Dr. Strangelove
Movie, 1964, The '60s, Set in The War Room
Dr. Strangelove is #7 of 13 in release order and #7 of 13 in chronological order in the Stanley Kubrick.
The story
After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop it.
Dr. Strangelove recap
Dr. Strangelove (1964) is a black comedy in which a deranged American general orders a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union and the government scrambles to stop it. Stanley Kubrick directs, loosely adapting Peter George's thriller Red Alert. General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), convinced fluoridation is a communist plot against his "precious bodily fluids", sends his B-52 wing to attack and seals Burpelson Air Force Base. His British exchange officer, Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers), tries to get the recall code from him. In the War Room, President Merkin Muffley (Sellers again) argues with General Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott) and calls the Soviet premier, while the Soviet ambassador reveals a Doomsday Machine that will destroy all life if their country is hit. Sellers also plays Dr. Strangelove, a wheelchair-bound former Nazi scientist. Aboard one B-52, Major T. J. "King" Kong (Slim Pickens) presses on with a damaged radio. Dr. Strangelove follows Lolita and precedes 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Dr. Strangelove ending explained
Dr. Strangelove ends with the world destroyed. Ripper shoots himself as troops storm the base, and Mandrake works out the recall code; every bomber turns back except Kong's. Kong climbs into the bomb bay to fix the jammed doors and rides the bomb down, whooping. In the War Room, Strangelove proposes surviving in mine shafts and suddenly rises from his wheelchair: "Mein Führer, I can walk!" Mushroom clouds bloom to Vera Lynn singing "We'll Meet Again". A custard pie fight in the War Room was shot and cut.
Post-credits scenes
No. Dr. Strangelove has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove is streaming on Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 98%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Lolita, before 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- Chronological order: after Lolita, before 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Cast
- Peter Sellers as Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
- George C. Scott as General 'Buck' Turgidson
- Sterling Hayden as Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper
- Keenan Wynn as Colonel Bat Guano
- Slim Pickens as Major "King" Kong
- Peter Bull as Botschafter De Sadesky
- James Earl Jones as Lt. Lothar Zogg
- Tracy Reed as Miss Scott
- Jack Creley as Mr. Staines
- Frank Berry as Lt. Dietrich
- Robert O'Neil as Adm. Randolph
- Glenn Beck as Lt. Kivel
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.