Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Category
Comedy
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Cast
- Peter Sellers
- George C. Scott
- Sterling Hayden
- Keenan Wynn
- Slim Pickens
- James Earl Jones
- Tracy Reed
Release Date
29 January 1964
Synopsis
In the sixties, America was concerned about the civil rights movement, peace and anti-war rallies, and their fragile international relations. And while everyone was trying to turn a blind eye to what was going on, Stanley Kubrick decided to do the exact opposite and give to the audiences the very much needed comedy satire, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. A pretty long title for a movie with one main objective - to say something about the Cold War. When Kubrick read up on mutual assured destruction, he didn't go with a full on expository documentary. He shocked us in style in 1964, and it's over 30 years later and we're still talking about his crazy creation.
Sterling Hayden is the deranged U.S. Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper who thinks that the Soviets did a number on their water supply which affected our "precious bodily fluids." So, he insanely decides to launch an attack against the unsuspecting Russians. Witness to this madman's doing is Group Captain Mandrake and he frantically tries to dissuade the Brigadier from ordering this absurd task. He is unfortunately unsuccessful, and we move to the War Room where General Buck Turgidson gives the wimpy President Merkin Muffley the lowdown on the situation which would be to the benefit of the U.S. Turgidson is surprised when the President alerts the Soviet ambassador and learns about a kind of Doomsday device that would annihilate the human race. The President also calls on Dr. Strangelove, ex-Nazi mad scientist, who's oddly thrilled about the impending mass destruction. The question of course is, will the President be able to call off the attack and save the world? What will happen to the world if it unknowingly stumbles upon Apocalypse?
Dr. Strangelove is one of a kind - who doesn't want to make fun of the government? and Kubrick does this ingeniously. He had Peter Sellers playing three different roles with completely different personalities, he had the memorable dynamic characters, hegot the deadpan humor and the biting sarcasm, and he even hinted at taboo matters and sexual themes. Dr. Strangelove is more than a comedy - it's a real cinematic treasure.