DR. STRANGELOVE Review On "Violent Maniac's Cage"

DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRING AND LOVE THE BOMB

(1964, UK)

What seemed like an impossible endeavor in the height of the cold war may very well be the most influential and best known Black Comedy ever made. Stanley Kubrik's adaptation of the novel Red Alert by Peter George begins with a wonderful scene of a B-52 refueling in mid air, we then shift over to Gen. Jack D Ripper (Sterling Hayden), a psychotic man who contends that communist influence has penetrated everything including his bodily fluids and decides to launch an all out strike to purge these influences. His sheepish XO Flt Captain Mandrake (Peter Sellers) does his best to keep the Gen. in his right mind and tries to get him to recall the bombers. The actions leave President Merkin Muffley (Sellers) and his advisors led by Gen. Buck Turgidson (George C Scott), stammering as they argue on what is the best way to take out the bombers and unintentionally make it worse. We are then introduced to the enigmatic Dr. Strangelove (Sellers once again), a former Nazi scientist who gives the president advice while at the same time suggesting some rather bizarre notions. We then see the Russian Ambassador de Sadesky arrive and the verbal quiffs between him and Scott are timeless. The doomsday bomber crew led by Maj. TJ "King" Kong (Slim Pickens), evades the Russians and fly's a course to certain Armageddon all without the knowledge that their orders are quite bogus and will result in a Russian doomsday device destroying the world. At the same time Capt. Mandrake must contend with the gung ho army Col. Bat Guano (Keenan Wynn) , who will hold him liable to the Coca Cola company for breaking a vending machine. The movie is filled with so many gags and such colorful dialogue the viewer is almost made to forget the total seriousness of the subject matter and made to feel like the whole cold war is nothing more then a over blown street bully showdown. With excellent direction, and a dynamic cast of little known stars, most notable the stellar Peter Sellers who plays three different characters. Kubrik masterfully shifts between the three major scenes with the skill and panache of a seasoned veteran. His common theme of dehumanization and our total relinquishment on machines is most apparent in this apocalyptic tale. The finale is worth seeing just to see Slim Pickens go out in style. Ironically the film was to have a custard pie fight and was actually filmed and is available on the Laser Disk. A classic that must be seen to be fully appreciated if noting more then to admire the talents of Peter Sellers in three of the most unique roles of his career.

Review by: Losman

Email: losman@express-news.net

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