Review: Dr Strangelove
by eggmceye, 2001-10-17 11:43:21. No #799.

Starring Peter Sellers in no less than three roles - as Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley (the prez of the USA) and Dr. Strangelove himself, Kubrick does something right for a change and doesn't get in the way of Sellers being just possibly the best actor ever. In fact, if it wasn't for Sellers, this movie would be scraping the bottom of the ballz0r barrel.

the plot? a rogue air force base commander (Jack D.Ripper) calls a nuclear strike on communist russia (it's set in the 60's). after frantic (and very funny) phone calls between the prez and the russian prime minister, all but one of the bombers get either shot down or called back. Dr strangelove makes an appearance toward the end, to give advice on the doomsday machine. He's really only there for the german accent, the stupid hair, and his uncontrollable arm which has a mind of its own and does a couple of sig-heils!

Also worth noting is the presense of George C. Scott, one of the president's Cheif of Staff - he get's some top lines too, but isn't it funny that George C. Scott later went on to star in another (famous) war movie - Patton ...

To kubrick's credit however, there is some half-decent directing, and the B52 set is extraordinarily detailed. The screenplay is excellent - probably because the Kubestar had two of his mates helping him write it. Lines such as ...

• you can't fight in here, this is the war room!
• if you don't get the president on that phone ... you're going to have to answer to the coca-cola company!
• nothing like water on the back of the neck (BANG!) ...
• you asked me to feed you and I was feeding you (etc) ... and of course
• Mien fuhrer - I can walk!