[1] It features interviews and footage of the events that shaped the tense relationships between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Writers included Hella Pick, Jeremy Isaacs, Lawrence Freedman, Neal Ascherson, Hugh O'Shaughnessy and Germaine Greer.

Kenneth Branagh was the narrator, and Carl Davis (who also collaborated with Isaacs with The World at War) composed the theme music.

[3] The archival footage has been cropped for widescreen presentation instead of being left in the original format [4] Each episode lasts approximately 46 minutes.

The archival film is cropped on top and bottom to achieve wider aspect ratio.