Creme De La Kubrick

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2009)

Even some forty-five years after the release of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece of cold war paranoia, "Dr.Strangelove Or:How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb', it still to this day packs the same punch it packed in 1964. The screenplay (written by Kubrick,in collaboration with Terry Southern & Peter George)was adapted from the novel, 'Red Tide',that dealt with the possibility of an all out war with Russia. Kubrick, as usual takes many pot shots at the military (United States,as well as the British),as well as the ruling class that preside over the military (and even gets a few jabs at Russia,for good measure). A psychotic general,named General Jack D. Ripper,finally goes over the edge & calls for bombers flying over the Arctic Circle to drop a payload of atomic bombs on Russia. This triggers a catastrophic series of events. Kubrick has assembled a top notch cast to play out the various characters that pop up for the mayhem. The late, great Peter Sellers plays no less than three roles. Add the likes of George C. Scott,Sterling Hayden,Slim Pickens and even (a then unknown) James Earl Jones,as well as others,and you have yourself the basis for a sparkling cocktail of a political satire that will make you laugh,shudder,and finally think of our future. Originally released unrated in 1964,this film was eventually handed a GP rating in 1970, which was eventually changed to a PG rating for a rude word or two, some violent (but not graphic)content,some sexual humour & the potential disturbing consequences of nuclear war & it's aftermath.