Fail-Safe (1964)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Walter Bernstein (screenplay)
Eugene Burdick (from the novel by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 January 1965 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

The screen zeros in on the most suspenseful adventure drama of our age!

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?

Plot Keywords:

Bomber | General | Strategic Air Command | Colonel | Control

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Dan O'Herlihy	...	General Black
Walter Matthau	...	Groeteschele
Frank Overton	...	General Bogan
Edward Binns	...	Colonel Grady (as Ed Binns)
Fritz Weaver	...	Colonel Cascio
Henry Fonda	...	The President
Larry Hagman	...	Buck
William Hansen	...	Secretary Swenson
Russell Hardie	...	General Stark (as Russell Hardy)
Russell Collins	...	Knapp
Sorrell Booke	...	Congressman Raskob
Nancy Berg	...	Ilsa Wolfe
John Connell	...	Thomas
Frank Simpson	...	Sullivan
Hildy Parks	...	Betty Black
Janet Ward	...	Mrs. Grady
Dom DeLuise	...	Sgt. Collins
Dana Elcar	...	Foster
Stewart Germain	...	Mr. Cascio
Louise Larabee	...	Mrs. Cascio
Frieda Altman	...	Jennie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Geri Miller	...	Go-go Dancer (uncredited)
Charles Tyner	...	Jet Fighter Pilot (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Walter Bernstein		(screenplay)
Eugene Burdick		(from the novel by) &
Harvey Wheeler		(from the novel by)
Peter George		uncredited

Produced by
Charles H. Maguire	....	associate producer
Max E. Youngstein	....	producer

Cinematography by
Gerald Hirschfeld		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ralph Rosenblum		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Albert Brenner

Set Decoration by
J.C. Delaney		(as J.C. DeLaney)

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone		(costumes by)

Makeup Department
Harry Buchman	....	makeup
Bill Herman	....	makeup department head

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Falk	....	assistant director (as Harry Falk Jr.)

Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor
William Swift	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Fortune	....	chief electrician
Edward Knott	....	chief grip
Albert Taffet	....	camera operator (as Al Taffett)

Other crew
Marguerite James	....	continuity
Eugene Burdick	....	script consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (as Columbia)
• Columbia Films (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1965) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (video)

Special Effects

• Storyboard Inc. (special and animated effects)

Other Companies

• F. Hillsberg  titles (as F. Hillsberg, Inc.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:Approved | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Some reference works (eg Colonna Sonora) credit Hal Schaefer as composer of the music score. In fact, the Columbia record division did issue his five minute Fail Safe suite on a 7-inch disc in 1964 (Colpix Records CP 751) with the film promoted on the actual label: FAIL SAFE - A Columbia Pictures Release. Schaefer's music, performed by the Hal Schaefer Quintet, was a somewhat nervous and dissonant jazz work, fairly appropriate to the film's content. However, director Lumet decided to release the film with no background score, so Schaefer's music only exists on the promotional disc.

Goofs:

Continuity: The UFO is reported initially "near Hudson's Bay" and its course is given (both in dialogue and on text superimposed on the map display) as 196, heading for Detroit. But according to the map display itself, it initially appears near the Labrador coast, more than 500 miles from Hudson Bay; and while it is heading for Detroit, its course from there is to the southwest, about 225.

Quotes:

Defense Secretary Swenson:The President says he may have to order our fighters to shoot down Group Six. He wants our opinion.
Prof. Groeteschele:I oppose it, sir, on the grounds that it's premature. Our planes have not yet reached Soviet territory, they're still hundreds of miles away.
Brigadier General Warren A. Black:We've got to do it, and fast! Right now before it's too late!
Gen. Stark:It might be too late anyway. Those fighters swung away from the bombers when they got the all-clear signal, they've been flying in opposite directions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: Episode dated 13 September 1964" (1964)

Superior Cold War drama

I was thoroughly in suspense throughout this magnificent film. I almost felt as if I was watching World War III unfurl like the Gulf War did on CNN, it was that convincing. Fonda as the President and Matthau as the Professor, in truly memorable performances, are superb in their roles and indeed the entire cast is strongly competent. Besides the unforgettable ending, by way of the President's unthinkable concession, are the arguments and attitudes of the Professor and Colonel Cascio. At the time it must have been very tempting to many hawks in Cold War administrations to end the deadlock whenever a seemingly decisive opening presented itself. I strongly recommend this film for its believablity and realism and even the final credits! 10/10.