Fail Safe

"+ Fail Safe is probably one of the better overlooked dramas ever made. It probably isn't known as well as it could be mainly because it lives in the shadow of Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, but whereas that movie is a slapstick satire (and one of the greatest movies of all time), this is a dramatic thriller that takes the subject of Nuclear Holocaust very seriously. We start out with various characters discussing the implications of nuclear war and slowly transition into one of the greatest nightmarish occurrences as U.S. bombers are accidentally given orders to nuke Moscow. What works so well in this movie is that it sets the stage with these discussions, but the discussions always seem organic to the story. It never pauses the narrative flow to artificially educate us on the premise and then throw us into the plot, but rather makes the characters and their concerns coalesce with this freak occurrence in a way that happen seamlessly. Of course this movie doesn't work without the right cast, which it has in spades. Chief among the great performances is Henry Fonda as The President, Walter Matthau as a cynical political scientist, Dan O'Herlihy as General Black, and Frank Overton as General Bogan. Though not all of them occupy the same setting, the movie is edited in such a way where all of their story arcs play effortlessly off each other. Perfectly directed by Sidney Lumet. This is one powerhouse classic. It isn't the most polished looking movie, though I personally think that it adds to the movie's charm and gritty aesthetic. - There could have been more women characters and a better focus on their perspective. Mostly a male cast, which I think is just the product of the times. A small quibble that doesn't kill the movie, but denies it an emotional dimension it could have used. Overall: A great powerhouse drama led by a great director and a great cast. This must have been terrifying to watch in the 60s. A wonderful overlooked gem."

"Very simple, very efficient movie. Scary. Well made. Solid distribution, good story, excellent lighting and camera work. Perfect in black and white. Surprisingly good. Four ⭐ for anyone interested in Cold War era politics and military, probably three or two ⭐ for everyone else. Should be better known imo."

"Suspenseful 1964 doomsday scenario."