capers where the journey is full of fun, not fear. Fans of the playful chase in How We Stole the Atomic Bomb will enjoy these similar movies. This selection focuses on fast-paced comedic adventures and misadventures where the stakes feel low and the focus is on the fun of the pursuit, featuring unlikely partnerships and a happy ending.

  • misadventure
  • chase
  • playful
  • unlikely duo
  • escapist
  • humorous
  • Tone: lighthearted, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is a straightforward chase narrative, but the conflict is comedic. The protagonists are often ordinary people thrust into extraordinary situations, teaming up with unlikely partners. Each obstacle in the chase is an opportunity for a new gag or a slapstick set piece, building to a successful and satisfying conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their core structure of a comedic chase and their consistently light, playful mood. They share a fast pace, straightforward plots that serve the humor, and a focus on the chemistry between characters navigating a series of ridiculous events.

Chasers movie poster

Chasers

2025
Hot Pursuit movie poster

Hot Pursuit

2015
Three Fugitives movie poster

Three Fugitives

1989
Chasing Papi movie poster

Chasing Papi

2003
Hit and Run movie poster

Hit and Run

2012
Go for It movie poster

Go for It

1983
Only When I Larf movie poster

Only When I Larf

1968
Sunset Limousine movie poster

Sunset Limousine

1983

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring How We Stole the Atomic Bomb

How We Stole the Atomic Bomb appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

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