Dr. Strangelove

Dr. Strangelove is the most serious movie we have watched this year so far. Its humor was highbrow and sometimes hard to catch.

As you probably know Peter Sellers plays three of the most important roles in this movie. He plays Captain Mandrake, President Muffley, and Dr. Strangelove. I think that these three characters show important sides of the human condition. One is the will to do right, even if it is against orders (Captain Mandrake). Another is being rather incompetent but having a good heart and trying do right even if it costs lives (President Muffley). Finally there is the inherent evil within all humans, which can or cannot be controlled (Dr. Strangelove, more specifically Dr. Strangelove’s right hand).

I thought that the combat gear given to the pilots was rather humorous. Giving each soldier $100 in gold and Rubles? That’s pretty extreme. As is giving each soldier three tubes of lipstick.

In one brief scene, this movie again deals with the issue of female gender roles.  The only female character in this movie, Miss Scott, is General Turgidson’s secretary. She also happens to be his mistress, which rather fits the era as we have seen in Rock Hunter. She is also only interested in one thing from General Turgidson, which she cant seem to get because he is in the war room with the president. In fact the rest of the movie deals with male gender roles of the time. The men fly the planes, run the government, and give the orders.  This is the norm of the time. Not trying to be offensive, but it really hasn’t changed too much since. Men still hold the majority of the power in the government as well as the military and men often fly planes in war zones. However women are having a larger presence in the commercial flying industry.

I think this movie also exposes some flaws in the United States military. Brigadier General Ripper calls for the bombing of Russia without the consent of those who rank higher than he is.  This shows a possibility, if only a slim one, that either it has happened or could happen. I know that it is not likely for a lower ranking officer to attack without orders, especially in modern times, but there is always a chance.

I thought that the doomsday device was rather ridiculous. One device that can effectively destroy the whole world? I don’t think its possible. There are however large amounts of nuclear weapons in the world, especially in Russia and the US.  It is possible to die from nuclear radiation from several weapons, but not just one device. Technology for that kind of global device is still years away.

I have seen this movie before, when I was younger. Then I didn’t really like it because it didn’t really fit into the genres of film I liked watching, But Watching it again years later it had a different effect. I liked the more serious feel and the topics it dealt with, which I had not noticed the first time I watched it. A great and classic movie well worth the watch.