Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden

directed by Stanley Kubrick

95 minutes

US Air Force General Jack T. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) thinking that the Russians are about to launch an all out assault on the United States, issues orders for the bomber squadron under his command to strike military targets in the Soviet Union with nuclear bombs. RAF Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers), Ripper's executive officer, shows the general evidence that the Russians aren't attacking but Ripper won't listen, has the base locked down, and cuts off all communication with the outside world and the bombers. The general has a new justification for the attack, the protection of the "vital fluids" of the the American public.

US President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) and General "Buck" Turgidson (George C. Scott) argue in the War Room at the Pentagon over how to address the situation. Muffley wants to defuse it. Turgidson sees it as an opportunity to deal with the Soviets once and for all.

The situation is considerably more critical than either President Muffley or General Turgidson realize, although this doesn't become clear until the Soviet ambassador tells them about the doomsday device that the Soviet Union has. It will blanket the world with nuclear radiation in the event of a nuclear strike on the USSR.

US Army troops storm the Air Force base that Ripper commands. Ripper kills himself without revealing the code needed to contact the bombers but Mandrake figures it out. All but one of the bombers is either recalled or shot down by the Soviets.

Thoughts

Dr. Strangelove, the movie's namesake, who is also played by Peter Sellers, is also present in the War Room.

This is at least the third time I have watched this movie. I saw it for the first time in the 1980s, probably the late 1980s. I saw it again in Nov 2004.

There is just one woman in this film and she only appears in one scene, the one that introduces General Turgidson. He is the only person with whom she interacts.

This movie is silly in places but I found myself sad in the last few minutes. This movie really grabbed my attention and did not let go.