Dr. Strangelove

ER · November 24, 2008, 01:12:28 PM

Hard to believe but until the other day I lived my entire life without seeing this uber-classic. Even though I'm a Kubrick fan, to be honest, I figured I'd hate it, but instead it was one of the funniest and most interesting films I've ever watched. It also goes a long way toward showing why Peter Sellars was hailed as the genius he clearly was. His performances as the US President (I was like THAT'S HIM???), the pitch-perfect RAF officer and of course Dr. Strangelove himself were total and complete onscreen perfection. Just an all-around fine movie that probably scared a lot of people underneath their laughter. I'm definitely going to have to go buy this one now.

Doc Daneeka · November 24, 2008, 03:54:46 PM

I love this movie too, though I would have rather the original ending came off as it was meant to >.> . "I can walk!" is just too one-note for the rest of the film :P

ER · November 24, 2008, 04:10:24 PM

There's a different ending? How did they change it?

Doc Daneeka · November 24, 2008, 05:06:49 PM

There was to be another ending which was "ruined" because the secondary cast screwed up their reactions (And retakes would be too costly), and is supposedly lost (Though I read supposedly there was a private screening with Kubrick's #1 fanatics in around 1999) now. Details about what was changed can be found on this page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/alternateversions.

HappyGilmore · November 24, 2008, 08:56:27 PM

I've yet to see this movie. At the ripe old age of 24, I doubt I'll ever see it, at this point.

peter johnson · November 25, 2008, 02:55:52 PM

24? Hell, I'm 52, and there are still unseen classic films I'm only just now getting around to -- Case in point: Even though I'm a Bergman fan, I only saw "Hour of The Wolf" for the first time last week -- great film, too.

Dr. Strangelove was a perennial favorite at the school I went to -- William & Mary -- and they showed it at least once a year. If you're impressed by Sellers in this, go to a used record store & pick up some BBC archives recordings of The Goon Show, wherein Sellers usually does around, oh, 13 or so completely different characters per episode. He was infamous for considering himself a complete blank slate, and had to be always "on" as one character or another, or he was incapable of speaking to people. He even says as much to Kermit when he hosted The Muppet Show.

The screenwriter, Terry Southern, also wrote a lot of dope stories -- "Red Dirt Marijuana", etc. Also Andrew's favorite film, "Candy".

peter johnson/denny crane

Rev. Powell · November 25, 2008, 05:43:23 PM

Quote from: peter johnson on November 25, 2008, 02:55:52 PM
to people. He even says as much to Kermit when he hosted The Muppet Show.

The screenwriter, Terry Southern, also wrote a lot of dope stories -- "Red Dirt Marijuana", etc. Also Andrew's favorite film, "Candy".

peter johnson/denny crane

I love Terry Southern. He also wrote or contributed to scripts for BARBARELLA, THE LOVED ONE, CASINO ROYALE (1967), and EASY RIDER, and also wrote for the first two seasons of "Saturday Night Live." In his defense I don't think he wrote the screenplay for CANDY (his buddy Buck Henry did), but merely co-wrote the novel it was adapted from.

HappyGilmore · November 25, 2008, 08:30:46 PM

Quote from: Rev. Powell on November 25, 2008, 05:43:23 PM

BARBARELLA, THE LOVED ONE, CASINO ROYALE (1967), and EASY RIDER,

How's Barbarella? Never seen it. Or Easy Rider for that.

Rev. Powell · November 25, 2008, 08:39:03 PM

Quote from: HappyGilmore on November 25, 2008, 08:30:46 PM
Quote from: Rev. Powell on November 25, 2008, 05:43:23 PM

BARBARELLA, THE LOVED ONE, CASINO ROYALE (1967), and EASY RIDER,

How's Barbarella? Never seen it. Or Easy Rider for that.

I'd add them both to your "must see" list, along with STRANGELOVE. Andrew reviewed BARBARELLA and gave it 3 stars. I would give it 4.

ToyMan · November 26, 2008, 03:18:47 AM

about two months ago, one of my co-workers bought "dr. strangelove" on my recommendation, and she has yet to watch it. so frustrating.

Ryantherebel · November 26, 2008, 11:16:39 PM

Why did you think that you'd hate it ER?

ER · November 26, 2008, 11:22:55 PM

Ryan, I thought I'd hate it cause it sounded too slapstick for my tastes (of course it wasn't slapstick at all) and also a couple people I know who said it was their favorite movie, just about, liked movies I hated, like The Ruling Class, for example. Considering how much I like mostKubrick films, you'd think I'd have approached it with a better attitude, lol. Great movie, glad to say.

Allhallowsday · November 27, 2008, 11:15:03 PM

"Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn...? Remember how we said that we would meet again... some... sunny day...?"

"We'll meet again... don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again, some sunny day..."

Torgo · December 02, 2008, 04:38:38 PM

Dr. Strangelove is on my list of the top 10 greatest films ever made. Pure genius. I honestly don't think that Kurbrick ever was quite at the top of his game like he was here.