In my opinion, this is the greatest cold war, nuclear thrillers of all time. The suspense is perfect. The ending leaves you sitting in silence. You'll never forget it.
It's unfortunate that this film gets so overshadowed by Dr.Strangelove since it's just as brilliant in terms of the subject-matter. I think it deserves as much recognition as Kubrick's film.
The difference ofcurse being that 'Dr.Stangelove' is a political satire and 'Fail-Safe' is a more serious thriller, they are both expertly executed on their own terms.
The lack of score but the constant droning of the military hardware gives a great atmosphere to the film, plus it has a really strong cast. As someone born after the Cold War was largely over, I found it to be an interesting look into the mindset of the period.
Wow, unforgettable. Strangelove kinda messed with it's groove in the box office it seems though. Pretty intense and well-acted, the choice to not use any music was commendable. Cold war thrillers don't get much better than that.
Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove's big competitor (lawsuit threatened) was Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe, based on an entirely similar book (lawsuit settled out of court) about an American bomber who crosses into Soviet airspace and might accidentally cause World War III, no take-backs. Where Strangelove plays it as a dark but still overt comedy, Fail-Safe is a proper suspense thriller. And though it obviously suffered from the comparison in its day (and still today), I like it almost as much (and I consider Strangelove my favorite Kubrick film, probably). Lumet is also a master film maker and his own experimentalism is brutal here. The tension is palpable. The scene with President Henry Fonda talking to the Soviet Prime Minister through his translator Larry Hagman is a high point (or several), and the resolution completely unexpected. There are moments where it's a bit didactic as part of its proceduralism, but that's my only problem with it. Strangelove is transcendent and really about something more than Cold War anxiety, which makes Fail-Safe its purest and most powerful manifestation.
Fantastic film, so well executed. Really makes you sit back, shake your head, and marvel at the fact that in whole decades of Cold War threats that we didn't (even accidentally) bomb the world out of existence. B&W was a great artistic choice as the lack of color palette (and lack of soundtrack ultimately) drives the acting and the suspense right to the forefront, there's nothing here to hide behind. It's very up front with its themes regarding warfare and doesn't gloss over them, even within the first few minutes of film when the stage is being set.
I had high hopes going in. But what I saw was one implausible event after another and humans repeatedly making some really unrealistic choices. This really spoiled it for me as the events became more and more ridiculous. And they say Dr. Strangelove is the comedy version!
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Comments 1 - 13 of 13
porscheguy19
In my opinion, this is the greatest cold war, nuclear thrillers of all time. The suspense is perfect. The ending leaves you sitting in silence. You'll never forget it.BadSmile
This should be on more lists. Pretty good film.Groovy09
It's unfortunate that this film gets so overshadowed by Dr.Strangelove since it's just as brilliant in terms of the subject-matter. I think it deserves as much recognition as Kubrick's film.The difference ofcurse being that 'Dr.Stangelove' is a political satire and 'Fail-Safe' is a more serious thriller, they are both expertly executed on their own terms.
senorroboto
The lack of score but the constant droning of the military hardware gives a great atmosphere to the film, plus it has a really strong cast. As someone born after the Cold War was largely over, I found it to be an interesting look into the mindset of the period.AuroraBugallo
Wonderful thriller! One of Fonda's finest performances. Lumet doesn't miss a beat.Forzelius
Wow, unforgettable. Strangelove kinda messed with it's groove in the box office it seems though. Pretty intense and well-acted, the choice to not use any music was commendable. Cold war thrillers don't get much better than that.Siskoid
Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove's big competitor (lawsuit threatened) was Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe, based on an entirely similar book (lawsuit settled out of court) about an American bomber who crosses into Soviet airspace and might accidentally cause World War III, no take-backs. Where Strangelove plays it as a dark but still overt comedy, Fail-Safe is a proper suspense thriller. And though it obviously suffered from the comparison in its day (and still today), I like it almost as much (and I consider Strangelove my favorite Kubrick film, probably). Lumet is also a master film maker and his own experimentalism is brutal here. The tension is palpable. The scene with President Henry Fonda talking to the Soviet Prime Minister through his translator Larry Hagman is a high point (or several), and the resolution completely unexpected. There are moments where it's a bit didactic as part of its proceduralism, but that's my only problem with it. Strangelove is transcendent and really about something more than Cold War anxiety, which makes Fail-Safe its purest and most powerful manifestation.PrinceJax
Deserves to be on more lists. It was riveting and every performance was outstanding.fakirfikir
This is how you shoot a political thriller !Great atmosphere !
lachyas
Worst Space Invaders graphics ever.vishnu
shocking movie indeed!DisneyStitch
Fantastic film, so well executed. Really makes you sit back, shake your head, and marvel at the fact that in whole decades of Cold War threats that we didn't (even accidentally) bomb the world out of existence. B&W was a great artistic choice as the lack of color palette (and lack of soundtrack ultimately) drives the acting and the suspense right to the forefront, there's nothing here to hide behind. It's very up front with its themes regarding warfare and doesn't gloss over them, even within the first few minutes of film when the stage is being set.Jimbo Slice
I had high hopes going in. But what I saw was one implausible event after another and humans repeatedly making some really unrealistic choices. This really spoiled it for me as the events became more and more ridiculous. And they say Dr. Strangelove is the comedy version!