A blisteringly tense and suspenseful look at a frighteningly plausible Cold War nuclear doomsday scenario - so frighteningly plausible, in fact, that the text disclaimer at the end disavowing the possibility of such an event (or series of events) almost comes off like a sick, Dr. Strangelovian joke.

Some of the movie's more self-consciously "artistic" touches would probably be mood-killers in a less skilled director's hands, but Sidney Lumet handles them with aplomb and restraint, and the result is as tense a movie you're likely to see. It's so grim that it makes the other 60s political thrillers like The Manchurian Candidate or 7 Days In May seem like warm-up acts, what with their stories that end with most of the world outside the movie continuing as normal.

One more thing: Henry Fonda in Fail-Safe may be the best screen president of all - anybody have any candidates that can match him?

Why had I never heard of this film before?! Oh, right, because of Dr. Strangelove.

Yeah, this is the better film. Absolutely horrifying.

Nails the fearful paranoia of the era. I love talky pictures done right, and Lumet, Matthau, Fonda et al make this a sweaty, grippingly intense and excitingly brave nail-biter of a thriller that few, if any, contemporary ones come close to matching. Very nice chiaroscuro.

Works as a companion piece to Dr. Strangelove, albeit the serious and terrifying version of that story. Wonderful performances by Henry Fonda and Larry Hagman especially, with their close-quartered interplay just adding to the mounting tension. Walter Matthau is also excellent as a somewhat cynical advisor who may or may not be acting in the country's best interest.

Seemed a little slow to start, but once it gets going, it is hard not to stop. I really enjoyed Walter Matthau's performance. The story is excellent, like a serious Dr. Strangelove. The dialogue is amazing and very insightful. It is a shame that Strangelove overshadowed Fail-Safe, because they are very different and both very well done.

When people talk about a 1964 cold war movie, they're usually referring to Dr. Strangelove. Meanwhile, this intense, nerve-wracking, cleverly written masterpiece has remained largely under-appreciated.

One way to create a powerful drama is to make it feel as real as possible to the audience, and Fail-Safe succeeds marvelously at it. The order of the day on this film shoot must have been 'stark realism'. This agenda manifests itself most effectively in the vivid dream sequence that opens the film, but also in the terse intertitles indicating time and place, in the very contrasty black-and-white cinematography, in the absence of any musical scoring, and in the solid, unfussy performances by the actors (Henry Fonda and Larry Hagman deserve special mention). Oh yeah, and it's really suspenseful. The devastating ending gave me shivers. Kudos to director Sidney Lumet, for his uncompromising and artistically daring vision.

Good cast and direction. Suspenseful and thought-provoking.

(Trylon microcinema) First time seeing this - what a cast. I love Walter Matthau as the war mongering academic!

Why had I never heard of this film before?! Oh, right, because of Dr. Strangelove.

Yeah, this is the better film. Absolutely horrifying.

Because I won't give a movie a 5 the first time I watch it, 4.5 will have to do.

This movie is so amazing, you must watch it!

Nails the fearful paranoia of the era. I love talky pictures done right, and Lumet, Matthau, Fonda et al make this a sweaty, grippingly intense and excitingly brave nail-biter of a thriller that few, if any, contemporary ones come close to matching. Very nice chiaroscuro.

A blisteringly tense and suspenseful look at a frighteningly plausible Cold War nuclear doomsday scenario - so frighteningly plausible, in fact, that the text disclaimer at the end disavowing the possibility of such an event (or series of events) almost comes off like a sick, Dr. Strangelovian joke.

Some of the movie's more self-consciously "artistic" touches would probably be mood-killers in a less skilled director's hands, but Sidney Lumet handles them with aplomb and restraint, and the result is as tense a movie you're likely to see. It's so grim that it makes the other 60s political thrillers like The Manchurian Candidate or 7 Days In May seem like warm-up acts, what with their stories that end with most of the world outside the movie continuing as normal.

One more thing: Henry Fonda in Fail-Safe may be the best screen president of all - anybody have any candidates that can match him?

Works as a companion piece to Dr. Strangelove, albeit the serious and terrifying version of that story. Wonderful performances by Henry Fonda and Larry Hagman especially, with their close-quartered interplay just adding to the mounting tension. Walter Matthau is also excellent as a somewhat cynical advisor who may or may not be acting in the country's best interest.

Hey, I remembered I had a Letterboxd account! See you in several months!