Director's Series: Stanley Kubrick's DR. STRANGELOVE or: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB

As Director/Writer/Producer Stanley Kubrick was wrapping up production of his controversial, dark comedy LOLITA, he turned his attention to a cautionary tale of the folly of the policy of “nuclear deterrence”, Peter George’s novel RED ALERT about a U.S. General who goes rogue and starts a nuclear war. In starting to write the script, Kubrick found himself drawn to the absurdity of the situation and upon reading the first draft of his script he realized he was writing a satire/black comedy and not a drama.

And, thus, one of the greatest comedies/satires of all time, DR. STRANGELOVE or: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING and LOVE THE BOMB was born.

When Kubrick brought the script to Columbia pictures for financing, he let them know he was thinking of bringing in Peter Sellers (who he had worked with in LOLITA) for one of the roles. The studio - thinking that Sellers playing multiple roles in LOLITA was one of the reasons for it’s success - informed Kubrick that they would finance it if Sellers played FOUR roles in the film.

Kubrick agreed and Sellers was cast as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (the assistant to the mad General who orders the “pre-emptive” nuclear strike), President of the United States, Merkin Muffley (his most effective character), the titular Dr. Strangelove and Major T.J. “King” Kong, the captain of the bomber that would drop the bomb (though, Sellers dropped out of the last character due to his ineffectiveness of a Texas accent and an ankle injury that prohibited him from playing the character).

The result is a very effective dark comedy/satire that focuses on the folly of nuclear war - the type of war that could very easily end life on earth - and the type of war that was very close to happening on the Earth at that time.

It is a timely and timeless tale told by a Master with masterful results.

Showing a restraint of focus that aids in the poignancy of the absurdity of the situation, Kubrick shows his hand by downplaying the comedy in favor of the realism of the situation (though pushing the dialogue by his co-writer Terry Southern by asking “what is the most outrageous thing a character could say and still be credible”) and letting that drive the point home that the policy of “nuclear deterrence” is absurd.

He is ably assisted by set designer Ken Adam (known mostly for his James Bond sets) who designs the gorgeous and spacious “war room” set that the majority of the film is set in.

As is his trademark, the meticulous Kubrick draws strong performances from Sterling Hayden (who Kubrick had worked with earlier on THE KILLING) as Brigadier General Jack. D Ripper - the General that orders the nuclear strike on Russia, Keenan Wynn (ANNIE GET YOUR GUN) as Colonel “Bat” Guano and, especially the inspired casting of little known (up to this time) Slim Pickens (ONE-EYED JACKS) filling in for Sellers as Major “King” Kong. All bring a strong sense of the absurd, grounded in reality, to their parts.

The only cast member who seems miscast is George C. Scott (PATTON) as Chief of Staff General Buck Turgidson. He’s very good in this film as the over-reactionary General (Kubrick had him over-acting in his role)…and it works (mostly), but it seems somewhat put on and not natural to the normally natural Scott. It’s like painting a house purple. It sticks out and is noticeably absurd.

And then there is the Oscar nominated performances of Sellers. All 3 of his roles are marvelously played with RAF Officer Mandrake being the most grounded and real, President Muffley being a common-sense man who is in over-his-head in an incredibly absurd situation and the over-the-top Dr. Strangelove who gets more and more aroused the closer the world gets to nuclear annihilation. It’s a bravura performance that is a highlight of Seller’s career.

All-in-all a deadpan, deadly-serious, absurd black comedy that works as a cautionary tale and still hits it’s mark today - more than 60 years later.

It’s classic Kubrick and a classic film.

Letter Grade: A+

10 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to theBank (ofMarquis)

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