From "Red Alert" to "Dr. Stranelove"

Rating: 10/10 (19 February 2008)

I read the novel, "Red Alert, by Peter George, in the summer of 1963. Themes of nuclear Armageddon were quite popular, at least in my crowd, in those years.
The last thing that I ever expected from the book was a comedy, albeit "black", If played straight it would have been another "Fail-Safe".
In November of 1963 I was doing some routine comm maintenance at a Titan ll missile site in Kansas. Our comm team was getting ready to take our lunch break when the klaxon in the control center went off. Daily practice alerts were the norm so no one was alarmed until we tried to come up to the control center from the comm center (one floor below). The CO told us to get our asses below and stay out of the way. Thoughts of nuclear war and it's ramifications gripped us all. Our families in Wichita and no communications! About an hour later we were given the all clear. It was not until we got to our cars did we learn what happened that November day.
Sometime later I learned that "Red Alert" was to be made into a movie. Since the USAF offered no assistance production went to England. I think there were several re-writes on the screen play before a comedy came to the forefront. I wonder if "Fail-Safe", which was released in the same time frame, may have helped determine the direction the movie was to take?
"Alas, Babylon", a nice little novel about the "days after" was a good read and would have made a nice little movie. Little would have been required of special effects since it's impact was more on the order of "On The Beach"
I realize that this is not a typical review. However, previous reviews said about all that could be said. I tried to add a little personal touch.