Failsafe

Title:Failsafe
Director:Sidney Lumet
Release Date:7 October 1964 (USA)
Plot: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?

Failsafe is the serious counter to Dr. Strangelove. Released in October of the same year, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick, director Sidney Lumet presents to us a serious and challenging question about atomic war.

I tried to write about the story and production but really the most fantastic part of this film is in the last 2 minutes. Lumet takes 10 quick scenes of New York people and animals to establish a perception of “New York” and to, hopefully, have the audience connect with one of them. After /something/ happens, I will not spoil it for those who have not seen this film, the 10 scenes are re-visited but this time with a quick zoom and a freeze-frame at the end, stopping the action from happening. Lumet ends on a childs face, fade to black and a crowd’s cheers are heard. After the rollercoaster that the audience has gone through, this is an eerie and frightening ending. This film leaves the audience shocked and with questions. These are scenarios that no one wants to have to go through and subsequently feel the emotions of having to go through them in this film.