The chilling fear of nuclear annihilation hit the box office in 1964 with both Sidney Lumet’s gripping thrillerFail Safeand Stanley Kubrick’s darkly comedicDr. Strangelove,one of thebest comedy war movies. These twin films, stemming from the anxieties at the time, explored the terrifying possibility of accidental nuclear warwithhistorical Cold War accuracy, though with vastly different tones.
WhileDr. Strangelovebecame one of the best political satires of all time,Fail Safe, despite its own merits, often exists in its shadow. Now, nearly sixty years later,Fail Safeis set to be remade for a second time, following a 2000 live televised play adaptation. This new reimagining, helmed by Joe Berlinger, promises a"faux-cinema verité"approach, offering a fresh perspective on this classic story and a chance to resonate with contemporary audiences concerned about the increasing influence of technology.
1964’s Fail Safe Is Being Remade For A Second Time
There Was A Live Televised Play In 2000
This is not the first time there has been a reimagining ofFail Safe.In 2000, there was a televised broadcast play starring George Clooney as Col. Jack Grady. The play was based on the original novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. It was an unusual format as a televised live play, and one of the few examples of this since the 1960s. Airing on CBS, the production wasshot in black and white, which was the same format as the original 1964 adaptation by Sidney Lumet.
According toPlaybill, the 84-minute production had 22 cameras on multiple sets. Althoughthe play boasted an impressive cast who delivered great performances, it pales in comparison to the enduring impact of the genuinely horrifying 1964 movie. Although the theatrical format was interesting, it arguably did not work in its favor when compared to the building of tension in the film. As a play, it naturally reads more hypothetical than it would as a movie production. However, the live television drama was innovative in its approach to filming and was still a thought-provoking anti-war piece.
The Controversy Surrounding Fail Safe & Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove Explained
The Controversy Of The Twin Films Has Put Fail Safe In Its Shadow
Dr. StrangeloveandFail Safewere released in 1964 -Fail Safewas released only nine months afterDr. Strangelove’s premiere. The two movies are based on similar novels about the very current nuclear fear at the time -Dr. Strangelovewas inspired by the novelRed Alertby Peter George, whileFail Safewas based on the novel of the same name. The two movies had different approaches -Dr. Strangelovewas darkly satirical, whileFail Safewas a Cold War thriller. Despite this, their proximity means they are considered twin movies, especially because ofDr. Strangelove’s behind-the-sceneslawsuit.
Thelawsuit surroundingDr. Strangelovestemmed from similarities between the film’s source material, Peter George’sRed Alert, and the novelFail-Safeby Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. Kubrick, George, and Columbia Pictures sued Burdick, Wheeler, and the production company planning aFail-Safeadaptation for plagiarism. Kubrick aimed to capitalize on the “heat” generated by this dispute, believing it would boostDr. Strangelove’s marketability.
5 Best Actors to Play The President of the United States
Whether it be fictional or historical characters, plenty of actors have given incredible performances as the President of the United States.
Kubrick viewedFail-Safeas plagiarism (perDeep Focus Review) and a direct competitor in the nuclear war-themed market. The lawsuit, while potentially risky, ultimately served as a powerful marketing tool, drawing attention toDr. Strangeloveand solidifying its position as a unique and anticipated film. The legal battle underscored the competitive landscape of filmmaking and the importance of securing intellectual property rights.
How A New Fail Safe Movie Can Set Itself Apart From Dr. Strangelove
Joe Berlinger Is Taking A Fresh Approach To Fail Safe
WhileDr StrangeloveandFail Safewill always be compared,Dr Strangelovewas overwhelmingly more successful and arguably one of the best comedies of all time. Its dark humor comes from the intense build-up to the mission happening and there are sexual references and over-the-top comedy abound in its satirization of Operation Paperclip. A newFail Safemovie can remove itself from the legal issues that fed into thestill-funnyDr Strangelove’s marketing and set itself apart from the movie, which has a very different appeal to the more seriousFail Safe.
The classic 1964Fail Safemovie starring Henry Fonda is being reimagined. According toVariety,director Joe Berlinger is taking a“faux-cinema verité”approach to his remake. This would add another layer of realism and continue the innovative approaches to the original text. It will imagine an alternative history, showing what would really happen if a“failsafe”mechanical failure hurtled the United States toward nuclear war with the Soviet Union. This will bring the current global topic of technocracy to the forefront, giving this 1960s classic an enduring relevance outside ofDr. Strangelove’s shadow.
Fail Safe
Cast
Fail Safe is a Cold War thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, featuring Henry Fonda as the U.S. President. The film explores a critical moment when a technical malfunction sends American bombers toward the Soviet Union, raising the specter of a nuclear catastrophe. Walter Matthau co-stars as a government advisor, adding depth to the intense narrative that highlights the precariousness of nuclear diplomacy.
