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Fail Safe


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Customer Reviews
Rating:  out of 5 stars - THIS FILM WILL NOT FAIL YOU
This movie stars Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau, with a fine performance by several other well known actors and actresses, including no less than Larry Hagman in what had to be one of his first movie appearances. Superbly acted all around.

If you can get past the black and white film, this movie is a classic in all respects. Very realistic in it's portrayal of Cold War nuclear threat and the game theory associated with it, the movie takes place largely in Omaha at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters.

The action really heats up when an inadvertent nuclear strike on Moscow is initiated. The film is well worth your time and money, regardless of whether or not you grew up during the Cold War period. It illustrates the horrors and potential pitfalls of the situations that could occur under the nuclear weapons defense system. The strategy known as "MAD" --Mutually Assured Destruction, was just that: insane. It also shows the dangers of allowing machines and computers too much control of our lives.



Rating:  out of 5 stars - Quality product, awesome movie!!!
Amazon.com was amazing!! I ordered two copies of this movie, one for me and one gift wrapped for my wife's brother-in-law in Pennsylvania. They were both delivered within 2 days and were perfect. I have loved this movie since I first saw it. It is amazing that it has so many stars, and deals with such a deep subject, and yet nobody knows about this movie. From the look of the movie, to the way shots were framed and the camera angles, to the excellent performances, this is a must see!!



Rating:  out of 5 stars - Fail-Safe
Classic cold war thriller. Fairly reasonable plot, well acted, attention-holding. You should see this to get a flavor of the 1950' and 60's, when a commie was behind every door.



Rating:  out of 5 stars - Fail Safe
Good movie. could possibly happen in the real world. A good visit to the war room. I enjoyed the scene when the general (Blackie) was getting up from bed and talking to his wife. I remember him sitting by the side of the bed and saying something like; "is it possible that our dreams are really what we live and what we think we live are only dreams." I don't remember the exact quote, however, if anyone knows exactly, I sure would like to know. I'v seen this movie more then ten times and I still enjoy it very much.



Rating:  out of 5 stars - We have nothing to fear
But perhaps the machines we have built to protect us.

"Fail Safe" was filmed in 1964 at the height of the Cold War nuclear anxiety. The premise is that our US technology mistakenly labeled a troubled passenger aircraft as an incoming Soviet bomb and scrambled our own Air Force fighters against Moscow. President (Henry Fonda) and the Soviet Premier must work together to try and diffuse the situation and ultimately to solve the problems our failed 'fail safe' system created.

I am aware this film was redone in color and I am not sure it could ever be as good. The starkness of the black and white adds to the drama and period authenticity of the situation. Plus, Henry Fonda is in my opinion one of the best US Presidents on screen. This film is a classic and well worth the cost of the disc to add to your collection if you are a political science or a war buff.

Rebecca Kyle, June 2008


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