Rating: 
Summary: Still Relevant in 2003
Review: Those who pass this film off as a relic of a bygone cold war period do not recognize the relevancy to today's military madness. There is of course the matter of nuclear missles currently held by Russia and their breakaway Republics which are have deteriorating security systems. But I don't want to get into tecnicalities here. What is most relevant is the argument made by the professor (Walter Matthau) who advises the military leaders. It is exactly what we are hearing today by our government..."We gotta get them before they get us!" He advises the military to not recall the errant bombers, but to let them destroy Russia because he believes the Communists want world domination and its either them or us who must ultimately perish in the conflict. He wants to take advantage of the situation as an unprovoked pre-emtive strike. Sound hauntingly familiar?
Rating: 
Summary: Propaganda
Review: This film is interesting only in the fact that it is an odd relic of anti-Cold War propaganda; a pacifist film touting a suicidal philosophy of disarmament. Its particularly ironic that the smugness of the film's creators is now quite laughable in the hindsight of history. Despite all the dire predictions this film makes, thirty years later the U.S. would ultimately win the Cold War against the Soviet Union... and without a nuclear shot being fired in anger.
Rating:
Summary: The Matador.
Review: In pursuit of a UFO, an American Fighter Group fails to respond to stand-down orders because of a computer malfunction in a c38 unit. It was just an off-course airliner. But the Wing Commanders' message said to nuke Moscow. Having drilled for such a scenario, and Cold War hostilities alust, he and his people go for it. Per plan, not even the President (weirdly played by Henry Fonda), can halt the march. The unforgettably sickening brokering of humanity between the Oval Office and The Kremlin is unforgettably sickening. It closes with a slide show. The Matador.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Drama!!
Review: Though I liked Dr. Strangelove more, this film is still a powerful, on the edge of your seat thriller. Henry Fonda gave an unforgetable performance as the president under fire. Walter Mathau was also gripping as the cold hearted professor. There are some well known actors that gave supporting roles such as Dom DeLouise & Larry Hagman. Sidney Lumet was on a role during that time and would go on to direct some great movies.
Rating:
Summary: Is it possible...
Review: "Fail-Safe" has often been described as "Dr Strangelove" without the laughs - even in the Amazon review above! - well, as much as I'm a huge fan of "Strangelove," I feel that this description does "Fail-Safe" a terrible disservice. In "Strangelove" Kubrick took the Cold Ward doctrine of MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction, and turned it into a megaton black farce, whereas "Fail-Safe" takes the same concept and presents it as frighteningly banal reality. And it's this very ordinariness that makes "Fail-Safe," in my humble opinion, the superior and far more chilling film. The basic set-up is simple; it's the early 1960's and the Cold War is pretty frosty. During the standard investigation of a UFO by the military, a possible incursion into US airspace by the Soviets, the nuclear bombers that are always in the air are sent towards their "Fail-Safe" points, about which they orbit while waiting to be sent to their targets if the UFO turns out to be a pre-emptive attack by the USSR. The alert turns out to be false, an off-course commercial airliner instead of the Red Hoards, and the various flights are recalled. But a technical error occurs, and one flight of 6 aircraft, armed with multiple 20 megaton nuclear weapons, passes beyond its "Fail-Safe" point and heads towards it's assigned target of Moscow. What happened?! Is this a deliberate act of aggression on behalf of the USA, or is it a "glitch" as they claim, or are they running a double bluff, disguising an act of war as a technical error, or has the situation been engineered by the Russians as a pretext for a devastating counter strike; what are the Americans and the Russians to do, can they possibly trust each other? These are the central questions of the film. The emotional core of the film is Henry Fonda as "The President;" the decent humanitarian personified. It's as if his character, "Juror No. 8/Mr Davis" from "12 Angry Men," has been made Commander In Chief. As he's desperately trying to convince the Soviet Premier that the nightmare of global destruction they're rushing toward is the result of a dreadful accident, he even uses the same line repeatedly that his character in "12 Angry Men" uses; "Is it possible?!" And these, by far, are the most riveting parts of the film, The President, locked away in his bunker beneath the White House with his interpreter, superbly played by a VERY young Larry Hagman, talking to the Soviet Premier on the Kremlin "Hot-Line." Knowing that the Russians are watching, the President sends US fighters after the bombers to shoot them down before they can reach Soviet airspace; the attempt fails as each of the fighters runs out of fuel and ditches in arctic waters, losing the crews. He then contacts the Premier and explains the situation, the accident, and discusses what can be done to stop a nuclear war if Moscow is bombed. And this scene, by far, is one of the most chilling ever filmed. The President, speaking through his interpreter, makes a desperate offer to the Soviets; a terrible sacrifice of blood will be made if even one of the bombers gets through and drops its payload on Moscow. I don't want to say anything else about this wonderful film and ruin it for you if you haven't already seen it, suffice to say, that this scene, almost 40 years on, still has the power to make your blood run cold. But as superb as Fonda's performance is, the film is not wholly dependent upon him. There is a wonderful ensemble cast headed by Dan O'Herlihy - "The Old Man" from RoboCop - Walter Matthau, Frank Overton, and, in his first staring role, Fritz Weaver. Of the supporting cast, Walter Matthau, as the right wing Hawk, Professor Groeteschele, desperately urging the President to take advantage of the screw-up and nuke the Soviets to dust anyway, thus ensuring the final victory of Capitalism over Communism, almost steals the show; a wonderful performance. And Fritz Weaver, in his first staring role, takes his part and runs with it, as an uptight Colonel, gradually coming undone as the countdown towards WWIII accelerates. This film, superbly acted by all concerned, even Dom DeLuise in a bit part as a weapons technician, and flawlessly directed by Sidney Lumet, is an almost forgotten masterpiece. Filmed in stark black and white, it has an almost documentary feel about it, and with the story set in just 4 main locations, there's a suffocating feeling of claustrophobia about the whole enterprise. This is, without a doubt, along with 1965's "The Bedford Incident" - WHEN are we going to get a DVD release?!?!?! - the greatest of the Cold War thrillers, and I recommend it without hesitation.
Rating: 
Summary: Unforgettable and powerful.
Review: This is a powerful movie about an accidental attack upon the old USSR by a wing of American strategic bombers. Both sides scramble to avert world war three, as the bombers streak towards their target. There are no memorable special effects here, but everything looks incredibly authentic. The effect of reality is nearly total. The movie is in black and white. This adds subtly to the sense of authenticity that the movie achieves. I don't know how it would have been in color. I personally did not like Henry Fonda as the President, but that may be a matter of personal preference. I find him annoying, particularly in this movie. But no matter--this is a taut thriller that moves smartly to its startling conclusion. One notable thing about this movie is its crisp story line. Almost every single scene is integral to the story. No long dreary interludes such as almost every European movie seems to have. Here, everything we see is there for a reason--the storyline literally races towards the unforgettable ending. This is one you don't want to miss. Buy it and own it.
Rating:
Summary: LOOOOOOOOOOONG, but the end makes up for it!
Review: Just like the book, this movie is SOOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOOOOONG in its storytelling. Unless you are REALLY into this type of movie (Pseudo-Soviet 1960's warfare) it is just not worth the watch. The end, though, is rewarding. It's as though the director gives you compensation for sitting through the movie by handing you an ending that is real, dramatic, timely (1962, pre-Kennedy Assassination New York), and most of all, satisfying. Just like the end of The Omen, the end leaves so much spectulation about the future (the flashing images gave me nightmares about New York's demise, just like Damien's apparent bonding with the President in The Omen!). You want to know what happens next, what the country does, how the American people react, but you are happy nonetheless that the end so elequantly is slammed to you. I recomend this one to all history fans, ESPECIALLY those with an affection for the Cuban Missle Crisis!
Rating:
Summary: "What do we do Mr. Chairman? What do we say to the dead!"
Review: Perhaps the darkest picture yet in American cinema 'Fail Safe' is nearly devoid of all typical dramatic gimmicks and hooks. Instead we are presented with a nail biting drama about a squadron of bombers that, through a technological glitch, are given the 'go' signal to bomb Moscow. The action shifts between the White House, the Pentagon, the Strategic Air Command, and the cockpit of the bomber itself. Henry Fonda turns in the most believeable performance as a President ever, and is simply referred to throughout the film as "The President". The cast is nearly without a weak spot and even smaller players such as Russell Collins as the engineer who built the equipment in use at SAC to William Hansen as the cool and deliberative Secretary of Defense make a very strong impression. Fritz Weaver turns in the performance of his career as the unsteady Col. Cascio and Russell Hardie is perfect as his tough, experienced superior, General Stark. Together they struggle with the questions of the crisis - is it possible to recall the bombers? Should we try to shoot them down before they reach the target? Should we use this as an opener to destroy the Soviet Union? Can we convince the Soviets this was an error? Even the opening and closing credits will burn into your memory. An unforgettable experience this film is a dozen black roses sent to the architects of the Cold War.
Rating:
Summary: No special effects -- just greatness
Review: In an age when many movies are digitized and Bruckheimer-ized to death, I can pop "Fail-Safe" into the DVD player and enjoy a time when a great story and superior acting carried a movie. "Fail-Safe" is a take on the age-old theme of men discovering, perhaps too late, that they are the victims of the very machines and systems they created. Henry Fonda is unforgettable and utterly believeable as a President who is trying to avert all-out nuclear war by convincing his Soviet counterpart that an American bombing run on Moscow is a mistake. Other reviewers rightfully laud performances by Dan O'Herlihy and Walter Matthau, but for my money Frank Overton's portrayal of SAC commander General Bogan, though often overlooked, is as strong as any I've seen.
Thank goodness this film was made in 1964 (in stark black-and-white) instead of today with our special-effects temptations.
Rating:
Summary: A reasonable rendition, slighly marred by filmography error
Review: Enjoyed the movie as much as when I first saw it in the 70s.
I only encountered two problems: 1) Original film quality
A digital restoration of the original film print is in order, I noticed a lot of graininess and flecks in the image. 2) Larry Hagman seems to be slightly confused with Gene Hackman in the filmography under 'special features'.
For example, Larry Hagman is credited with an appearance in the 1978 Superman movie. Lex Luthor was played by Gene Hackman. Gaffes like these should be checked before shipping. ...
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