This powerful film, starring Henry Fonda as the President (he just looks like a President), Dan O'Herlihy as General Black, Walter Matthau in a dramatic role as a right wing political analyst, Larry Hagman as the Russian translator, Frank Overton as the caring superior officer and Fritz Weaver in an emotionally charged role round out this cold war drama, which was so powerful, it created political protests and became a prerequisite for high school civics classes. Based on a best selling novel, the film also found it hard t find a distributor until Columbia picked it up. Many thought it would never be released but Columbia waited until after Dr. Strangelove came out before it decided to finally release it.

The chief locations for this drama of high stakes is the White House bunker, the war room at the Pentagon, the chief defense strategy room in Omaha, Nebraska, and aboard a US jet bomber, that is based out of Alaska. It tells a "fictional" tale of what might happen if the wrong orders were sent to a military aircraft on routine patrol with orders to bomb Moscow. We follow the bombers flight as it penetrates into Russian airspace with its deadly payload and the US government's efforts to recall the bomber. As the scenario unfolds, we are witness to a glimpse of how the U.S. government might function in such a crisis, with all the human drama associated with the scenario. Henry Fonda as the President has never been more regal in his role (people would have voted for this man). Larry Hagman shows some pre-Genie acting talent as the translator who must not only translate for the President, but also communicate his impressions of what the Soviet leaders must be feeling, plus his own thoughts. Dan O'Herlihy is the loyal-to-the-President General Black, who admits early that he has doubts about the system and someday it will lead to disaster. Walter Matthau is superb as the political analyst who advises the President and his staff to strike while the iron is hot and take 40 million dead as the consequence of modern war-without batting an eyelash. Fritz Weaver and Frank Overton play off each other well as an emotionally disturbed officer with alcoholic parents and the sympathetic general who tries to help the situation as best he can. Dom Deluise has a small but memorable role as a sergeant based in Omaha, who must make a decision regarding the revealing of secret information to the Russians, in order to shoot down US planes. It is gripping drama and thank God we do not have the same situation in the world we had when this film was made, although we still have way too many bombs.

Picture-The black and white picture has been cleaned up and a new digital transfer from Columbia-Tristar Still, due to the use of stock footage in some scenes (the US Government would not cooperate in its filming or provide producers with real film of aircraft), at times the film looks very grainy in outside flight scenes. The takeoff of the bomber jets was actually a bootleg film of one aircraft, simply re-edited and replayed for the effect of the whole squadron taking off. Most of the studio scenes are in fine shape, as the digital transfer breathes new life into this film. Sound-Dolby digital does its job and makes the dialog, most important in this film, easy to understand. The phone conversations with Russian officials is also clear and distinct.

Columbia-Tristar pads the DVD with interviews of the director and Dan O'Herlihy in a "making of featurette", which gives great insight into the film's making and its difficulties with distributors in 1964. This featurette, entitled "Fail Safe Revisited", shows the remarkable impact this film had on the public. The DVD also includes talent files of Sidney Lumet, Walter Matthau, Henry Fonda, and Larry Hagman. Theatrical trailers round out the extras on the DVD.

This is the serious Dr. Strangelove and presents a nightmarish picture of what could happen. The performances are all up to the task and highlight some memorable roles for its stars. Columbia-Tristar has cleaned it up for this release and included some nice extras. An important film and a must for all collectors.