Classic Cold War Flicks

For those who can get Turner Classic Movies, Saturday has two Cold War thrillers in an accidental nuclear war double-bill.

First up is Fail Safe, 1964 where U.S. President Henry Fonda tries to manage the crisis caused when a computer glich launches SAC bombers against Russia. Dr. Strangelove without the laughs.

Following up is 1965's The Bedford Incident with Captain Richard Widmark, USN playing a particularly nasty version of cat and mouse with a Soviet diesel boat in the high arctic. Also features Sidney Portier as a visiting journalist and veteran British actor Eric Portman as a former U-Boat commander and now a senior officer in the West German Navy on board as an advisor. (Portman also played a U-Boat captain in the 1941 propaganda movie 49th Parallel.)

So what other Cold War movies does everybody like?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Funeral in Berlin.

A more realistic film than most of it's contempories. Harry Palmer travels by bus! No sports car, a bus.

The Ipcress File is good too, but not as good as Funeral.

Also the book of By Dawn's Early Light - I thought it was great, and was geared up for watching the film scheduled to be shown on TV but then either Desert Shield or Desert Storm kicked off and it wasn't shown - I've still to watch it

[TLAM Strike]

Does The Hunt for Red October count as a classic?

[Gerald]

Nope!

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Does The Hunt for Red October count as a classic?

Originally Posted by Vendor

Nope!

classic means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality.

So if The Hunt for Red October is a perfect sub-based cold war movie with a quality that lasts then it is a classic. The time period, both setting and filming was within the cold war. It is a good movie, and it is - bar Das Boot, the best modern sub movie.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

and it is - bar Das Boot, the best modern sub movie.

I don't think Das Boot really qualifies as a modern sub movie. Unless you are a sailor for the North Korean People's Navy, then it could be considered a training film!

Unless by modern you mean filmed recently...

... modern... damn I wasn't even born when Das Boot came out...

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I don't think Das Boot really qualifies as a modern sub movie. Unless you are a sailor for the North Korean People's Navy, then it could be considered a training film!

Unless by modern you mean filmed recently...

... modern... damn I wasn't even born when Das Boot came out...

I did mean when it was filmed

Maybe I should've put it another way. Releases in '81 and '90 - modern(ish) to most people? Das Boot is the classic WWII sub movie. Red October is the classic Cold War sub movie. Up Periscope is the classic Comedy sub movie. Wait, wut? Okay, you catch my drift.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I... modern... damn I wasn't even born when Das Boot came out...

Both of my kids were. Which of us feels worse now?

[Hawk66]

Originally Posted by Randomizer

For those who can get Turner Classic Movies, Saturday has two Cold War thrillers in an accidental nuclear war double-bill.

First up is Fail Safe, 1964 where U.S. President Henry Fonda tries to manage the crisis caused when a computer glich launches SAC bombers against Russia. Dr. Strangelove without the laughs.

Following up is 1965's The Bedford Incident with Captain Richard Widmark, USN playing a particularly nasty version of cat and mouse with a Soviet diesel boat in the high arctic. Also features Sidney Portier as a visiting journalist and veteran British actor Eric Portman as a former U-Boat commander and now a senior officer in the West German Navy on board as an advisor. (Portman also played a U-Boat captain in the 1941 propaganda movie 49th Parallel.)

So what other Cold War movies does everybody like?

both are really very good cold war movies. I can recommend 'Torn Curtain' and 'Ice Station Zebra'.

[Bill Nichols]

Here are a couple:

"The Hunters"





"Strategic Air Command"




And, who can't help but love "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"?

[Sledgehammer427]

I still need to see Ice Station Zebra.

But Dr. Strangelove is one of my all time favorites.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Bill Nichols

Here are a couple:

"The Hunters"

One of the all-time great fighter-pilot movies. "Coo-coo, daddy-o!"

"Strategic Air Command"

Not the greatest, but one of my favorites. Little-known fact: As a former USAAF pilot, Jimmy Stewart had a lot of fun. In the scene where he is being checked out in the B-36 the rest of the crew get up and go for coffee, leaving Stewart alone in the cockpit. The fun part is that the B-36 was big enough for a camera to be placed in the cockpit. It was filmed in flight, and Stewart was actually flying the plane.

Brigadier General James Stewart also went along for a check ride in a B-52 over Vietnam.

And, who can't help but love "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"?

I can. I've never figured out why, but Dr. Strangelove has always put me off.

[Bill Nichols]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Dr. Strangelove has always put me off.

Steve, I'm beginning to worry about you...

[MM2(SS)]

The hunters, I think I've seen a scene or two of that movie. I always loved the lines of the sabre, so I definitely need to check this movie out!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Bill Nichols

Steve, I'm beginning to worry about you...

Welcome to the party.

Originally Posted by MM2(SS)

The hunters, I think I've seen a scene or two of that movie. I always loved the lines of the sabre, so I definitely need to check this movie out!

Be prepared to wade through a whole lot of schmaltz to get to the flying. It's worth it though, and no worse than Top Gun, which I hate, or Wings (1927), which I love.

@ Frau Kaleun: Since my opinion of A Clockwork Orange seems to exactly parallel yours I guess I'll have to give Dr Strangenlieben another chance.