Watch the movie "Fail-Safe."

[Bouncy Ball]

1964. Catch all the little cameos (a dramatic role for a very young Dom DeLuise).

It's a cold war nuke movie that came out right after Dr. Stranglove and got overshadowed by it, but DAMN that was one good flick.

The ending is especially compelling, considering 1964 cinematography, etc.

Henry Fonda, young Larry Hagman (so thin!), Walter Matthau, lots of big guys.

[mr_hat]

1. Is that the one where, you know, so Henry Fonda

has to, you know?

[Bouncy Ball]

2. I have no idea what you mean.

I'm normally not a huge Henry Fonda fan (except for Grapes of Wrath), but he did a really good job in this film. It was amazing to me to see a President who....worked. Crazy!

[mr_hat]

4. I can say no more. But

I did just surf over to imdb for confirmation. Able Delta Foxtrot.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Yes, that's the one

"Fail Safe" is one of my most prized DVDs. It's fun to watch it, then "Dr. Strangelove."

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Saw it the first time it was shown on national TV way back when

Scared the bejesus outta me

[Bouncy Ball]

6. Heck I found it creepy the other night! LOL!

Didn't you love the ending? I mean, not loved. It was sad, but just the drama of it all. I kept asking my husband if I had the whole story line right, because it was crazy.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. When I saw it, was still Cold War era

Had me on the edge of my seat DEFCOM!

[Babel_17]

7. IIRC the character Matthau played

was based on Herman "thinking the unthinkable" Khan.

http://www.alteich.com/links/kahn.htm

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Thanks for the link. I don't know who Khan is, but Matthau's

character reminded me of today's neocons. It was chilling.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. He was

Director Sidney Lumet was an avid reader of books such as Kahn's "On Thermonuclear War." It was this that led him to adapt the book "Fail Safe" by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler for the screen.

[FuzzySlippers]

11. I thought it was supposed to be based on Kissinger. n/t

[HawkerHurricane]

12. Pre-Kissinger

Henry wasn't all that important in 1964.

[Floogeldy]

13. I have watched it.

Good advice. :)