Fail-Safe (1964)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Fail-Safe (1964) -- S. Lumet

Could a little mechanical mistake trigger a nuclear war?  Such a possibility seemed more plausible in 1964 perhaps when Lumet's Fail-Safe and Kubrick's Strangelove were both released, the former dead serious but overshadowed by the latter's satire. Today, it seems more likely that a dirty suitcase bomb will wreak havoc rather than mutually assured annihilation (although the doomsday clock, which now includes threats from climate change and other imminent disasters, is still set at five minutes to midnight).  Lumet's film is tense and frightening, with the suspense generated by the distrust between the Americans and the Soviets and the necessity for one to believe the other truly made a mistake rather than an intentional first strike (which some, including political scientist Walter Mathau and defense Colonel Fritz Weaver, are advocating anyway).  Henry Fonda is the level-headed and compassionate US president and Larry Hagman is his interpreter to assist with the delicate communication to the Russians (handled in a nice bit of acting by these two).  Low budget and framed by a weird dream sequence, but gut-wrenching if you think about the power that politicians really wield.