Fail-Safe (DVD, 2000)

Before the movie Wargames came Fail Safe. It is a story of incredible tension and suspense. The cast of characters is fantastic, too many great actors to mention here. This film really will make you wonder about how safe we are from our own destruction.

great film great cast one of the best films made about tech going very wrong maybe walter m's best role every part of this film is great from the lighting and direction to every person in the cast. maybe the bestbfilm about the cold war 5 star and 2 big fat thumbs way up rod (1008food)

I love this movie because it takes the scheme put forth humorously by Stanely Kubrick in Dr. Strangelove and treats it with the gravity I feel it deserves. Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Larry Hagman are some of the cast starring in this film. I believe that the movie does a good job capturing the tension that underlied the Cold War and the gravity of trying to work with the USSR to stop a nuclear bomber headed for Moscow which was deployed by accident.

This is a starkly simple film. As the title suggests, it is concerned with possible results if nuclear systems fail. When an unidentified aircraft triggers an alert at Strategic Defense Headquarters, a series of consequences are automatically set in motion. So rigid are the security procedures that a scenario emerges where humans can no longer control the sophisticated machinery that they have created.

Whilst Sidney Lumet's version bears many similarities to the more esoteric "Dr Strangelove", the ultimate dilemma confronting the President (Henry Fonda) is totally original - as is the Presisdent's solution.

Above all, the film succeeds in capturing the enormity of the nuclear decision. Despite the most sophisticated systems, humans are ultimately called on make choices of monumental importance based on old-fashioned criteria such as diplomacy and trust. When the stakes are that high, the nature of those choices is beyond comprehension.

In a previous review, I condemned the George Clooney version of "FAIL-SAFE" as being a WATSE OF TALENT and RESOURCES in trying to remake a classic.

Now , see for yourself !!!!

This is a wonderful old classic. It has been remade with George Clooney in it but the original movie is the best!
Intensely suspenseful! It will keep you at the edge of your seat.