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Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens ... see more see more... , Peter Bull , James Earl Jones , Tracy Reed , Jack Creley , Frank Berry , Glenn Beck , Shane Rimmer , Gordon Tanner , Robert Vincent O'Neil , Roy Stephens , Laurence Herder , John McCarthy , Hal Galili , Paul Tamarin

In 1964, with the Cuban Missile Crisis fresh in viewers' minds, the Cold War at its frostiest, and the hydrogen bomb relatively new and frightening, Stanley Kubrick dared to make a film about what cou... read more read more...ld happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button -- and played the situation for laughs. Dr. Strangelove's jet-black satire (from a script by director Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, and Terry Southern) and a host of superb comic performances (including three from Peter Sellers) have kept the film fresh and entertaining, even as its issues have become (slightly) less timely. Loaded with thermonuclear weapons, a U.S. bomber piloted by Maj. T.J. "King" Kong (Slim Pickens) is on a routine flight pattern near the Soviet Union when they receive orders to commence Wing Attack Plan R, best summarized by Maj. Kong as "Nuclear combat! Toe to toe with the Russkies!" On the ground at Burpleson Air Force Base, Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) notices nothing on the news about America being at war. Gen. Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) calmly informs him that he gave the command to attack the Soviet Union because it was high time someone did something about fluoridation, which is sapping Americans' bodily fluids (and apparently has something to do with Ripper's sexual dysfunction). Meanwhile, President Merkin Muffley (Sellers again) meets with his top Pentagon advisors, including super-hawk Gen. Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott), who sees this as an opportunity to do something about Communism in general and Russians in particular. However, the ante is upped considerably when Soviet ambassador de Sadesky (Peter Bull) informs Muffley and his staff of the latest innovation in Soviet weapons technology: a "Doomsday Machine" that will destroy the entire world if the Russians are attacked. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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PG, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Release Date: January 29, 1964

Keywords: war, funny, serious, funniest, comedy

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DVD Release Date: November 2, 2004

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Stats: 12,115 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (12,115)

  • fb100000212943704
    March 11, 2012
    fb100000212943704
    Dr Strangelove is part of the vast collection of Stanley Kubrick's greatest films, and goes down, as the greatest film about the cold war and nuclear scare, which the world has ever seen, combining comedy and a real fright perfectly.

    Strangelove, or, "How I learned to stop worry... read moreing and love the bomb", tells the story of what could happen if the US nuclear programme went wrong. Based around the fears of many Americans, and much of the Western World, at the height of the cold war, a US air force general, who is the only one who has the codes to launch and bring back a fleet of planes carrying nuclear weapons, goes mad, and orders his entire fleet to attack the Soviet Union.

    As the story unfolds we see the pure exceptional talents of Sellers in three characters, the bumbling British RAF pilot, Lionel Mandrake, the worried and hysterical US President, and the former, (perhaps still), Nazi weapon specialist, Dr Strangelove.

    Through each of these characters, alongside marvellous acting from George C. Scott and Peter Bull, we see the fleet of H-Bombs draw closer to the USSR from four different perspectives, as the possibility of a nuclear war draws ever closer.

    Released to cinemas just a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, where the world came closer to nuclear war than ever before, Kubrick, in all his wit and talent, took a very real possibility, exposing the weaknesses of the safeguards of nuclear warfare, and made audiences laugh with joy, despite the fact the event could have happened just later that afternoon.

    With Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and the direction of Stanley Kubrick, the film makes for an incredibly entertaining ride, where we are taken along with each of the characters, and allowing us to look right into the weaknesses of the nuclear programme.

    The acting of each and every character is purely fantastic, and a quality which most people would find hard to top. The cinematography, in the style of a documentary like handheld camera, adds to the realism, whilst at the same time, adding to the ridiculous and humorous connotations of a nuclear war breaking out.

    The script, based on a serious novel called Red Alert, was adapted perfectly for the funny and sharp style Kubrick was aiming for, balancing moments of serious action and tension, with the laugh out loud moments following straight after.

    It is hard not to laugh at the fantastic film which Kubrick has produced. Whilst it may be more than 50 years old, and the cold war has come to an end many years ago, Dr Strangelove still impacts on audiences today, in the same way it did in 1964. A fantastically funny, brilliantly acted, and exceptionally directed story, which only the master team of Sellers, Scott and Kubrick could achieve.
  • fb791220692
    February 28, 2012
    fb791220692
    Still darkly hilarious several decades later, and still devilishly clever as well.
  • garyX
    February 15, 2012
    garyX
    Stanley Kubrick's black comic classic begins as a pseudo documentary describing the numerous nuclear safeguards in place to "defend" the US against attack. In fact, the film was originally intended to be a straight cold war thriller based on the novel Red Alert as Kubrick had bec... read moreome obsessed with the idea of nuclear annihilation after the Cuban missile crisis which occurred the previous year. But upon commencing filming, Kubrick realised it was actually impossible to capture the scale of such an unimaginable situation if played straight and instead concentrated on the inherent absurdities, and it is that inspired decision that is one of the examples of his true genius. Dr. Strangelove himself is rather a peripheral character, sticking only in the memory because of his silly accent and (somewhat overplayed) slapstick. For me the real laughs come in the more deadpan scenes, particularly those involving Sellers' bumbling, stiff upper-lipped voice of reason, Group Captain Mandrake and Sterling Hayden's loopy base commander, and George C. Scott's child-like philandering general. I'm not the biggest fan of Peter Sellers (especially considering what a colossal asshole he was in real life) and although I thought it got a little bogged down with unnecessary details during the flight sequences, the scenes on the ground are pure genius. Some may not see the funny side of mutual annihilation, but it's an enduring and classic piece of political satire.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 4, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    The beauty of Stanley Kubrick is that I can't really think of any film of his that I've seen that I don't love thoroughly. No matter what genre he was dabbling in, it always seemed to be heads and tails above everyone else. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and L... read moreove the Bomb may just be the greatest comedy film ever made, and if not, it's certainly in the top five. The Cold War crisis and the Nuclear Missile crisis are put to the test with the likes of Peter Sellers (in three different roles), George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Keenan Wynn and even a small role for James Earl Jones. Everybody is absolutely brilliant in this, thanks in no small part to Stanley's strong direction and a very good script (which Sellers used as a stepping stone for his ad-libbing). It's hilarious, subversive and just very well-made.
  • fb1038944442
    January 27, 2012
    fb1038944442
    Dr. Strangelove is one of those movies that gets deeper and funnier with time. It's not just hilarious but it's as terrifying as any film ever made.

    It somehow makes gut wrenching suspense out of a collection of one dimensional stock characters played with panache and cracker... read morejack comic skill, headed by the superlative Peter Sellers, in 3 distinct roles, including the title one.

    Stanley Kubrick, not known for comedy (Maybe Lolita?), takes exactly the right approach here, The scenes and cinematography are stunningly photographed B &W and mostly realistic. The laughs fly furiously throughout, even as the tension get ratcheted increasingly up to the last frame. Music is meticulous as always, from military choruses to the haunting Vera Lynn 'We'll meet Again' as the world (Spoiler alert?!)comes to its inevitable end. Writer Terry Southern was a talented satirist and fiction writer, but his material in the hands of lesser directors (Candy - with a huge cast of sixties icons) can go very flat and pureile. Kubrick is a genius, and his films have mostly held up over many years, expecially this one.

    The cast is stellar, starting with George C. Scott (who really should have done more comedy) as a gung ho and stupid General, film noir tough guy favorite Sterling Hayden as a red-baiting General who has gone utterly impotent - and bonkers - and, British comedian Peter Bull as the childish and venal Soviet Ambassador. Then Sellers: as well intentioned and ineffective President Merkin Muffley, the hapless British miltary observer Mandrake who tries to talk Sterling Hayden out of destroying the world (one of the funniest quiet reacting performances in film history), and of course, diabolical and utterly original Dr. Strangelove, an ex-Nazi scientist who is beyond funny, yet still unbeliveably frightening.

    This film has stayed with me since childhood. I was terrified and obsessed wtih the end of the world and I still havne't recovered. Every time Strangelove comes on TV, I am hooked till the end when the mushroom clouds fly. I do wonder if younger people that have no memory of the cold war perennial nuclear threat would appreciate this at all, I'll have to test it out with my nephew, after which time I may revise this review.
  • aquateen2
    January 24, 2012
    aquateen2
    A classic film that's humour could never have the same effect if a film maker attempted to do something similar. One of the greatest black comedy film's of all time if not comedy films all together. Dr. Strangelove is a witty, satirical, hilarious film that invented the suspense ... read morecomedy genre and will always have the same impact of hilarity combined with controversy in years to come as it did in 1964.
  • fb1672039553
    January 6, 2012
    fb1672039553
    Astute, well researched, and tightly written, Dr. Strangelove raises a devastating question that has no answer and is wise enough to appreciate the silliness of our predicament. Just how does a person tell a foreign leader that one of our planes is going to accidentally drop a nu... read moreclear bomb on their people, anyway? We are told that the Air Force states it has safeguards against this scenario and not to worry. Okay, fine, but in 2007 a B-52 accidentally and unknowingly carried 6 nuclear warheads over America and parked without proper protection and safe guards until the warheads were discovered 36 hours later. They were mistaken for training missles. The security for these weapons is only as strong as the weakest link. That any man is entrusted with this much destructive potential (and that big of a phallus) can only be approached with comedy or else we'll go insane.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Forever relevant and as funny or funnier now than it was in 1964.
  • skeletonking101
    October 25, 2011
    skeletonking101
    The one problem I have with this film is that for a film called "Dr. Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb" Dr. Strangelove isn't in this movie for more than 10 minutes, which was a bit disappointing to me, but the comedy and the acting save the film fro... read morem falling into obscurity. Geeorge C. Scott and Peter Sellers both do great jobs, Scott is great as the general and Peter Sellers is great as the president, Dr. Strangelove, and the assistant to one of the generals in the film, but to me the funniest part he does in this film is Strangelove, even though he is in the film for only 10 minutes, but the accent for the character is very funny, and how he acts is also very funny. One interesting thing I have to say about the film is that this was James Earl Jones first film, and he was given credit at the beginning of the film as one of the main actors. I haven't seen any of Kubricks other films but after seeing this one, I'd like to see more of them.
  • spielberg00
    October 15, 2011
    spielberg00
    Stanley Kubrick's odd, bizarre 1964 war comedy has a humorously surreal twist as well as a subtle message.

    Besides the characters named via wordplay (i.e. General Jack Ripper, Major "King" Kong, Colonel "Bat" Guano, and--of course--Dr. Strangelove), this film is quite a funny ... read moreone. And if it was a bomb, then I guess that I have learned to stop worrying and love it.

    It's simple to say that this one is a little overrated. 100% of critics from Rotten Tomatoes gave it a positive review (quite unanimous!), and on Metacritic it holds a critically acclaimed score of 96 out of 100 (again, wow). Not that this was a bad film, but when we see that kind of averaging, we wish there were less bias in reviews on "classics".

    It was surprising to see that Mr. Kubrick could tackle this type of humor (or humor at all) in such a successful manner. The only two other films directed by him that I have seen thus far are 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and THE SHINING, and seeing that there was absolutely no humor in those two whatsoever (except the infamous "Heeere's Johnny!" scene from the latter), I did not expect this one to be funny at all. But as soon as the film showed a pilot slacking off to read a Playboy magazine, my thought was, "Ohhh, boy!"

    The major flaw of DR. STRANGELOVE, besides its strangely lovable humor, is that it runs overly long, and the last twenty minutes or so grow a little ho-hum. But they are worth watching: the last scene is ridiculous. And therefore, this whole film is worth watching, not just if you are a "cinephile" or a craver of classics, but if you enjoy the surreal, black humor that possibly inspired Monty Python or the people behind television series like SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, MADTV, and SOUTH PARK.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 8, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Like most of his work, Stanley Kubrick's deadly black satirical comedy-thriller on cold war madness and its possible effects (1964) has aged well. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
November 26, 2004
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

This landmark movie's madcap humor and terrifying suspense remain undiminished by time. Full Review

Glenn Abel
November 18, 2004
Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter

Stanley Kubrick's blackest of black comedies.

Ty Burr
November 5, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Is Dr. Strangelove Kubrick's best movie? Along with Paths of Glory, absolutely. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
October 12, 2004
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Stanley Kubrick's first genuinely original movie has been seen, reseen, dissected, and iconized, but a few sly truths about it have yet to be fully grokked. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The film is always saying something, and a viewer would have to be deaf and blind not to recognize the targets of the sarcasm. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
January 1, 2000
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

The most shattering sick joke I've ever come across. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Dr. Strangelove (1964) is filled with great comic performances. Full Review

Thomas Caldwell
November 23, 2011
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy

Dr Strangelove is one of Stanley Kubrick's many masterpieces, one of the greatest films about the Cold War and one of the greatest comedies ever made. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 22, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Black comedy Kubrick classic for smart teens+. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Facts

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    • President Merkin Muffley: Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is a war room!
    • Dr. Strangelove: [last line in film, Sellers getting up out of wheelchair] Mien Fuher, I can walk!
    • President Merkin Muffley: Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.
    • Maj. T.J. "King" Kong: Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.
    • Col. Bat Guano: Okay. I'm gonna get your money for ya. But if you don't get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you?
    • Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: What?
    • Col. Bat Guano: You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.
    • Gen. Buck Turgidson: Well, I, uh, don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir.
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Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Trivia

Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned ... Trivia

  • This Stanley Kubrick movie holds the record of being the movie with the longest title ever nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.  Answer »
  • Which 1964 political satire was originally supposed to end in a pie fight?  Answer »
  • Quote: "Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the war room!" What is the movie?  Answer »
  • In which Cold War-era film did Sterling Hayden worry about the contamination of his nation's "precious bodily fluids?"  Answer »
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