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Fail-Safe
Fail-Safe
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Fail-Safe

Fail-Safe

1964
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 52m
American planes are sent to deliver a nuclear attack on Moscow, but it's a mistake due to an electrical malfunction. Can all-out war be averted? (imdb)

Directed by:

Sidney Lumet

Screenwriter:

Eugene Burdick, Harvey Wheeler, Walter Bernstein

Starring:

Dom DeLuise, Walter Matthau, Larry Hagman, Fritz Weaver, Henry Fonda, Dan O'Herlihy, Edward Binns, Charles Tyner, Frank Overton, Sorrell Booke, Russell Hardie, John Connell

Franchise:

Fail-Safe

Genres:

Drama, Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller, War

AKA:

Fail Safe

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Fail-Safe

1964
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 52m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 73.95% from 924 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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spleenspleen
Rated 01 Apr 2011
86
86th
Slow to build up but halfway through you can't walk away. One of the most unsettling endings ever. Probably could have benefited from a few dance routines and maybe a breakout musical number from Walter Matthau.
Rated 01 Apr 2011
shalevshalev
Rated 08 Aug 2019
84
77th
I never knew that Dr. Strangelove had a serious version that came out in the same year! While I prefer Kubrick's black comic approach, this one certainly works well too.
Rated 08 Aug 2019
nobletNoblet
Rated 09 Jun 2016
90
94th
Shut the fuck up about Strangelove already, this is a stone-cold classic thriller. Lumet directed the shit out of this.
Rated 09 Jun 2016
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 13 Mar 2020
3
45th
Of course it's silly to pretend this film exists in a vacuum. It will forever be examined in the shadow of Strangelove, but as similar as they are, there are key differences. Obviously this is a more solemn affair, but where Kubrick's absurdist take skewers corruption and incompetence, Lumet's film is primarily a paranoid technophobia thriller. In many ways it also warrants comparison to Frankenheimer's films from the same period, but in truth I think I prefer Fail Safe least of them all.
Rated 13 Mar 2020
thereeldealthereeldeal
Rated 30 Jun 2015
70
50th
To start with the conclusion everyone wants: it's better than Dr. Strangelove. Though lacking in pop culture icons and Kubrick's immense style, Fail-Safe tackles a subject that needed to be taken seriously and still does today. The first half hour has some sanctimoniously hammy dialogue but the tension continues to one-up itself to a deservedly memorable conclusion that delivers its important message with more honesty than its brother film. Turns out humor isn't needed in the inherently insane.
Rated 30 Jun 2015
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 31 Dec 2012
90
97th
Dr. Strangelove with all the black humor taken out, leaving a much more human and gripping story. The cast is amazing (Fonda in particular) and the ending is fantastic. Bleak, smart, and constantly engaging.
Rated 31 Dec 2012
sirrobbieSirRobbie
Rated 12 May 2012
90
96th
At the end of the film I just couldn't lift my jaw. I'm seeing a doctor about it and I hope I will recover soon. Cheers.
Rated 12 May 2012
kasperlKasperL
Rated 05 Sep 2011
90
97th
Nails the fearful paranoia of the era. I love talky pictures done right, and Lumet, Matthau, Fonda et al make this a sweaty, grippingly intense and excitingly brave nail-biter of a thriller that few, if any, contemporary ones come close to matching. Very nice chiaroscuro.
Rated 05 Sep 2011
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 08 Nov 2020
74
42nd
This is a good film but it is rightfully overshadowed by the superior Dr. Strangelove that came out the same year. This movie has a good ensemble cast. the script has both good and boring moments. Overall I would recommend this movie.
Rated 08 Nov 2020
offlineozofflineoz
Rated 08 May 2019
90
91st
Wow, I don't know what I should be praising first. Directing, acting, writing, every aspect is incredible. As a politics student, the Cold War was my favorite period to study and this film perfectly captures the feeling of fear and paranoia of the era. The fact that this could have doubled as a documentary make this a more terrifying watch than any horror movie I've seen.
Rated 08 May 2019
larmorlarmor
Rated 02 Apr 2018
65
59th
It pales next to Dr Strangelove, but it has some nice cinematographic qualities, in particular the scenes with the president and his translator. There is a lot of US propaganda in the movie: despite what the potus says, it's really Russia who is at fault for initially jamming the communications and then being unable to stop the bombers. It's the machines' fault, not Americans', who are all presented as rational agents except for Cascio and Groeteschele, the two characters with foreign names.
Rated 02 Apr 2018
nuotionuotio
Rated 20 Jan 2015
72
93rd
Very gripping and intense film which holds it's own against Dr. Strangelove. Director Lumet creates a haunting atmosphere of claustrophobia. This almost sympathetic portrait of Russians must have been very risky in 60's. Some tech stuff feels unbelievable, but in many ways this story might be closer to reality now that ever. Good cast: Fonda as the president, Matthau as a warmonger and very young Larry Hagman as the interpreter. Should definitely be better known.
Rated 20 Jan 2015
carpetgiantCarpetgiant
Rated 20 Aug 2014
90
86th
I guess if I had a dream where I was a bull fighting a matador, I'd be seeing red too. I just didn't expect it to be communism.
Rated 20 Aug 2014
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 14 Sep 2012
81
57th
I need a hug.
Rated 14 Sep 2012
martrynmartryn
Rated 27 Feb 2010
89
92nd
A bit dated now, which makes for some slightly humorous moments that really have no place in this film, the last third of the movie will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the ending is thought-provoking and oft imitated. This film is Dr. Strangelove without the laughs.
Rated 27 Feb 2010
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 09 Jul 2009
85
89th
A fantastic finger wag at the goings on of the cold war, but still retains some of the bad aspects of cold war mentality (communism being the arch-enemy of the united states). Does a fantastic job tugging at the heart strings, and leaves you pretty adamantly rooted in the point of view it persuades towards. Acted fairly well, but Matthau doesn't quite fit at times.
Rated 09 Jul 2009
joojooJooJoo
Rated 02 Jul 2009
7
99th
Insanity. Dr. Strangelove without the funny bone, but no less the wiser.
Rated 02 Jul 2009
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 28 Apr 2007
98
99th
Again Lumet reaches perfection with this gritty, unnerving and thought-provoking thriller from a hyper-intelligent, immaculately written script. The acting too is a thing of wonder, especially Fonda's charismatic President of the USA and Walter Matthau's brilliant character of a straight-faced lunatic version of Herman Kahn. I immediately loved this but had to watch it a second time to fully appreciate it. Kicks Dr. Strangelove's butt.
Rated 28 Apr 2007
stainStain
Rated 26 Mar 2007
60
47th
Dr. Strangelove done with a straight face. Besides, the world's far less likely to blow up these days...
Rated 26 Mar 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 21 Feb 2007
55
49th
Good film.
Rated 21 Feb 2007
jehmkajehmka
Rated 07 Nov 2024
81
0th
Bookended with adrenaline packed sequences which step out beyond the narrative and set the tone in an abstract way. The characters often feel exaggerated, but the film is not about anybody or personalities, it is simply pointing out the inherent flaw (the inevitability of human error) in keeping nuclear weapons, even with levelheaded leaders calling the shots.
Rated 07 Nov 2024
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 04 Feb 2023
82
53rd
better than Strangelove, although this is not taking the same satirical approach. Still better
Rated 04 Feb 2023
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 16 Nov 2022
6
86th
it's lumet, so it could be a play without losing much and i'm resistant to its more insistently written/performed moments. it got to me though... not the cold war paranoia so much as the desperate dependence on/alienation from our impenetrably complex technologies and protocols, and the queasy understanding that this harrowingly grim film is still naively, hilariously optimistic about the maturity and cooperation of world leaders in a crisis--this is the HAPPY ending, not the one we'd get now.
Rated 16 Nov 2022
moviecinemaMovieCinema
Rated 10 Oct 2022
92
98th
Absolutely fantastic script paired with an incredibly cinematography, gosh that political science guy made my blood boil, terrific acting from him, he plays a good lunatic
Rated 10 Oct 2022
rihreyrihrey
Rated 10 Oct 2022
75
97th
Impeccable script and cinematography.
Rated 10 Oct 2022
overratedoverrated
Rated 02 Jun 2022
72
81st
The beginning and the end are extremely good, but so much of it feels stagey and of course you're thinking about how much better the Strangelove war room looked.
Rated 02 Jun 2022
thatyoungmthatyoungm
Rated 27 May 2022
90
87th
This came out the same year as Dr. Strangelove, but was overshadowed as it plays a more serious and understated version of the speculation of nuclear war. The way the film, similar to Dr. Strangelove, takes place on minimalistic sets and in extreme close ups, only adds to the tension and the acting here is top notch. I like how the nuclear war is only seen through sound cues and implied visuals and the film focuses on the men behind the curtain who are deciding the fate of literally millions.
Rated 27 May 2022
carlosproCarlospro
Rated 10 Jan 2022
85
92nd
belo final. engraçado que vi 1 semana antes de don't look up
Rated 10 Jan 2022
mysticMystic
Rated 08 Jan 2022
1
6th
Put me to sleep in a few minutes when I first watched it. Haven't visited it back since then. Will not.
Rated 08 Jan 2022
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 29 May 2020
80
79th
Fail Safe is a "boil the frog" movie: there are a few boring parts in the beginning, but by the time you recognize that the tension has escalated, it's too late to do much about it. There are inaccuracies, and looking at the sets would make you think this is a cheapo imitation of Strangelove, but the characters are strong and their decisions impactful.
Rated 29 May 2020
mike365365mike365365
Rated 15 Dec 2019
82
95th
A great movie despite being a bit preachy. I prefer this to Dr. Strangelove.
Rated 15 Dec 2019
napolenbradynapolenbrady
Rated 09 Mar 2019
88
58th
87.50
Rated 09 Mar 2019
sourheartsourheart
Rated 17 Jun 2018
3
36th
Stronger than Dr Strangelove
Rated 17 Jun 2018
neonmanNeonman
Rated 30 Sep 2017
86
84th
Superb film that intensively portrays the procedures following a mistake on a nuclear level, looking at it all from basically the one setting (US war-room), but from numerous aspects from within it. Very tense, all the while never leaving these confines to show the more dramatic moments that are alluded to off-screen, making it all the more terrifying -- some of the sound effects towards the end certainly add to this feeling.
Rated 30 Sep 2017
yiannosYiannos
Rated 27 Jul 2017
68
66th
It's virtually impossible to appreciate F.S now if you liked Dr.Strangelove or didn't see it at its time of release. Its suspense largely depends on historical proximity to the events at hand, when the threat of nuclear destruction was imminent and keenly felt. F.S does an admirable job of recreating the paranoia and fear that resulted from new technologies that produced uncertain terms of engagement, but it lapses into melodrama and there are a few unintentional laughs courtesy of Matthau.
Rated 27 Jul 2017
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 14 Mar 2017
90
95th
lumet her şeyden önce oyunculardan hayli etkileyici bir performans almayı başarıyor. konu hak ettiği ciddiyetle ele alınıyor ve başkanlar arası son diyalog hariç filmde konu anlamında falsolu tarafgirlik yapan bir şey neredeyse yok. böylesi bir hikayeyi şatafata gerek bırakmadan ve bu derece sürükleyici anlatabilmek çok büyük bir ustalık. ses kullanımı etkileyici olsa da daha iyi olabilirmiş. final sekansı şaşırtıcı derecede etkili.
Rated 14 Mar 2017
kaan_kavusanKaan Kavusan
Rated 28 Sep 2016
95
99th
60'lı yıllarda çekilmiş bir ABD filmi için beklenmeyecek radikallikte
Rated 28 Sep 2016
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 24 May 2016
82
85th
Surprised I had never heard of this film before in lists of classics. It's quite something. I particularly like the way that different audio effects and visuals add to the tension in what is essentially a talky thriller. The scene with the telephone call to Moscow is riveting. Good acting and script, although the characters themselves don't really jump off the screen. Impressive work by Lumet.
Rated 24 May 2016
djrossdjross
Rated 22 Feb 2015
65
71st
Cinematically, 1964 was certainly the year of what Derrida called the "absolute pharmakon", and this more directly than STRANGELOVE raises the questions of the effects of automation and speed on the likelihood of nuclear apocalypse. Hampered by some technical implausibilities and a few off-key melodramatic moments, this is still quite an effective little chamber drama about the small matter of the ongoing possibility of destroying the whole world in a single day. Yeah but what are the odds?
Rated 22 Feb 2015
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 19 Nov 2014
6
83rd
i am amazed how similar to dr strangelove this is. more traditional but terrifyingly suspenseful. i still prefer that one, because its ridicule makes for a more radical directorial vision, but this one is lovely too.
Rated 19 Nov 2014
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 05 Oct 2014
80
69th
Kubrick was right, as usual; this story works better as a black comedy. Though Lumet's direction is typically excellent, the po-faced self-seriousness, particularly in the third act, works against the film's own intentions and makes it hard to take it seriously anyway, especially with Walter Matthau wandering around making an ass of himself. Obviously I liked it, especially in the beautiful, textbook setup, but it does in the end just re-emphasise for me how much of a genius Stanley Kubrick was.
Rated 05 Oct 2014
twisptwisp
Rated 31 Oct 2013
81
79th
The disclaimer at the end makes it a bigger parody than Dr. Strangelove. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Rated 31 Oct 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 21 Oct 2013
86
87th
85.500
Rated 21 Oct 2013
bofbof
Rated 22 Sep 2013
72
64th
It's hard to see it without seeing the superior Dr Strangelove at every turn, but it wins you over - the sheer grim determination of the movie, much like the characters, plowing straight ahead to a harrowing end.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 06 Dec 2012
82
70th
Sidney Lumet specializes in directing dialogue-driven thrillers, and this film is a prime example. Just like in 12 Angry Men, the "action" takes place in the discussions, arguments, and altercations between men in secluded, closed rooms. This film has some of the most thrilling scenes of its era, helped by great performances (Fonda and Matthau especially, among others), an engaging script, and a bit of inspired editing. It does falter a bit due to being less tightly plotted than one would like.
Rated 06 Dec 2012
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
Rated 01 Oct 2012
80
59th
Thought-provoking at the time it was made. The last 30 minutes of the film are intense where you are trying to convince yourself in human ability to survive under any conditions. Very good but Dr. Strangelove is more weirdly appealing to me as scenario of the global annihilation.
Rated 01 Oct 2012
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 10 Apr 2012
84
77th
The dark comedy feels just a bit off, though maybe the awkwardness is inherent in the subject matter. Otherwise it's a solid film raised up a notch by a wonderful script and very good performances, at least from the leads.
Rated 10 Apr 2012
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 20 Mar 2011
88
80th
Chilling doomsday scenario. Fonda is wonderful as U.S. President who must deal with pressure from all sides as he negotiates a potential 'mistake' war with Russia. Matthau seems oddly miscast as reactionary government man, but remainder of cast are all fine, including a young Hagman as translator. Lumet's crisp, cut-to-the bone direction is a major asset here, and film quietly ratchets up the suspense in the later stages. A product of its era, but excellent if taken in that context.
Rated 20 Mar 2011
dmcrimsonDMCrimson
Rated 31 Oct 2010
83
82nd
Minor spoilers: The ending is one of the best ever.
Rated 31 Oct 2010
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 03 Feb 2010
83
56th
Effective paranoid Hollywood thriller.
Rated 03 Feb 2010
jhmclellanjhmclellan
Rated 09 Aug 2009
75
51st
I really liked this as a kid. Read the book because of it.
Rated 09 Aug 2009
laathlaath
Rated 03 May 2009
90
58th
One of the most chilling endings I have ever seen.
Rated 03 May 2009
crb9000CRB9000
Rated 26 Oct 2008
80
89th
Taut, edge of the seat suspense.
Rated 26 Oct 2008
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 13 Jul 2008
70
61st
Okay, but released around the same time as dr strangelove, and that was pretty much the end of it. Pity really, it isn't actually that bad
Rated 13 Jul 2008
aarona1caarona1c
Rated 06 Jul 2008
67
59th
Pretty decent Nuke-war scary yarn.
Rated 06 Jul 2008
ryanheaneyryan.heaney
Rated 22 Jun 2008
87
63rd
Too bad this was laughed at because of Dr. Strangelove...
Rated 22 Jun 2008
darkmandarkman
Rated 27 Mar 2008
80
81st
Well made movie about the threat of nuclear war when everything is automated and the presidents are reduced to bystanders.
Rated 27 Mar 2008
tonydaltonydal
Rated 25 Sep 2007
70
41st
Larry Hagman is great.
Rated 25 Sep 2007
gleebgleeb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
37th
Makes a good double-feature with Dr Strangelove. Watch for Matthau as a proto-Kissinger presidential adviser from academe. Edited: Another review has noted that the model for Matthau's character is Herman Kahn. That makes sense. He still reminds me of Kissinger, though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
dtiDTI
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
79th
A great "on the brink of nuclear war film," so if you're into that check it out straight away. However, do yourself a favour and don't read the back of the box unless you already know how it ends.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
djfntstquedjfntstque
Rated 14 Aug 2007
74
55th
Bleak take on the US-USSR nuclear pissing contest. Lacks the touch of greatness, but well worth your time.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 11 Jul 2007
5
96th
A darker, less humorous Dr. Strangelove. That god-damned dream sequence (with the bull fighting) still sends shivers down my spine. Great, great film.
Rated 11 Jul 2007

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