Fail-safe (Special Edition)
starring: Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Dan O'Herlihy, Frank Overton
directed by: Sidney Lumet
directed by: Sidney Lumet
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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
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
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Better than original
Viewed Fail-Safe a few days after Dr. Strangelove and found the movie actually better than I remembered from before.
Rating: - Fantastic Movie... Must see
If you are into Pol-Sci, this is a must see.If you like nuclear war movies must see.I can go on.The 1964 version is so far supiriour to the remake of the same title.It is like you are living the cold war, even if you were not alive then.Like me for example I'm only 28, but it was so intense.
Unfortinenetly, I have to order another copy, because, the one I got from Amazon would not, could not read or load.There is no way I'm going to wait a month for a refund, so I'm just ... Read More
Rating: - Masterful Suspense...
I sat on the edge of my seat throughout most of this movie.I actually saw it for the first time many years ago, but it seems when I watch it over again, it is like the first time.
The story is chillingly real-very much something that could have happened. A group of bombers fly fast the 'failsafe' point armed with nuclear bombs and headed for Moscow.The whole set of events that is set in motion by this is so artfully and suspensefully woven together, that once you start watching it, ... Read More
Rating: - Gripping, timeless
One of my favorite movies and as gripping now as when it was made nearly 50 years ago. No special effects were used or were necessary. The powerful story, convincing dialogue and acting do the job without them - would that more films were like that nowadays!
The end of the cold war may be temporary and, even if it isn't, all those nuclear weapons still exist, will always exist and the numbers of countries with them is increasing. So we all still live with the real threat of atomic annihilation ... Read More
Rating: 
- LIBERALISM IN HOLLYWOOD AND A TERRIBLE ENDING
In 1965, a serious nuclear movie called "Fail Safe" was released. Henry Fonda is the President. A computer glitch launches The Bomb for the U.S.S.R. Fonda cannot recall it, and apologizes to the Soviet premier. His wife is visiting New York City, and in one of the worst political decisions in Hollywood history, Fonda tells the Soviets that in order to prove to them it was an accident, he will drop a 30-megaton nuclear bomb on the Big Apple! He carries through with his decision, despite his wife's presence there. ... Read More
- Better than originalViewed Fail-Safe a few days after Dr. Strangelove and found the movie actually better than I remembered from before.
- Fantastic Movie... Must seeIf you are into Pol-Sci, this is a must see.If you like nuclear war movies must see.I can go on.The 1964 version is so far supiriour to the remake of the same title.It is like you are living the cold war, even if you were not alive then.Like me for example I'm only 28, but it was so intense.
Unfortinenetly, I have to order another copy, because, the one I got from Amazon would not, could not read or load.There is no way I'm going to wait a month for a refund, so I'm just ... Read More
- Masterful Suspense...I sat on the edge of my seat throughout most of this movie.I actually saw it for the first time many years ago, but it seems when I watch it over again, it is like the first time.
The story is chillingly real-very much something that could have happened. A group of bombers fly fast the 'failsafe' point armed with nuclear bombs and headed for Moscow.The whole set of events that is set in motion by this is so artfully and suspensefully woven together, that once you start watching it, ... Read More
- Gripping, timelessOne of my favorite movies and as gripping now as when it was made nearly 50 years ago. No special effects were used or were necessary. The powerful story, convincing dialogue and acting do the job without them - would that more films were like that nowadays!
The end of the cold war may be temporary and, even if it isn't, all those nuclear weapons still exist, will always exist and the numbers of countries with them is increasing. So we all still live with the real threat of atomic annihilation ... Read More
- LIBERALISM IN HOLLYWOOD AND A TERRIBLE ENDINGIn 1965, a serious nuclear movie called "Fail Safe" was released. Henry Fonda is the President. A computer glitch launches The Bomb for the U.S.S.R. Fonda cannot recall it, and apologizes to the Soviet premier. His wife is visiting New York City, and in one of the worst political decisions in Hollywood history, Fonda tells the Soviets that in order to prove to them it was an accident, he will drop a 30-megaton nuclear bomb on the Big Apple! He carries through with his decision, despite his wife's presence there. ... Read More
