FAIL-SAFE is a political thriller about the Cold War through a fictional account of a nuclear crisis. It is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. This is a film which, through a very serious topic and a melodramatic tone, emphasizes the absurdity of a conflict and a political dirt.
Fail-Safe is set for the most part at Strategic Air Command headquarters, where a misguided transmission sends a squadron of bombers hurtling towards Russia, fully prepared to drop their atomic weaponry on Moscow. Race against time, which includes the American president and the Russian prime minister, can begin. World War III is very close. Still...
What was going on in that secret chambers? The incidents and errors. After that, everything is reduced to a desperate struggle and quietly blaming. This inconvenient assumption uses a serious topic for political purposes. This movie has appeared in theaters at the time of a presidential campaign. The realism of the plot is reflected in a political skepticism, arrogance and superiority. Mr. Lumet has, through a nervous atmosphere and uncertain fate of mankind, directed this plot very well.
Characterization is good, if we consider an intellectual background.
Henry Fonda as the President is quite solid in this role while dealing with a hopeless situation. A kind of moral aspect of his character makes no sense in this situation. We can not blame the technology and the machines that we have created to show our strength in the global field. The relationship between him and his Russian colleague is, considering the consequences, rather inconclusive.
Walter Matthau as Professor Groeteschele is a frightening phenomenon, which believes in a war victory. Dan O'Herlihy as Brigadier General Warren A. "Blackie" Black is the voice of reason and victim of madness at the same time. Frank Overton as General Bogan is a man who is in a direct conflict with his own attitudes and responsible actions. His character goes through some kind of catharsis. Mr. Overton has offered a very good performance.
Those bombs ..... today, yesterday .... tomorrow. We will never learn.
Fail-Safe is set for the most part at Strategic Air Command headquarters, where a misguided transmission sends a squadron of bombers hurtling towards Russia, fully prepared to drop their atomic weaponry on Moscow. Race against time, which includes the American president and the Russian prime minister, can begin. World War III is very close. Still...
What was going on in that secret chambers? The incidents and errors. After that, everything is reduced to a desperate struggle and quietly blaming. This inconvenient assumption uses a serious topic for political purposes. This movie has appeared in theaters at the time of a presidential campaign. The realism of the plot is reflected in a political skepticism, arrogance and superiority. Mr. Lumet has, through a nervous atmosphere and uncertain fate of mankind, directed this plot very well.
Characterization is good, if we consider an intellectual background.
Henry Fonda as the President is quite solid in this role while dealing with a hopeless situation. A kind of moral aspect of his character makes no sense in this situation. We can not blame the technology and the machines that we have created to show our strength in the global field. The relationship between him and his Russian colleague is, considering the consequences, rather inconclusive.
Walter Matthau as Professor Groeteschele is a frightening phenomenon, which believes in a war victory. Dan O'Herlihy as Brigadier General Warren A. "Blackie" Black is the voice of reason and victim of madness at the same time. Frank Overton as General Bogan is a man who is in a direct conflict with his own attitudes and responsible actions. His character goes through some kind of catharsis. Mr. Overton has offered a very good performance.
Those bombs ..... today, yesterday .... tomorrow. We will never learn.