Dr. Stranglove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Dr. Strangelove

Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Film data

Based on: Red Alert by Peter George

Release Dates: January 29, 1964

Running Time: 94 minutes

Budget: $1.8 Million

Box Office: $9.4 million (North America)

Distributed by: Columbia Pictures

Music by: Laurie Johnson

Cinematography: Gilbert Taylor

Edited by: Anthony Harvey

Starring: Peter Sellers as Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley, Dr.      

                Strangelove

George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson

Sterling Hayden as Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper

Keenan Wynn as Colonel Bat Guano

Slim Pickens as Major T.J. “King” Kong

Tracy Reed as Miss Scott

Cast: Peter Bull as Soviet Ambassador Alexei de Sadeski

James Earl Jones as Lieutenant Lothar Zogg

Shane Rimmer as Captain Ace Owens

Synopsis

            Paranoid United States Air Force Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper of Burpelson Air Force Base orders his executive officer, Lionel Mandrake, to put the base on alert as he believes that the Soviets are plotting to poison the American water supply with fluoride. Jack D. Ripper issues ‘Wing Attack Plan R” to the patrolling aircraft without his superior’s knowledge. The film focuses on the actions of Major T.J. “King” Kong’s aircraft and team which shows them limiting their communications to only those preceded by a secret three-letter code known only by Ripper. Group Captain Mandrake is not easily convinced and realizes that there is no official issue from the Pentagon but while trying to leave Ripper’s office, is locked in by Ripper himself.

           In the “War Room” at the Pentagon, General Buck Turgidson briefs the US President and other officers about what is happening at Burpelson to which all are shocked that this type of command can go on without specific approval. President Muffley orders the Army chief and his troops to go to the base and arrest General Ripper and also brings the Soviet Ambassador Alexei de Sadeski ino the War Room to call the Soviet premier Dimitri Kissov so that the President can warn the premier of the attacks and tell him of the targets so that they can protect themselves. With this information, the President is informed that the Soviet Union has a doomsday device that is set to automatically go off if hit with a nuclear attack and will kill every living thing on earth after a couple months. This device also cannot be dismantled.

            At Burpelson, Ripper, in fear that he will be tortured to reveal the code, kills himself right before Colonel “Bat” Guano of the US Army forces his way into the Generals office. Mandrake, after being questioned and almost detained himself, find the three letter code, which he informs the President off. Most of the aircrafts are recalled except for Major Kong’s plane whose communications device was destroyed by a ruptured fuel tank.The President tells the Soviets of Kong’s new closer target but it is not in time. Major Kong fixes the wiring on the previously damaged bomb bay doors, straddles the bomb as it falls and detonates, triggering the doomsday machine.

            That is when the infamous US Scientific advisor and former Nazi, Dr. Strangelove, finally speaks. He recommends a program, with a breeding plan, for hundreds of thousands of people to survive the doomsday machine. He clearly has problems keeping control of his arm and it becomes apparent that he was a Nazi who still has allegiance to Hitler, as when he miraculously stands out of his wheelchair he salutes, “Mein Fuhrer.” The film closes with a pastiche of nuclear bombs.

Commentary: Reflection

            Dr. Stranglove is a 1964 satirical film adapted from Peter George’s book Red Alert. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie as a hit with American audiences, grossing more than $9 million and was critically acclaimed being nominated for several awards including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director, Best British film, and Best Film From Any Source to name just a few. Now it holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes which proves that it is continually and consistently loved among audiences.

            To start, Kubrick makes a statement by filming in black and white which creates a feel of nostalgia. This coloring also allows Kubrick to manipulate shadows to create a film noir tone. Which directly relates to the sexual undertones throughout the film. Sexual metaphors often pop up in the War Room when discussing nuclear strategy to the clear sexual relation in Kong’s straddling of the bomb.

             

           

Commentary: Response

            As I said before, I am not a movie person. And although this one was shorter than A Clockwork Orange, it was much more convoluted in the way it was filmed. It was a lot of back and forth between the base and the War Room, and while definitely interested, the multiple roles played by Peter Sellers confused me. It was not until the second watch that I could comprehend the symbolic meaning of the film further and string together the plot points.

            On the second watch, I began to appreciate the intertwined subplots, as the one between Miss Scott and General Turgidson and the characterization of Dr. Strangelove as a Nazi.

            Overall, I felt the film’s satirical tone and found it very funny overall. I am starting to notice that in Kubrick’s films, the music, tone of voice of the characters, and lighting actually makes me feel a certain way while watching it. Although I may be laughing, the daunting music makes my heart skip a beat.