Fail Safe (1964)
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- Approved
- 1h 52min
- Drama, Thriller
- 07 Oct 1964 (USA)
- Movie
A technical malfunction sends American bombers to Moscow to deliver a nuclear attack. Can all-out war be averted?
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dan O'Herlihy | ... |
Gen. Black
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| Walter Matthau | ... |
Dr. Groeteschele
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| Frank Overton | ... |
Gen. Bogan
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| Edward Binns | ... |
Col. Grady
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| Fritz Weaver | ... |
Col. Cascio
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| Henry Fonda | ... |
The President
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| Larry Hagman | ... |
Buck
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| William Hansen | ... |
Secretary Swenson
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| Russell Hardie | ... |
Gen. Stark
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| Russell Collins | ... |
Knapp
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| Sorrell Booke | ... |
Congressman Raskob
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| Nancy Berg | ... |
Ilsa Wolfe
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| John Connell | ... |
Thomas
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Frank Simpson | ... |
Sullivan
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| Hildy Parks | ... |
Betty Black
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| Janet Ward | ... |
Mrs. Grady
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| Dom DeLuise | ... |
Sgt. Collins
(as Dom DeLouise)
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| Dana Elcar | ... |
Foster
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Stewart Germain | ... |
Mr. Cascio
(as Stuart Germain)
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| Louise Larabee | ... |
Mrs. Cascio
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Frieda Altman | ... |
Jennie
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Robert Gerringer | ... |
Pilot playing pool with Col. Grady (uncredited)
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Geri Miller | ... |
Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)
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Herman Rudin | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Charles Tyner | ... |
Jet Fighter Pilot (uncredited) (voice)
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| Will Wright | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sidney Lumet | ||
Written by
| 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 |
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) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marguerite James | ... | continuity |
| Eugene Burdick | ... | script consultant (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Lillian Michelson | ... | researcher (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1964) (United States) (theatrical) (as Columbia)
- Columbia C.E.I.A.D. (1965) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film-Verleih (1965) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films (1965) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1965) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Kamera (1965) (Norway) (theatrical)
- CBS (1966) (United States) (tv)
- Columbia Films S. A. (1967) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- International Promotion (IP) (1982) (Japan) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1983) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1983) (West Germany) (VHS)
- TF1 (1983) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1989) (Australia) (video)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv)
- Columbia Tristar Television Distribution (1996) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Collection (2020) (United States) (DVD)
- GoodTimes Home Video (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
- Storyboard Inc. (special and animated effects)
Other Companies
- F. Hillsberg (titles)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A series of human and computer errors sends a squadron of American 'Vindicator' bombers to nuke Moscow. The President, in order to convince the Soviets that this is a mistake, orders the Strategic Air Command to help the Soviets stop them.
Written by KC Hunt |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The screen zeros in on the most suspenseful adventure drama of our age! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The "computer-generated" image on the control-room screen (including the map of the world, the planes and the explosions) was entirely drawn and animated by hand. See more » |
| Goofs | The end credits list General Black's wife as Betty, but in the film he addresses her as Katie and in a radio conversation, the President asks Black, "Are Kathryn and the kids in New York?" See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies (1982). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | [FINAL CREDIT]: The producers of this film wish to stress that it is the stated position of the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force that a rigidly enforced system of safeguards and controls insure that occurrences such as those depicted in this story cannot happen See more » |
| Quotes |
US Ambassador:
[over the phone]
I can hear the sound of explosions from the north east. The sky is very bright. All lit up. [phone melts and high pitched whining sound starts] See more » |