I remember both the novel and the film, but I caught a few minutes of the film again on TCM just the other day. This many years later and after 30 years as a career diplomat I have to give a shout out for Larry Hagman’s portrayal of the interpreter reflecting this important and often overlooked role at the highest level. Not only providing the Russian words rendered in English but also describing the additional conversation and details he can pick up over the open line. This is why I and many Russian speakers always made it clear that even as Russian speaking diplomats who might be able to translate we were not interpreters.
Not yet seen, ever, so looking forward to catching it.
Is it similar to The Bedford Incident in both style and theme, and, not as ridiculous as it may seem on the surface, Crimson Tide in theme alone? And I know there are no submarines in Fail-Safe (are there?), but the idea of the technology, and, of course, ideology, overriding human judgement is very strong in both those films. And, as all right thinking people must, absolutely love a submarine film, especially a Cold War sub film!
By the way, no pun intended by the use of the word ‘surface’, but I’ll claim it, inspired as it was by your fabulous deep, ahem, dives into the past!
This had passed me by, so many thanks for highlighting this. I saw it last night.
Visually, I loved it. It is a mix of European New Wave (the La Dolce Vita Washington dawn start, and La Jetée photo-image ending) plus lots of contemporary small-screen influences of claustrophobia; people squeezed into small rooms, even large rooms made small by spiky design, and lots of close-ups.
It proceeds in pseudo-real-time, as the tragedy unfolds with a sense of inevitability, brought about by the machinery of war and the Newtonian logic of the humans involved. If moral men with a sympathetic 'enemy' can come to this conclusion, there seems little hope for the world.
Perhaps we are lucky that most politicians don't have this kind of moral certainty and so act selfishly and illogically?
Visually, it reminds me of those Kennedy images in LIFE magazine. Don't you think? And good point about Le Jétee. I should have mentioned that. And right at the beginning, too. With the bullfight. Although I think that's in slow motion? But they've manipulated the print in some way- chemically, perhaps?
I just watched Dr Strangelove this week (TCM, here in the US had it) and appreciated it all over again. And coincidentally they just programmed Fail Safe, so it's on the recorder. I've seen this film many times, still gripping.
Thanks! Yes. People often assume that Strangelove is based on Fail-Safe (an obvious assumption to make) when, actually, they're based on two similar books- but with very different endings .Dr Strangelove is on the list- we'll do it later on this year.
A languid disregard for the nuclear threat 😆
Quite.
I remember both the novel and the film, but I caught a few minutes of the film again on TCM just the other day. This many years later and after 30 years as a career diplomat I have to give a shout out for Larry Hagman’s portrayal of the interpreter reflecting this important and often overlooked role at the highest level. Not only providing the Russian words rendered in English but also describing the additional conversation and details he can pick up over the open line. This is why I and many Russian speakers always made it clear that even as Russian speaking diplomats who might be able to translate we were not interpreters.
Yes. Larry Hagman's especially convincing.
Not yet seen, ever, so looking forward to catching it.
Is it similar to The Bedford Incident in both style and theme, and, not as ridiculous as it may seem on the surface, Crimson Tide in theme alone? And I know there are no submarines in Fail-Safe (are there?), but the idea of the technology, and, of course, ideology, overriding human judgement is very strong in both those films. And, as all right thinking people must, absolutely love a submarine film, especially a Cold War sub film!
By the way, no pun intended by the use of the word ‘surface’, but I’ll claim it, inspired as it was by your fabulous deep, ahem, dives into the past!
Great stuff, Luke!
No subs. It's all USAF. Terribly smart uniforms.
This had passed me by, so many thanks for highlighting this. I saw it last night.
Visually, I loved it. It is a mix of European New Wave (the La Dolce Vita Washington dawn start, and La Jetée photo-image ending) plus lots of contemporary small-screen influences of claustrophobia; people squeezed into small rooms, even large rooms made small by spiky design, and lots of close-ups.
It proceeds in pseudo-real-time, as the tragedy unfolds with a sense of inevitability, brought about by the machinery of war and the Newtonian logic of the humans involved. If moral men with a sympathetic 'enemy' can come to this conclusion, there seems little hope for the world.
Perhaps we are lucky that most politicians don't have this kind of moral certainty and so act selfishly and illogically?
Visually, it reminds me of those Kennedy images in LIFE magazine. Don't you think? And good point about Le Jétee. I should have mentioned that. And right at the beginning, too. With the bullfight. Although I think that's in slow motion? But they've manipulated the print in some way- chemically, perhaps?
Yes, it's so of its time. I've seen the opening referred to as a surrealist dream, so appropriate that it has a Bunuel quality.
I just watched Dr Strangelove this week (TCM, here in the US had it) and appreciated it all over again. And coincidentally they just programmed Fail Safe, so it's on the recorder. I've seen this film many times, still gripping.
Thanks! Yes. People often assume that Strangelove is based on Fail-Safe (an obvious assumption to make) when, actually, they're based on two similar books- but with very different endings .Dr Strangelove is on the list- we'll do it later on this year.
Can you believe it? I had forgotten the ending ....