Kubrick originally wanted to make this a serious drama. During the screenwriting process he was confronted again and again with situations that were completely truthful and serious, yet he was afraid and audience would laugh at how absurd it is. Such as general Turgeson referring to general Ripper's sending an entire bomb wing to obliterate Russia as "Overextending his authority". He eventually figured out that the only way to write it would be as a comedy.
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General Jack D. Ripper: When they tortured you did you talk?
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Ah, oh, no... well, I don't think they wanted me to talk really. I don't think they wanted me to say anything. It was just their way of having a bit of fun, the swines. Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras.
Mistakes
When Mandrake and Ripper are in the latter's office and he is firing out of the window, Mandrake holds a chair in front of him for protection. In the next shot from behind them, the chair is nowhere near him. See more...
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Dr. Strangelove (1964) - 8 trivia entries
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring George C. Scott, James Earl Jones, Peter Sellers (add more)
Genres: Comedy
Kubrick originally wanted to make this a serious drama. During the screenwriting process he was confronted again and again with situations that were completely truthful and serious, yet he was afraid and audience would laugh at how absurd it is. Such as general Turgeson referring to general Ripper's sending an entire bomb wing to obliterate Russia as "Overextending his authority". He eventually figured out that the only way to write it would be as a comedy.
"Dr. Strangelove's" release in the United States was delayed due to the assassination of President Kennedy. The movie reflects this in an unusual and nearly undetectable dub job. After going over the contents of the survival kits on board the B-52, Major Kong is heard to say "A fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff." "Vegas" was dubbed in for "Dallas", which Major Kong actually says, after the assassination.
The airport in the aerial photograph of "Burpleson Air Force Base" is none other than Heathrow.
The interior of the B-52 bomber was apparently so accurate that the defense department demanded to know where Kubrick got that information. He apparently had seen photos of it from a British magazine.
Peter Sellers was suppose to also play the role of Major Kong. Depending on what story you read because Mr. Sellers either A) could not master a Texan accent or B) broke his leg, Stanley Kubrick brought in Slim Pickens to play the role of Major Kong.
The centerfold model in the playboy magazine that Major Kong is reading is General Turgidson's "secretary", Miss Scott.
The ending was originally going to show a pie fight the War Room. Hence you see a long table that contains numerous pies. The scene was filmed but then cut from the final print. Stanley Kubrick decided not to let the black comedy devolve into a slapstick ending.
The shot where General Turgidson slips, falls, rolls and gets back onto his feet was unplanned. George C. Scott was so seamless in keeping in dialog that Kubrick decided to keep the shot as is.
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