The hot-line suspense comedy|Jan. 29, 1964|UK|95 Min.|PG
Genre: Comedy;Drama;War
Description: “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” often referred to simply as “Dr. Strangelove,” is a 1964 black comedy film that satirizes Cold War anxieties surrounding a potential nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States. Directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, the film features an ensemble cast including Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and Slim Pickens. It was primarily shot in the United Kingdom and is loosely based on Peter George’s novel “Red Alert” (1958).
The plot centers around a deranged U.S. Air Force general who orders a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union. Simultaneously, the President of the United States, his advisors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a Royal Air Force officer work frantically to prevent a B-52 bomber crew from carrying out the attack and initiating a catastrophic nuclear war.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies and films of all time, “Dr. Strangelove” was ranked 26th on the American Film Institute’s list of the best American films in 1998, and 3rd on their list of the funniest American films in 2000. Its cultural significance was further cemented in 1989 when it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress.
The story introduces Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper, commander of Burpelson Air Force Base, who oversees B-52 bombers armed with hydrogen bombs. Ripper’s irrational belief that the Soviets are contaminating American water supplies to harm “precious bodily fluids” leads him to initiate “Wing Attack Plan R,” sending the bombers on a path to destruction. Group Captain Lionel Mandrake discovers Ripper’s insanity and attempts to halt the impending disaster.
A masterful blend of satire, humor, and tension, “Dr. Strangelove” remains a timeless critique of Cold War paranoia and the absurdities of nuclear warfare.
Cast director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast actor: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Tracy Reed, Jack Creley, Frank Berry
Original name: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb