Dr. Strangelove reviewed and decoded in under 4 minutes

Dr. Strangelove reviewed and decoded in under 4 minutes

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb is a 1964 black comedy directed by Stanley Kubrick who co-wrote the script with Terry Southern and Peter George based on George's 1958 book called Red Alert. The film stars James Earl Jones, Keenan Wynn, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and a ubiquitous Peter Sellers playing 3 characters: Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley, and Dr.Strangelove.

A psychotic Army General named Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) believes that the Soviets are fluoridating America's water supplies to pollute the nation's 'bodily fluids.' To stop this, he sends the 3-digit 'go-code' to one of the many American bombers patrolling Russia's skies 24/7. But the Soviets have a secret weapon of their own that's triggered to blow up the entire world in case of a nuclear attack; this weapon is called the Doomsday device! The only thing that can stop the U.S. bomber from triggering the Doomsday device is the 3-digit recall code. But there's 1 problem: the bomber's communication system is damaged and unable to receive the code. Thus, the Doomsday machine is set and the world can only pray and cross its fingers that the plane runs out of fuel before reaching its target!

Dr. Strangelove is a satirical look at the Cold War and those who man the 'switches.' The stereotypes in this great film from Jack D. Ripper to Dr. Strangelove himself seem over-the-top until you realize that there were--and still remain-- individuals equally, if not more, loony in key posts in our government who have their finger on 'the button.' Truth is really stranger than fiction. Everybody who loves this film have their own interpretation of it (Spoiler alert!) but I believe that the film is a metaphorical description of sexual intercourse as there seems to be parallels to Jack D. Ripper's description of fluoridated water and the Doomsday Machine that--like male ejaculation--can't be shut off once triggered; plus, there's only 1 woman in the whole movie and remember, nothing in any Kubrick film is there by accident!

In any case, this is-- technically speaking-- Stanley Kubrick's 2nd war film the 1st one being his 1957 anti war film Paths Of Glory. Can't say enough about Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick's tightest film by far. Oh, and the acting, particularly Peter Sellers, is simply awesome. This guy probably could have played all the film’s characters. I have this on DVD and it is crystal clear and I see no need to upgrade for a few extra pixels.