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A great example of dark comedy by a master filmmaker makes its way to Blu-Ray.

Stanley Kubrick is a name that any film lover knows.  His films have become some of the most celebrated of all time, with works like Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange it’s easy to see why.  Early in his career his first big hit came out of character in the form of a comedy - Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.  In this film Kubrick managed to take a serious subject, global nuclear disaster, and turn it into a black comedy with some outstanding performances.

Air Force General Ripper (Sterling Hayden) goes a little mad thinking that the Soviets are going to pollute the American “precious bodily fluids” so he orders a B-52 bomber with a nuclear warhead to strike the USSR.  Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) realizes there was no attack on the U.S. and tries to get the General to call off the strike. And that is where the real trouble begins.  The dreaded “Plan R” Ripper put into effect cuts off the plane’s normal radio and you have to have a certain three-digit code in order to communicate with Major “King” Kong (Slim Pickens) and his men in the bomber. Of course, the General refuses to give the code.

Meanwhile President Merkin Muffley (also Peter Sellers) meets with all the heads of his staff in the War Room of the Pentagon to discuss the tragedy at hand.  General Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott) argues with the President when he finds out they have invited the Soviet Ambassador into the room for help in talking to the Soviet Premier about the situation.  This is when they find out about the Doomsday device, a system that will trigger upon the Soviets being attacked and will launch missiles to destroy all life on the planet.  The President calls upon Dr. Strangelove (again Peter Sellers), a strategy expert and ex-Nazi, to help them decide what to do.  Now they must find a way to get in touch with that bomber, or shoot it down before they follow through with their strike effectively killing the human race. 

This film is constantly making “best of” lists so it is hard to escape its grasp, but there are people who have for the last 45 years.  While this might not be a slapstick or a constant knee slapper, the dark humor succeeds in satirizing the serious subject matter of a possible global catastrophe.  Things were created in this film which do not exist, but people believed them - and still do!  The whole War Room is completely fictional from the huge circular table to the “big board.” However, this has become a staple of war films, TV shows and any kind of war parody.  Another iconic scene from the film, which has been parodied relentlessly, is the scene of the cowboy Major Kong riding the warhead like a bull as it drops on its destination. 

Aside from the great script (and its contributions to the world of film and pop culture) there are the amazing performances to consider.  George C. Scott takes his portrayal of the General to great levels of adolescence, especially when dealing with the President.  The excitable military man reacts like a child when scolded by his Commander in Chief.  While every performance in the film is top notch, you cannot think about Dr. Strangelove without thinking of the man behind the titular character.  Peter Sellers was nominated for an Academy Award for his three exceptional roles, and, in my opinion, was completely robbed.  Not only does he take on three different personas, but he brings them to life in such a way where it is hard to believe you’re watching the same guy. 

On this new 45th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-Ray there is plenty to be excited about.  The presentation is stellar and all the bonuses make it a great purchase.  First of all the disc is packaged in a Blu-Ray digi-book which comes with a book of thrity-plus full color pages, including stills and commentary on the film and its place in history.  There are some in depth featurettes that are full of great insights by critics, friends and those who worked on the film.  One feature covers how Dr. Strangelove fit with the real-life crisis going on at the time, another is all about the making-of the movie.  There is a focus on the work of Sellers and another on that of Kubrick, and interview with Robert McNamara (Secretary of Defense to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson) and an old set of interviews with Sellers and Scott.  Exclusive to this Blu-Ray edition is “The Cold War,” a pop-up trivia track with some picture-in-picture interviews about the real events of the time and how certain things in the film were close to the real thing.

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is much more than an insanely long title.  This is a look at a scary issue in a such a masterfully comedic way that anyone can enjoy Kubrick’s look into a nuclear threat.  Don’t think this is just for those who were alive for the Cold War or the Cuban Missile Crisis, anyone can find the satirical genius and merit of the film. 

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