Film Review: Dr Strangelove

About Dr Strangelove (1963) Stanley Kubrick’s classic black comedy about a group of war-eager military men who plan a nuclear apocalypse is both funny and frightening – and seems as relevant today as ever. Through a series of military and political accidents, two psychotic generals – U.S. Air Force Commander Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) and Joint Chief of Staff “Buck” Turgidson (George C. Scott) trigger an ingenious, irrevocable scheme to attack Russia’s strategic targets with nuclear bombs. The brains behind the scheme belong to Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers), a wheelchair-bound nuclear scientist who has bizarre ideas about man’s future. The president (also Sellers) is helpless to stop the bombers, as is Captain Mandrake (Sellers once again). Dr. Strangelove is truly a brilliant film classic.

Starring: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Runtime: 93 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB

Review: Dr Strangelove

Stanley Kubrick’s satirical black comedy is both hilarious and frightening in equal measure. It begins with General Jack D Ripper (Sterling Hayden) ordering Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) to put their base on alert and issue a command to airborne B52 planes to implement Wing Attack Plan R which translates as a nuclear air strike on Russia. As part of the Cold War initiative the Americans have kept a large group of B52s airborne around the world but all within 2 hours of Russia and all now descend on the country. Ripper has very much gone rogue on this one and a crisis council is immediately called in the War Room at the Pentagon.

In a large room with fancy boards depicting the world map, a circular table where every seat also has a phone within easy reach gather the American President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), General Buck Turgidson (George C Scott) along with numerous officers and aides. Turgidson briefs everyone on the situation and insists on adopting the fantastic policy of not drawing too many conclusions about motives until the matter has been fully investigated. The council must find a way to stop the B52 planes which only respond to a specially coded message that Ripper knows. The Soviet ambassador (Peter Bull) is called into the War Room to help as the President speaks with the Premier of the Soviet Union. While the Pentagon is frantically trying to sort this crisis, a lone B52 continues its journey to Russia armed with Top Secret extensive booklets on what they need to do once they arrive.

Dr Strangelove is hilarious for almost its entire duration. Once the B52 planes get the order to attack Russia they seem to spend hours pouring over the Top Secret instructions from a safe and placed in envelopes addressed to individual members of the crew. At the Pentagon it’s laughs all the way as General Turgidson briefs the President on the crisis while trying to protect the large boards from the sight of the Soviet ambassador. Sellers has various roles in the film and he is great in all of them, especially as former Nazi Dr Strangelove. Scott is brilliant as Turgidson, stealing many of the best lines and still raising a smile when silenced by the President as he remains twitchy in his chair. After all the laughs, the film becomes serious in the end as Dr Strangelove comes forward in his wheelchair and with an arm he can’t control. The film greatly emphasises the delicate balance the US and the Soviet Union maintained throughout the Cold War.

Dr Strangelove is probably funnier than the subject matter should really allow. Star turns from Sellers and Scott make this one almost a laugh a minute experience, but in the end it leaves one cold and unnerved by the possibilities of nuclear war. Comedies such as this one with humor but also with sincerity and heart are always among the best.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

About the Author:

I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.

David M. Brown – who has written 807 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.

---