The movie was originally set to be released on 22 November 1963 — the exact day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Due to the tragedy, the release was delayed until January 1964
Episode #4
Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) • Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Published 27 May 2025
6.6/10
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About the Movie
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
1964Directed by Stanley Kubrick95 mins
ComedyWar
After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop it.
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Episode Notes
From the Episode
Get ready, film fans (and listeners in Reykjavik!), for the latest episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast with Martin, Luke, David, and Adam! This time, we're strapping in for a deep dive into Stanley Kubrick's wild 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Get ready for a chat that explores whether it's a "proper masterpiece" or just an "important film" that isn't the "greatest of entertainment pieces". The hosts dive deep into the film's core message: nuclear war is utterly ridiculous.
Prepare for tangents on the feasibility of a mad general triggering armageddon, the surprising truth (or lack thereof) about the war room and a deep dive into the mysterious operations of the British nuclear submarines, including the Prime Minister's secret letter.
You'll hear discussions ranging from fluoride in the water and conspiracy theories to the possibility that the entire film is "all about impotence". They marvel at Peter Sellers' incredible multiple performances and ponder whether a guy riding a nuclear bomb really lands the ending.
They also touch on Kubrick's legendary research, compare Strangelove to other war films and even action flicks, and debate whether the film's pace is "too slow".
Tune in for insights, laughs, accidental falls caught on film, Russian ambassadors corpsing, and find out what less "smutty" action movies featuring Van Damme they plan to watch next.
Join the four takes team for analysis, laughs, and perhaps a touch of existential dread!
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The article gives you the highlights. The podcast gives you the arguments, reactions and all the bits that did not make it onto the page.
Did You Know?
Movie Trivia
In the original cut, Slim Pickens' character (Major "King" Kong) said, "A guy could have a good night in Dallas for this." After Kennedy was shot in Dallas, the line was re-recorded to say "Vegas" instead
When George C. Scott (playing General Buck Turgidson) trips and falls while gesturing toward the big board, it was an genuine accident . Scott rolled with it and kept going, and Kubrick decided to keep the take in the finished film.
The famous sequence of nuclear mushroom clouds at the end of the film was time-synced footage of every single real nuclear test explosion that had occurred up to that point
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