Fail-safe (Special Edition)

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

Customer Reviews:

A period classic.......2007-09-16

This film is full of surprises, from the opening inside a dream to its unforgettable conclusion. The solemn twin to the brilliant parody, Dr. Strangelove, it has been overlooked and undervalued.

Perhaps The Best Cold War Film Ever.......2007-09-06

This film is truly a masterpiece of suspense with an all-too-real twist. Very much in line with the issues and fears of the 1950s and 1960s, but still a gripping story today. Henry Fonda's performance is incredible. The plot moves along very quickly but is not overly complex. The cinematography is beautiful and dramatic. Sidney Lumet's commentary is also very good and insightful. I agree with other reviewers that this film is in need of restoration due to very coarse grain, dirt on the print, etc. which could probably be solved with some combination of optical and digital techniques.

Fail-Safe Plot synopsis error.......2007-08-01

Sorry, but I feel I must make a minor correction to the Amazon Plot Synopsis since I am a former B-52 nuclear weapons specialist and now edit web sites. The synopsis erroneously states that the B-58 squadron is on a "routine training mission" when an error diverts them to Russia. Actually, the squadron is on a Combat Patrol. The USAF never carries nuclear weapons on training flights. They used to fly combat air patrols as they did in "Fail-Safe" (called "Chrome Dome")until 1966 when a "Broken Arrow" incident occurred. A B-52 collided with a KC-135 tanker during refueling and dropped its four Mark-28 thermonuclear weapons around Palomares, Spain. Since then the USAF ceased Chrome Dome. Incidentally, the B-52 intentionally released its nuclear payload as it is designed to do (in either a "safe" or "armed" configuration) in an emergency. I never understood why the film makers called the B-58 a "Vindicator" when its real name is "Hustler".

Fail-Safe.......2007-06-27

Of all the edgy doomsday thrillers that have unnerved us since the 1960s, nothing beats Sidney Lumet's chilling "Fail-Safe." Throughout the film, set in the control room of Strategic Air Command, Lumet expertly uses his camera to build claustrophobia and tension. The scenes with Fonda as the President and young Hagman as a petrified Russian translator are especially riveting. Walter Matthau also makes your blood run cold playing against type as a dispassionate nuclear-arms expert. Made when Cold War paranoia was at its height, this is a masterwork of relentless suspense.

Important History.......2007-05-09

This film is a good movie to watch for a historical perspective of the times, but in actually watching it for entertainment it suffers. The acting is good if wooden, the story is interesting but slow. I recommend this movie only for those interested in film history or the history of the era.

Average customer rating:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS
Classic Life Television
Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better
Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie

Fail Safe
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss , Noah Wyle , Brian Dennehy , Sam Elliott , and James Cromwell
Director: Stephen Frears
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000NTPG7K
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

OscarÂ® winner George Clooney (Syriana, Ocean's Thirteen) and Emmy nominated Noah Wyle ("ER," "Librarian: Quest for the Spear") head an all-star cast in this tense and powerful Cold War thriller performed live on network TV (CBS). An electrical malfunction prevents the Pentagon from stopping a pilot (Clooney) whose jet has been mistakenly ordered to drop nuclear bombs on Russia. Facing world nuclear annihilation the American President (Richard Dreyfus) must choose between an all-out war or the planned nuclear bombing of New York City as compensation. Based on Sydney Lumet's classic 1964 "Playhouse 90" presentation from the novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick. Directed by Oscar-nominee Stephen Frears (The Queen, The Grifters, Dangerous Liaisons). All-star cast includes Richard Dreyfus, Noah Wyle, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Harvey Keitel, James Cromwell, Hank Azaria, Sam Elliott.

Customer Reviews:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS.......2007-07-13

Don't bother watching this - even if you like the Clooney guy.... This production is stiff, recorded live for TV and the acting really rots; not to mind the sets and goofs. You would be better off watching the original. This is a dead movie - don't waste your money on this!

Classic Life Television .......2007-07-05

When I ordered this DVD I expected a movie production. I don't know where I got that impression but when I watched the opening credits I remember feeling disappointed, cheated almost to the point of stopping the DVD. I am glad I didn't. It took a few minutes for me to adjust to the medium in which I was experiencing art. I am old enough to remember Studio 90, Hallmark Hall of Fame or even life productions of Howdy Doody and situation comedies. This DVD put me back in an art form that does not exist anymore and I miss it. I have read the book and now experienced the live television production. A classic with modern applications

Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better.......2007-06-26

The DVD for this version of Fail Safe is actually in the widescreen format. The package says it is in a matted widescreen format and I measured the aspect ratio at about 1.67:1. Unfortunately the DVD was not anamorphic (not enhanced for widescreen televisions). At this point in time Warner Brothers should have made this disc anamorphic. Other than that the movie and disc were fine.

Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie.......2007-06-26

As someone who grew up in the shadow of the Cold War, this movie has always intrigued me. A truly scary premise especially now that the machines have taken over (sorry, that's a Cyberdyne joke).

This made-for-TV remake was broadcast live in 2000 and I was most impressed. I am a technical flaw-spotting fiend and I only spotted one glitch - I'll let you find it.

The plot is already explained so I'll address the cast - well chosen, and the production values - top-notch. Live TV is most unforgiving and this was pulled-off in good fashion.

Sadly this scenario has been supplanted by terrorism but nevertheless, for those who recall the truly excellent 1964 version, this modern take still manages to grip you with suspense. Once I finish this review I am ordering a copy. You should do the same.

Average customer rating:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS
Classic Life Television
Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better
Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie

Fail Safe [Region 2]
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss , Noah Wyle , Brian Dennehy , Sam Elliott , and James Cromwell
Director: Stephen Frears
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004Y3MQ

Customer Reviews:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS.......2007-07-13

Classic Life Television .......2007-07-05

Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better.......2007-06-26

Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie.......2007-06-26

Average customer rating:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS
Classic Life Television
Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better
Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie

Fail Safe [Region 2]
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss , Noah Wyle , Brian Dennehy , Sam Elliott , and James Cromwell
Director: Stephen Frears
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000050HK0

Customer Reviews:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS.......2007-07-13

Classic Life Television .......2007-07-05

Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better.......2007-06-26

Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie.......2007-06-26

Average customer rating:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS
Classic Life Television
Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better
Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie

Fail Safe [Region 2]
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss , Noah Wyle , Brian Dennehy , Sam Elliott , and James Cromwell
Director: Stephen Frears
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000056PKJ

Customer Reviews:

Stiff TV Movie STINKS.......2007-07-13

Classic Life Television .......2007-07-05

Fail Safe DVD Could Have Been Better.......2007-06-26

Excellent Remake of a Chilling Movie.......2007-06-26

Fail Safe [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]

Average customer rating:

Nuclear warfare is suicide bombing
Technology exceeds our grasp

Fail Safe [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]
Director: Stephen Frears
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000DN7MGO

Product Description

Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: English Dolby Digital 2.0 German Dolby Digital 2.0 Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Czech Subtitles Danish Subtitles Dutch Subtitles English Subtitles Finnish Subtitles French Subtitles German Subtitles Greek Subtitles Hebrew Subtitles Hungarian Subtitles Icelandic Subtitles Italian Subtitles Norwegian Subtitles Polish Subtitles Portuguese Subtitles Spanish Subtitles Swedish Subtitles Turkish Subtitles Synopsis: A traditional Belgian father and his modern-thinking son battle it out in this family drama set in Belgium during the early 1900s. The conflict centers around the planting of flax. The son would rather play around with the milkmaid than farm. To instill his work ethic within the free-thinking lad, the father buys a neighboring farm. It doesn't work until the father lies upon his death bed. The loyal son comes around and begins to help. The cinematography for the film is notable. Extras: Interactive Menu Cast/Crew Interview(s) Biographies Trailer(s)

Customer Reviews:

Nuclear warfare is suicide bombing.......2006-02-26

Stephen Frears takes us deep into the past to address a problem we live today with extreme intensity : the possibility of a nuclear war. He goes back to the Cold War to envisage the situation of such a nuclear conflict between two countries who have the same technological and technical possibilities : the capability to destroy a whole city with two bombs, the capability to get the bombs there no matter what and the protocole for the pilots never to come back once the order is given. This kamikaze situation created by our own protocoles is absurd and demonstrated as such : if a technical mistake causes this situation there is absolutely no way to stop it, what's more to reverse it. It also raises the question of why and how we - the civilized West - have invented such protocoles that transform our pilots into suicide-bombers, and also how and why human beings can accept such protocoles that transform them into non-thinking machines. The film shows that there is absolutely no escape from nuclear destruction when it is started. It also shows that some supposedly technical or learned minds are using the logic of a traditional war within the frame of nucelar warfare, which is absurd because there cannot be any victor in such a war. The film very clearly shows that the point is to avoid the full confrontation and that this can only be achieved by accepting as much damage on the side responsible for the alert as this side will have caused on the other side. New York to pay off Moscow. This film is also interesting to show how perverse such power, the power to start such a war, is : it transforms human beings into monsters that will remain human if they can avoid the full destruction of the planet by accepting a limited destruction of a few cities. What an achievement indeed. From human being to human monster, from peace and love to let's kill just enough people to guarantee that all will not be killed. War seen as a blood sucker sucking just the right amount of blood for you not to die of apoplexy. Absurd and yet so human indeed : the human race is the only animal race that has invented and uses the logic of absurdity.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Université Paris Dauphine, Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne

Technology exceeds our grasp.......2006-02-26

We are at the height of the cold war. We use assured mutual destruction to keep the commies at bay. The main defense is the use of strategic bombers to deliver nuclear weapons. In the event of a perceived thereat we send the bombers to points called Fail-Safe. From there if the thereat is determined to be real the president gives the go signal in a coded message. At a further point there is no recall.

What if the recall signal was jammed?

We are now faced with many questions that move from the theoretical.
Is it a trick?
Will the Ruskies believe it is an accident?
Should we take the first strike initiative?
Is mutual destruction assured?

In today's world it is easy and common place to imagine some artificial intelligence that we have ceded authority to taking over for malevolent or even levolent purposes. We have every type of movie from "2001" (1968) with the HAL 9000 to "The Forbin project" (1970) with Colossus.

This film however is a lot spookier because it is played out with what looks like could be a real scenario. It also looks like it could have been a play as the action is mostly dialog that takes place in two rooms and the interior of a strategic bomber. It has a claustrophobic feel with the black and white with odd placed lighting.

There are many fine actors in this film. One surprisingly strong performance was by Larry Hagman as Buck the interpreter for the President. The survival of the world hinged on his facial expressions as he had to interpret not just the words but the attitude of the Soviet Premier.

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