Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780767856850
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 0767856856
Label: Sony Pictures
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Release Date: 2000-10-31
Running Time: 112
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 1964-10-07

It's Dr. Strangelove, but without the laughs. Fail Safe, made within a year of Strangelove and at the height of cold war atomic anxiety, posits a similar nightmare scenario. A U.S. bomber is accidentally ordered toward Moscow, ready to drop its load. The U.S. president (Henry Fonda) and various military and congressional leaders must then scramble to deal with the disaster. The built-in suspense is well maintained by director Sidney Lumet, working from a script by former blacklisted writer Walter Bernstein. The solemn, serious approach doesn't begin to touch the brilliance of Strangelove's inspired take on the nuclear nightmare, but Fail Safe is absorbing and well acted (a memorable role for Walter Matthau, for instance). The movie enters unexpected territory in its final minutes; conditioned for feel-good endings, viewers are still genuinely shocked by the plot turns in the final reels. The climax comes as a sobering slap in the face, intriguingly staged by Lumet. Now that the cold war has passed on into history, Fail Safe stands as--thank goodness--an interesting period piece. --Robert Horton

Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazingly true,
Comment: Script is tight, handling is correct and the story taut.
Who would have known that a B&W movie would be so good.
There are no extravaganza stuff, no HUGE entourage for a president, etc.
Human emotions, and stuff.
And the ending is natural. Not some crappy heroic stuff where Bruce Willis saves the world.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: THIS FILM WILL NOT FAIL YOU
Comment: This movie stars Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau, with a fine performance by several other well known actors and actresses, including no less than Larry Hagman in what had to be one of his first movie appearances. Superbly acted all around.

If you can get past the black and white film, this movie is a classic in all respects. Very realistic in it's portrayal of Cold War nuclear threat and the game theory associated with it, the movie takes place largely in Omaha at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters.

The action really heats up when an inadvertent nuclear strike on Moscow is initiated. The film is well worth your time and money, regardless of whether or not you grew up during the Cold War period. It illustrates the horrors and potential pitfalls of the situations that could occur under the nuclear weapons defense system. The strategy known as "MAD" --Mutually Assured Destruction, was just that: insane. It also shows the dangers of allowing machines and computers too much control of our lives.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Quality product, awesome movie!!!
Comment: Amazon.com was amazing!! I ordered two copies of this movie, one for me and one gift wrapped for my wife's brother-in-law in Pennsylvania. They were both delivered within 2 days and were perfect. I have loved this movie since I first saw it. It is amazing that it has so many stars, and deals with such a deep subject, and yet nobody knows about this movie. From the look of the movie, to the way shots were framed and the camera angles, to the excellent performances, this is a must see!!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Fail-Safe
Comment: Classic cold war thriller. Fairly reasonable plot, well acted, attention-holding. You should see this to get a flavor of the 1950' and 60's, when a commie was behind every door.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Fail Safe
Comment: Good movie. could possibly happen in the real world. A good visit to the war room. I enjoyed the scene when the general (Blackie) was getting up from bed and talking to his wife. I remember him sitting by the side of the bed and saying something like; "is it possible that our dreams are really what we live and what we think we live are only dreams." I don't remember the exact quote, however, if anyone knows exactly, I sure would like to know. I'v seen this movie more then ten times and I still enjoy it very much.

---