DR. Strangelove-How Might that relate today?

[UncleRogi]

Dr. Strangelove--or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb

This movie has proved timeless throughout the era of the Cold War.

Any y'all 'member Slim Pickens riding to Hell? Such a cool performance.

And what about Peter Sellars (Dr. Strangelove) giving a Nazi salute at the most unopportune times?

I could go on, but I'd Like to hear (read) the Communitys' feelings about this particular film, and how you might think it relates to, well, today.

If I may, please.

 

[Kegg]

I could go on, but I'd Like to hear (read) the Communitys' feelings about this particular film, and how you might think it relates to, well, today.

You mean do I think a film satirizing militaristic patriotism, paranoia, and far-flung conspiracy theories have any relevance to today's general climate?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It's a timeless movie. I don't know or care how or why. It just is.

You mean do I think a film satirizing militaristic patriotism, paranoia, and far-flung conspiracy theories have any relevance to today's general climate?

Keenan Wynn's, "You'll have to answer to the Coca-Cola company!" would not be out of place at any Tea Party rally.

 

[Subcommander R.]

Ice cream Mandrake? Children's ice cream?

 

[Canadave]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T2uBeiNXAo[/yt]

Dr. Strangelove is one of my favourite movies. It's very funny (as the above scene proves beyond any shadow of a doubt), and it's also very, very smart. I also think it has a hell of a lot to say about human nature, power, paranoia, etc. regardless of the now-outdated political atmosphere. It really is a timeless movie, as Temis said.

 

[Neroon]

Timeless indeed, but off to GTVM

 

[Goliath]

You know--I watched Dr. Strangelove recently, and I didn't find it all that funny.

Don't get me wrong--it was a good movie. And there were some good lines here and there. Indeed, the movie seemed to be funniest when the humour was most understated.

But overall, I thought the movie's more serious elements have actually aged better than the humour--especially the exaggerated humour. Both the SAM attack on the bomber and the attack on Burpelson Air Force Base, for example, were thrilling.

 

[Kegg]

^
Really? George C. Scott cracks me up, without fail, every single time. Ah well.

But yeah, that the action is so meticulous (if memory serves, the interior of the bombers were so accurate it caused concern from the military as to where they got their information) is a major part of why the film works, I think. It's toeing the line between the absurdity of reality and sheer absurdity the whole time.

 

[J.T.B.]

^
Really? George C. Scott cracks me up, without fail, every single time. Ah well.

Me too. His performance may be too silly for the kind of guy that becomes head of an air force, but Curtis LeMay was considered a little bizarre by a lot of people. I have read that Scott never liked Strangelove because Kubrick kept urging him to ham it up and used the most over-the-top takes. But he has some good understated moments, too. "Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines!" "A kraut by any other name, eh Stainsey?"

All the performances are great, but for me Sterling Hayden walks away with the picture. The look of benign confidence on his face when he explains "I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But, I do deny them my essence." It's cracking me up now just thinking about it. Sellars's reaction is almost as good.

But yeah, that the action is so meticulous (if memory serves, the interior of the bombers were so accurate it caused concern from the military as to where they got their information) is a major part of why the film works, I think. It's toeing the line between the absurdity of reality and sheer absurdity the whole time.

Well said. The realistic parts are quite documentary looking, which, aside from making the absurd parts even more effective, kept an edge of scariness running through the movie. More so, to me, than its more "serious" contemporary, Fail Safe, where the "Vindicator" bombers are never seen very clearly and have cockpits as big as a studio apartment.

The fighting around the buildings of the air force base looks a lot like an early version of the city battle in Full Metal Jacket, too.

--Justin

 

[Canadave]

You know--I watched Dr. Strangelove recently, and I didn't find it all that funny.

Don't get me wrong--it was a good movie. And there were some good lines here and there. Indeed, the movie seemed to be funniest when the humour was most understated.

But overall, I thought the movie's more serious elements have actually aged better than the humour--especially the exaggerated humour. Both the SAM attack on the bomber and the attack on Burpelson Air Force Base, for example, were thrilling.

Weirdly enough, it wasn't until the second time that I'd seen it that I really started to realize how funny it is. For some reason, it just made me laugh more, even though I'd seen it already.