Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Name: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Genre: Thriller, Comedy
Released: January 29, 1964
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 97
Cast: George C. Scott, Peter Sellers

1964

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Universal acclaim based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 874 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 874 Ratings

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Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: January 29, 1964 | GP

Starring: George C. Scott, Peter Sellers

Summary: Through a series of military and political accidents, a psychotic general - U.S. Air Force Commander Jack D. Ripper (Hayden) - triggers an ingenious, irrevocable scheme to attack Russia's strategic targets with nuclear bombs. The U.S. President (Sellers) and Dr. Strangelove (Sellers), a wheelchair-bound nuclear scientist who has bizarreThrough a series of military and political accidents, a psychotic general - U.S. Air Force Commander Jack D. Ripper (Hayden) - triggers an ingenious, irrevocable scheme to attack Russia's strategic targets with nuclear bombs. The U.S. President (Sellers) and Dr. Strangelove (Sellers), a wheelchair-bound nuclear scientist who has bizarre ideas about man's future, work with the Soviet premier in a desperate effort to save the world.… Expand

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre(s): Thriller, Comedy

Rating: GP

Runtime: 95 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

James Powers

Baleful and brilliant, Dr. Strangelove; Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, will outrage a predictable percentage of the population and enthrall an even greater percentage. Read full review

100

Empire Dorian Lynskey

The collapse of the Cold War may have left Kubrick's satire on mutually assured destruction less relevant than it was, but it still features Peter Sellers' finest three performances as well as proving that the supposedly humourless Kubrick was up for a laugh. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Perhaps Kubrick's most perfectly realised film. Read full review

100

Michael Atkinson

The hard-charging originality of the screenplay—the equivalent of turning "The Hot Zone" into a Farrelly comedy—suggests a deficient legacy of credit to Terry Southern's corner. Read full review

100

David Bianculli

Remains funnier than almost any comedy made in this generation. And since we are, once again, embarked in global warfare, it's as timely as it has ever been. [24 Apr 2004, p.67]

100

Jay Carr

The phone scene, in which he's on the hot line to his Russian counterpart, is a classic of prevarication, a masterpiece of nothingspeak in the face of disaster. [28 Oct 1994, p.48]

Philip K. Scheuer

After suffering through two screenings of Dr. Strangelove, I would sooner drink hemlock.... To me, Dr. Strangelove is an evil thing about an evil thing; you will have to make up your own mind about it. Read full review

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User Reviews

NF123

Aug 23, 2010

Feels like 2 movies in 1, the segments on the plane and in the air force base are largely solemn and serious, the War room however is comical and insane. But this works well as it conveys what the film is about, the lunacy of politicians and the effects of beaurocracy. Dr Strangelove himselfFeels like 2 movies in 1, the segments on the plane and in the air force base are largely solemn and serious, the War room however is comical and insane. But this works well as it conveys what the film is about, the lunacy of politicians and the effects of beaurocracy. Dr Strangelove himself only appears in the latter half of the film but god does Peter Sellers do a good job! In all 3 of his roles. It's a pity everyone knows the ending though because it's been done to death in popular culture (Along with the famous line "Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!" one of the funniest in history. However I will say the 5 minutes before the famous segment with major Kong is i think one of the best 5 minutes in cinematic history, especially with the countdown, of sorts. It is truly one of the most tense few minutes I've ever seen and the acting is brilliant! The look on their faces as they approach the target in almost too real. It deserves all of the praise it gets without doubt! Peter Sellers, you are one of the greats! Along of course with Kubrick… Expand

13 of 14 users found this helpful131

CinemaSins

May 9, 2015

When you consider the history of motion pictures, certain watershed films leap to mind -- productions which have left their mark on the craft. Without a doubt, one of those is Stanley Kubrik's 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove (or, as it's subtitled, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and LoveWhen you consider the history of motion pictures, certain watershed films leap to mind -- productions which have left their mark on the craft. Without a doubt, one of those is Stanley Kubrik's 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove (or, as it's subtitled, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb). As political satire, few movies -- even those as incisive as the hilariously vicious 1992 release Bob Roberts -- come close to this level of accomplishment. In the case of Dr. Strangelove, the barbs and quips (both subtle and obvious) hold up as well today as they did thirty years ago.

When director Stanley Kubrick decided to adapt Peter George's thriller Red Alert for the screen, he recruited the author to help with the script. Instead of retaining the straight tone of the book, Kubrick wanted to try for a black comedy, and with the complicity of George and co-writer Terry Southern, Dr. Strangelove was born.

Originally, Kubrick envisioned Peter Sellers playing four unique roles. However, after filming three of them (President Merkin Muffley, RAF Group Captain Mandrake, and ex-Nazi scientist Dr. Strangelove), the actor broke his leg and was unable to complete the quartet. In his place, Slim Pickens was signed to portray Major "King" Kong. Other cast members include George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson, Sterling Hayden as General Jack D. Ripper, and James Earl Jones (in his first film role) as Lieutenant Lothar Zogg.

As a story chronicling the potential countdown to humanity's end in a nuclear fireball, Dr. Strangelove is tightly-plotted and well-paced. As a black comedy, wielding a wit sharper than honed steel, the film is unparalleled. Kubrick's picture has so many targets that it's difficult to know where to begin. Certainly, the "balance of power" nuclear deterrent policy gets the most obvious jabs (although ardent supporters may not see this -- Dr. Strangelove's attacks are subtle enough that it's possible for an unsophisticated viewer to miss the point). Parodying the "missile gap" at the heart of the arms race, we are given the "doomsday gap" and the "mine shaft gap."

Kubrick isn't especially kind to the military mentality, as personified by General Turgidson (elements of Scott's performance here foreshadow how he would approach the role of Patton in the 1970 movie that earned him an Oscar). Turgidson sees Soviet plots everywhere, flirts with a girlfriend in the midst of a national crisis, believes 10-20 million American casualties (tops!) are acceptable, and wishes the U.S. had some sort of doomsday machine to match the Russians' capabilities.

As the film races to its conclusion, situations become more bizarre, with a drunk Soviet Premier Kissoff whining over the phone to Muffley that the U.S. planes are flying too low and jamming his radar. Mandrake tries to put an emergency call through to the President, but the Pentagon won't accept the collect call, and he doesn't have exact change. And Dr. Strangelove, Hitler's best living ally, comes up with a plan to preserve the superior elements of humanity.

The genius of Dr. Strangelove is that it's possible to laugh -- and laugh hard -- while still recognizing the intelligence and insight behind the humor. The film is always saying something, and a viewer would have to be deaf and blind not to recognize the targets of the sarcasm. In fact, I'd worry about anyone who takes this movie too seriously. That, after all, isn't the kind of person Dr. Strangelove is aimed for; it's the kind this film takes aim at.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JonathanR.

Feb 9, 2008

"Like fryin' chickens in the barnyard!!" I could strap in Clockwork Orange-style and watch this movie for the rest of my life.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

alejandro970

Jul 19, 2020

Never before has the Cold War and fear of World War III been seen as a laughing matter, based on a futile discussion, armed with clever phrases and dialogues. Peter Sellers is unrepeatable playing three different roles at the same time, each iconic. One of the essentials of Kubrick.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FawwadA.

May 25, 2006

This was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It's a wonderful satire of cold war politics. One will really understand how ridiculous and dangerous the child-like political antics of the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in that time. Though almost 40 years old, the film is still This was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It's a wonderful satire of cold war politics. One will really understand how ridiculous and dangerous the child-like political antics of the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in that time. Though almost 40 years old, the film is still relevant because it demonstrates today's government's faults. This movie makes you really think about the reality of nuclear warfare throughout the Cold War, and the idiocy of modern governments.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

kyle20ellis

Mar 21, 2022

I didn't quite understand all of the jokes, but I enjoyed this movie enormously. It is essentially one of the best satirical comedies out there. Peter Sellers was hilarious here in no less than 3 roles. My personal favourite was the president. My favourite line of the film is actually in theI didn't quite understand all of the jokes, but I enjoyed this movie enormously. It is essentially one of the best satirical comedies out there. Peter Sellers was hilarious here in no less than 3 roles. My personal favourite was the president. My favourite line of the film is actually in the title of this review, as Dad and I watched this at midnight and couldn't stop laughing. I loved Sellers also as the man in the wheelchair Strangelove, who tries to impersonate Hitler, I think. There was a brilliant performance from fine actor George C. Scott, who I really admire. I personally think there isn't enough of these two stars on television, I really don't. I noticed a young James Earl Jones too, and the camera-work and direction were both excellent. Got to love the music, I did, a bit ironic, but that was the intention. Great movie! 9/10. Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CharlieS.

May 17, 2007

Anyone who has given this a 10 must have no taste at all, or are followers to the point of being lemmings. I own this movie, and I have never made it all the way through because it is sooooooooo boring. Now now, before you go ape, I do enjoy most classic movies; but in the case of this Anyone who has given this a 10 must have no taste at all, or are followers to the point of being lemmings. I own this movie, and I have never made it all the way through because it is sooooooooo boring. Now now, before you go ape, I do enjoy most classic movies; but in the case of this pile, where is this "black comedy" everyone refers to? There is not a single funny moment in this movie. Who are you people that think this is laughable at any point? The funniest thing to me is how much people force themselves to love Kubrick. His movies are self important slop. Let the stones fly!… Expand

1 of 9 users found this helpful

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