A review by John Beachem
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CAST Peter Sellers - President Muffley/Captain Lionel Mandrake/Dr. Strangelove George C. Scott - General `Buck' Turgidson Sterling Hayden - General Jack D. Ripper Keenan Wynn - Colonel `Bat' Guano Slim Pickens - Major T. J. `King' Kong
In honor of the late, great George C. Scott, I've decided to review a film which is, quite frankly, one of the funniest ever made. The cliched old phrase `They don't make um like they used to' has never been more appropriate than it is here.
President Muffley has a problem. One of his generals, Jack D. Ripper, has gone insane and ordered bombers to nuke the Soviet Union. The biggest problem with this, is that the Soviets have constructed a weapon which shall destroy the world if they should be attacked. So, the president and his military staff sit in the war room and try to think of a way to alert the bombers to cease their attack. Meanwhile, General Ripper defends his base from U.S. troops while explaining his actions to his second in command, Captain Mandrake. Problems continue to escalate and finally the fate of the world is in the hands of Major Kong, one of the bomber captains.
Kubrick may have been a rather erratic director, creating a string of hits (2001: A Space Odyssey), and misses (Lolita) seemingly at random. However, he was right on the mark with this creation,which is such a magnificent blend of slapstick comedy, witty dialogue, and an amazingly humour look at paranoia.
Peter Sellers is brilliant, as always, playing three very different characters. President Muffley look constantly hassled by the problems and people he has to face (his phone conversation with the Soviet premier is one of the funniest moments in movie history). Captain Mandrake is perhaps the only truly normal character in the entire film, but this simply makes him that much funnier. Dr. Strangelove, the crippled genius, is an absolute riot as he seems unable to control his movements at times.
George C. Scott plays General Turgidson in a way similar to his later portrayal of General Patton, but in a much more maniacal way. The scenes with him are always hilarious due to his overzealous behavior and strangely psychotic facial expressions (such as the scene where he's explaining why the Russian ambassador shouldn't be alowed in the war room).
The biggest problem I think this movie has nowadays is that the humor seems to be over the heads of a lot of people (not hard to believe considering how much today's audiences loved the ghastly Austin Powers). In fact, the only flaw I can think of is that the film does end quite suddenly (though in a very funny way), though I suppose one simply doesn't want it to end at all. I give Dr. Strangelove a full five stars and recommend everyone go see it right now.
* * * * * - One of the greatest movies ever made, see it now. * * * * - Great flick. Try and catch this one. * * * - Okay movie, hits and misses. * * - Pretty bad. See it if you've got nothing better to do. * - One of the worst movies ever. See it only if you enjoy pain.
E-mail with comments at: JABII@aol.com
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