If you have not seen it, it is a great, old black and white movie. I believe it is the movie from which Dr. Strangelove took its storyline inspiration (obviously in a comical sense).
2006-09-15 04:12:22 · 5 answers · asked by Brian D 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Well of course. Larry Hagman was at his most reserved as the interpreter in the film. A long way from "Dallas".
And yes...Dr. Strangelove took its cue from Fail Safe.
It's a wonderful film and while it was made in 1964, I remember seeing it on t.v. when I was a kid. Scared the crap out of me. There was a disclaimer at the time, and I don't remember if it is in the film or not, but it had to do with the fact that "this situation would never happen in reality".
I remember how disturbing it was when it was explained to the President that when he heard the sound of a high pitched whine over the phone while he was talking to the U.S. Ambassador in Moscow, it would be the sound of the Ambassador's phone melting.
That little detail and details like that are what give the film a sense of reality.
2006-09-15 04:32:50 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was riviting when I saw in in a theater when first released. Burt Lancaster and Henry Fonda headed a large star cast. Very sobering at the time because the Cold War with Russia was still very real. Films of that calibre were very common for about 7 - 8 years during the transition from all G rated films (50's) to R and X rated in late 60's. Black and white is the preferred film stock for directors who really know how to use it. Examples: Hud (Paul Newman), Touch of Evil, Citizen Kane (both by Orson Welles), Seven Days in May (Kirk Douglas), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton - Sizzling dialogue and performances - must see) and so on. B & W is seen in its greatest glory in all the great film noir (set in L.A.) films from mid 40's to mid 50's. Any film starring (and sometimes also directed by) Ida Lupino is a must see and tough, riviting film.
Don't know how old you are but if you are under 25 I am impressed that you would find and see the uniqueness of Failsafe. You will like Seven Days in May also if you haven't see it.
2006-09-15 11:40:29 · answer #2 · answered by ALWAYS GOTTA KNOW 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually remember seeing part of it in High School class "way back when". Henry Fonda (I think) was the President, picking which US city to wipe-out after the big one was dropped on russia. Spooky - now that threat is not really there, but a more frightening one w/terrorists who really have no borders...
2006-09-15 11:22:35 · answer #3 · answered by DrJunk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have it on tape and watch it occasionally. Great movie.
2006-09-15 14:00:11 · answer #4 · answered by brainstorm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See it uncut and uninterrupted. It is so disquieting
2006-09-15 11:15:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋