We are studying the cold war in my history class. I thought that Dr. Strangelove would be an excellent choice to show my students the spirit of this age. I assume that anyone who reads this blog knows this move. It is a hilarious dark comedy and one that was very controversial when it was released.
Stanley Kubrick apparently became obsessed by the bomb, read about sixty book then chose a dramatic novel to turn into a comedy. The makers of Fail Safe were afraid that Dr. Strangelove would compete with it and so release their movies nearly 6 months later. I am amazed my the similarities between the two films.
Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove, that loveable Nazi, is of course my favorite character. Sellers was slated to play four roles instead of three, but a broken leg rendered him incapable of fitting into the cockpit of the simulated B-52. It reminds me of when the Russians first shot the Sputnik into space. I asked my dad how the Russians did it first. He said, "They got the smarter Germans." I thought that was a great reply and always remembered it.
I am reluctant to point out much of the sexual innuendo of the movie from the sexual intercourse of the B-52's to Sterling Hayden's "bodily fluids". The students really don't find the film very interesting or funny. To begin with the film is in black and white. It's a bit of turnoff to adolescents. My hope is that a few students actually appreciate the film.
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