Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love
The Bomb, is a Cold –War satire directed and written by Stanley Kubrick
starring George C. Scott and Peter Sellers and
it was released in 1964. When this movie was released, many people were
surprised on its subject matter. A satire of a conflict that could destroy
humanity. Kubrick made it anyway. The story is about General Jack D. Ripper,
(clever Kubrick), played by Sterling Hayden, who orders B-52 bombers to bomb
Russia. This surprises Washington because they did not order this attack.
Ripper took off all communications from his air force base so nobody could
interfere with his attack. The only way to stop the bombers is to give a three
letter code that only Ripper knows. Ripper also told his soldiers to shoot
anybody in a 200 yard perimeter around the base. He does this because he thinks
that the Russians are destroying the purity of our bodily fluids. The comedy
just writes itself.
The
films comedy is phenomenal. Every line,
every facial expression, is done to add comedic hilarity. Stanley Kubrick told
George C. Scott to over act for practicing the actual scene. Scott didn’t want
to use the practice scenes but Kubrick used them anyway. This enraged Scott but
if it wasn’t for Kubrick’s smart move, the film wouldn’t be as funny as it is.
Peter Seller played three rolls in the film. Dr. Strangelove who is a former
Nazi nuclear expert now working for the U.S., Lionel Mandrake; a British
officer, and lastly the president of the United States. He plays all of these
roles expertly and Dr. Strangelove is probably one of the best quotable
characters.
The
movie takes place in basically just three locations. The iconic War Room, the
inside of a B-52 bomber, and the inside and outside of an air force base. The
film can be suspenseful in fairly comedic ways.
For example, in one scene the whole world depends on a Coca-Cola
machine. It is these parts that make this film so enjoyable. And here is the
kinda scary part: This all could have happened. Sure it maybe a little of a
stretch but the basic idea of a corrupt general that exceeded his authority and
send bombers to wipe out all of Russia could have happened.
Dr.
Strangelove is a great film and surprisingly a lot of fun. Who knew a black
comedy about the cold war could have been this good. Though the ending did
leave me feeling a wanting more. I guess I haven’t learned to stop worrying and
love the bomb yet.
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