Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1960) Review

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.”

   In 1964, Stanley Kubrick directed a little film titled Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. The film came out at the height of the Cold War and nuclear threat was possible with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Essentially Dr. Strangelove is a comedy making fun of this subject matter. Kubrick wanted to demonstrate all the madness that enclosed the nuclear threat and what madness does to political leaders. Every single one of these leaders have lost their common knowledge. Instead of trying to prevent the world’s destruction they see personal gain on bombing the Soviet Union and abandon the people who believe in them. There are hardly any films that take such a serious issue and turn it into a comedy. The scary thing about this film is that it could have actually happened.
    Sex is unquestionably present throughout Dr. Strangelove. The film immediately opens with what one could call aircraft intercourse. The plane is refueling with some romantic music in the background. It goes back and forth as if thrusting slowly yet passionately. It feels like you’re watching an educational film about sex. Then there’s General Ripper who provides the most sexual references in the film. Ripper says the soviets caused his sex life to be problematic. He states that the Communists want American’s “bodily fluids”. So does this mean that Russia is a “woman” and America a man? The viewer eventually wants to see the bomb to be dropped and when it is it’s quite “climatic”. Major Kong rides the bomb and when he does certain angles makes it look like he has an erection. He straddles the bomb till the ultimate orgasm.
Stanley Kubrick made the cold war feel like it was simply just sexual tension. 
     Dr. Strangelove was made when there was a fear, almost an obsession, with America competing with Russia in the arms and space races. It had a bit of realism to it, which is kind of scary when one ponders about it.  Dr. Strangelove has its many moments of humor and is quite enjoyable, but it does have its moments of beauty. Kubrick directed this film flawlessly like he did with all of his films. All the actors did a wonderful job, but the actor who shines the most is Peter Sellers. Kubrick made the best of Seller’s wonderful acting abilities. Sellers plays three different characters with diverse and unique accents in addition to characteristics. He plays the president, Captain Mandrake, and Strangelove.  Also fun fact this was the first feature film starring James Earl Jones (Darth Vader, James Greer, and Mufasa). All-and-all Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a fun entertaining film. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5