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The Criterion Collection

Fail Safe (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Based on 319 reviews
Condition: New
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At a glance

Condition
New
Dimensions
0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 in; 3.53 oz
Genre
Drama
Format
Blu-ray
Language
English
Studio
The Criterion Collection
Aspect Ratio
Unknown

Description

This unnerving procedural thriller painstakingly details an all too plausible nightmare scenario in which a mechanical failure jams the United States military’s chain of command and sends the country hurtling toward nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Working from a contemporary best seller, screenwriter Walter Bernstein and director Sidney Lumet wrench harrowing suspense from the doomsday fears of the Cold War era, making the most of a modest budget and limited sets to create an atmosphere of clammy claustrophobia and astronomically high stakes. Starring Henry Fonda as a coolheaded U.S. president and Walter Matthau as a trigger happy political theorist, Fail Safe is a long underappreciated alarm bell of a film, sounding an urgent warning about the deadly logic of mutually assured destruction. BLU RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES • New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack • Audio commentary from 2000 featuring director Sidney Lumet • New interview with film critic J. Hoberman on 1960s nuclear paranoia and Cold War films • “Fail Safe” Revisited, a short documentary from 2000 including interviews with Lumet, screenwriter Walter Bernstein, and actor Dan O’Herlihy • PLUS: An essay by critic Bilge Ebiri

Specs 12

Genre Drama
Format Blu-ray
Contributor Dan O'Herlihy, Frank Overton, Henry Fonda, Sidney Lumet, Walter Matthau
Language English
Studio The Criterion Collection
Aspect Ratio Unknown
MPAA rating NR (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.53 ounces

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Top Amazon Reviews

A riveting and very smart edge-of-the-seat thriller!
This excellent cold war drama based on the novel of the same name is the flip side of Dr Strangelove. Strangelove played the story for laughs, Fail Safe is the dramatic version of what is, essentially, the same story (but, leading to a different conclusion). Amazingly, two novels with nearly identical plots were published at virtually the same time. Stanley Kubrick adapted "Red Alert" and chose to turn it into a comedy (Dr. Strangelove) while Sidney Lumet adapted "Fail Safe" and left it as a drama--and a very terrifying one at that! Due to a mechanical failure, a squadron of bombers carrying nuclear weapons is accidentally dispatched to destroy Moscow--which will trigger World War Three if their bombs are dropped and detonated. Once past their fail safe points, the pilots of these planes have been trained not to listen to pleas to turn back under any circumstances whatsoever (they know that even the president's own voice can be faked by the enemy). Never the less, the American military must try to get them to listen--the survival of the entire world depends on it. The president (played superbly by Henry Fonda) must also attempt to convince his Russian counterpart that this is all a mistake and not a purposely intended attack. A very young Larry Hagman as the president's interpreter, who's subtle facial expressions and body language must let the president know what the deeper meanings behind the Russian leader's words are, hands in a memorable performance as his character hopes to help the American and Russian leaders somehow learn to trust one another before they see their world and billions of innocent lives come to a horrific end. In order to stop nuclear war, American military personnel will be tasked with the soul wrenching job of helping the Russians to shoot down their own planes before they reach their target--which doesn't sit well with many of the American military personnel, you can be sure. Excellent acting, an intelligent script and great directing by Sidney Lumet (one of the smartest directors of all time) make this a truly riveting film that will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the very end. Not to be missed! A classic! Criterion's Blu-ray release is the highest quality version yet available of this intensely suspenseful film. Picture and sound on this version are the best I've ever encountered--a notable step up from the DVD. This is a great disc version of a rivetingly suspenseful film. Criterion has done an excellent job of releasing an unforgettable classic movie on bluray once again. Highly recommended! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020 by Robert Schaffer
Great as usual
Can't go wrong with Criterion! And Amazon sells the genuine article at great value!
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2026 by Dizzyd
A forgotten classic
Underrated masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2026 by Mugglez
A disturbing and gripping film remastered for Blu Ray
As usual Criterion has done a magnificent job restoring this film. If you’re not familiar with the movie, it is kind of a companion piece to Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece. Where Kubrick took a satirist view of a nuclear mishap, Sidney Lumet takes a more somber approach. Actually, the two films would make for a great double feature, as long as you watch Fail Safe first of course. Fail Safe was rather overlooked when it was released because of it being so close to the release of Kubrick’s masterpiece, and because it is far more frightening. Especially for American audiences as the end results are much closer to home. For those who are fans of this film then you will not be disappointed with the quality. Compared with the original DVD, the difference is night and day. Another home run for the Criterion Collection. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020 by swansong
The other Strangelove
Great acting by a premiere cast. Storline is in the same vein as Dr Strangelove, though this is a pure drama. Released the same year after Strangelove, due to a copyright lawsuit, this film was a day late and dollar short. Fail Safe is a fantastic movie in its own right, but will never emerge from the shadow cast by Dr. Strangelove. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024 by MAC
Blu Ray Purchase Review
The price was fair, item as advertised, and delivery was quick.
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2025 by Don Shannon
Suspenseful
You already know what a fine film this is, so the only thing left is a few words on picture quality. The Criterion is a strong signal from optimum material but with a shade less contrast than the Australian version. Don't read too much into that because this movie will never look better. Why Criterion believed is was necessary to talk about black bars across the top and bottom of an 1:85 image on a modern set when they don't exist in the first place is rather strange in this day and age. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2020 by killer b
Fail Safe Is Fool Proof On Blu-Ray
Criterion Collection released this classic, sober-minded, brilliantly realized 1964 doomsday/nuclear war drama from Columbia Pictures directed by Sidney Lumet, who provided an audio commentary that is ported over from the 2000 DVD along with the featurette, and this also includes a new one with film critic J. Hoberman. A first rate HD upgrade starring Henry Fonda as the American President forced into a no-win situation when a horribly tragic incident occurs that will certainly lead into either a limited nuclear strike on both Moscow and New York, or a full-blown World War III... Also starring Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Dan O' Herlihy, Edward Binns, Frank Overton, and Larry Hagman. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021 by Quiet Knight
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