Starring: Dan O'Herlihy, Walter Matthau, Frank Overton, Ed Binns, Fritz Weaver Directed By: Sidney Lumet Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Sony Pictures Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Region Code: 99 Release Date: October 31, 2000 Running Time: 112 minutes Theatrical Release Date: October 07, 1964
Product Description: One of the greatest anti-war thrillers ever Fail-Safe stars Henry Fonda Walter Matthau Dan O Herlihy Larry Hagman and Fritz Weaver (in his film debut) as a group of military men on the verge of World War III.When a military computer deploys a squadron of SAC bombers to destroy Moscow the American President (Fonda) tries to call them back. But their sophisticated fail-safe system prevents him from aborting the attack so he must convince the Soviets not to retaliate. In desperation the President offers to sacrifice an American city if his pilots succeed in their deadly mission over Moscow. A four-star techno-thriller that builds tension and suspense with every tick of the nuclear clock.System Requirements:Starring: Dan O Herlihy Walter Matthau Frank Overton Ed Binns Fritz Weaver Henry Fonda Larry Hagman and William Hansen. Directed By: Sidney Lumet. Running Time: 111 Min. B&W. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 Columbia TriStar Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: G UPC: 043396054240 Manufacturer No: 5424
Amazon.com essential video: It's Dr. Strangelove, but without the laughs. Fail Safe, made within a year of Strangelove and at the height of cold war atomic anxiety, posits a similar nightmare scenario. A U.S. bomber is accidentally ordered toward Moscow, ready to drop its load. The U.S. president (Henry Fonda) and various military and congressional leaders must then scramble to deal with the disaster. The built-in suspense is well maintained by director Sidney Lumet, working from a script by former blacklisted writer Walter Bernstein. The solemn, serious approach doesn't begin to touch the brilliance of Strangelove's inspired take on the nuclear nightmare, but Fail Safe is absorbing and well acted (a memorable role for Walter Matthau, for instance). The movie enters unexpected territory in its final minutes; conditioned for feel-good endings, viewers are still genuinely shocked by the plot turns in the final reels. The climax comes as a sobering slap in the face, intriguingly staged by Lumet. Now that the cold war has passed on into history, Fail Safe stands as--thank goodness--an interesting period piece. --Robert Horton
THIS FILM WILL NOT FAIL YOU This movie stars Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau, with a fine performance by several other well known actors and actresses, including no less than Larry Hagman in what had to be one of his first movie appearances. Superbly acted all around.
If you can get past the black and white film, this movie is a classic in all respects. Very realistic in it's portrayal of Cold War nuclear threat and the game theory associated with it, the movie takes place largely in Omaha at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters.
The action really heats up when an inadvertent nuclear strike on Moscow is initiated. The film is well worth your time and money, regardless of whether or not you grew up during the Cold War period. It illustrates the horrors and potential pitfalls of the situations that could occur under the nuclear weapons defense system. The strategy known as "MAD" --Mutually Assured Destruction, was just that: insane. It also shows the dangers of allowing machines and computers too much control of our lives.
Quality product, awesome movie!!! Amazon.com was amazing!! I ordered two copies of this movie, one for me and one gift wrapped for my wife's brother-in-law in Pennsylvania. They were both delivered within 2 days and were perfect. I have loved this movie since I first saw it. It is amazing that it has so many stars, and deals with such a deep subject, and yet nobody knows about this movie. From the look of the movie, to the way shots were framed and the camera angles, to the excellent performances, this is a must see!!
Fail-Safe Classic cold war thriller. Fairly reasonable plot, well acted, attention-holding. You should see this to get a flavor of the 1950' and 60's, when a commie was behind every door.
Fail Safe Good movie. could possibly happen in the real world. A good visit to the war room. I enjoyed the scene when the general (Blackie) was getting up from bed and talking to his wife. I remember him sitting by the side of the bed and saying something like; "is it possible that our dreams are really what we live and what we think we live are only dreams." I don't remember the exact quote, however, if anyone knows exactly, I sure would like to know. I'v seen this movie more then ten times and I still enjoy it very much.
We have nothing to fear But perhaps the machines we have built to protect us.
"Fail Safe" was filmed in 1964 at the height of the Cold War nuclear anxiety. The premise is that our US technology mistakenly labeled a troubled passenger aircraft as an incoming Soviet bomb and scrambled our own Air Force fighters against Moscow. President (Henry Fonda) and the Soviet Premier must work together to try and diffuse the situation and ultimately to solve the problems our failed 'fail safe' system created.
I am aware this film was redone in color and I am not sure it could ever be as good. The starkness of the black and white adds to the drama and period authenticity of the situation. Plus, Henry Fonda is in my opinion one of the best US Presidents on screen. This film is a classic and well worth the cost of the disc to add to your collection if you are a political science or a war buff.
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