Dr. Strangelove ,Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Every year I show this “documentary” to my film class, The students are always amazed, and they get it.

Synopsis - Set at the height of Cold War tensions, the story features a demented U.S. general who, frustrated by his sexual impotence, plans to launch a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, an eclectic group of political officials desperately try to avoid Armageddon. Peter Sellers played three roles in the film, including that of Dr. Strangelove, a weapons expert and barely reformed Nazi, and George C. Scott portrayed a hawkish general. The film was originally envisioned as a dramatic look at the Cold War (it is loosely based on the novel Red Alert by Peter George), but Kubrick felt it would be more effective as satire.

The film was released in 1964 and every year the film becomes more relevant and less of a satire.

All of the students roll their eyes when I tell them that we’re watching a film in black and white. I can feel the room and I’m sure they’re thinking, “Not one of those weird art films again…”

Once we start watching the film the whole mood of the room changes.

Think about Pete Hegseth ordering mandatory testing for testosterone in soldiers. It’s a fine line between Brigadier General Jack D. Riper and Pete Hegseth.

I was not ready for what happened in 2018 when I showed this film.

On the morning of January 13, 2018, an alert was accidentally issued via the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert Systemover television, radio, and cellular networks in the U.S. state of Hawaii, instructing citizens to seek shelter due to an incoming ballistic missile. The message was sent at 8:08 a.m. local time and the state had not authorized civil defense outdoor warning sirens to sound.

38 minutes and 13 seconds later, state officials blamed a miscommunication during a drill at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for the first message. Governor David Ige apologized for the erroneous alert. - From Wikipedia

Most people on the mainland didn’t hear about this alarm so it had no effect on them. While some students wanted to say the film was far fetched and this could never happen, my Hawaiian students vehemently disagreed. Many of the Hawaiian students received these notifications on their phones. They didn’t believe it was a mistake.

They talked candidly and emotionally about what they had gone through that day. Some talked about tearful phone conversations with family and friends, thinking they’d never see any of them again. Some of the kids were in tears as they spoke. This was all very real to them.

I found it interesting that the kids who grew up in Hawaii and whose parents worked for the government, were skeptical, at best, at anything they heard from the government. They did not believe any of the excuses. The kids that were talking were very reasonable, they were not a bunch of conspiracy theorists. Just college kids who were sharing their experiences.

The other students listened closely to what their classmates were saying. You could see them really thinking, and it wasn’t just about a film. I asked a few questions, then I got out of the way and let the students take over the discussion.

It was incredibly moving.

And who was in charge of the government in 2018?

I look at this administration and I find the plot of this film to be very real. All it takes is one high ranking person, no matter what they believe, to set off a chain of events like this. And my students believe that as well. We already have a group of people that would do whatever, to maintain power. I’m sure many of them believe as General “Buck” Turgidson does...

Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks. - George C. Scott - Gen. 'Buck' Turgidson

Other Notable Quotes

Gen. 'Buck' Turgidson: Doctor, you mentioned the ratio of ten women to each man. Now, wouldn't that necessitate the abandonment of the so-called monogamous sexual relationship, I mean, as far as men were concerned?- Dr. Strangelove: Regrettably, yes. But it is, you know, a sacrifice required for the future of the human race. I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious... service along these lines, the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature.

Sir! I have a plan! [standing up from his wheelchair] Mein Führer! I can walk! - Peter Sellers – Dr. Strangelove

Read these quotes a second time and tell me you can’t imagine some of these conversations happening within this administration. Or better yet, watch the film. I’ve given you the links.

Here is the trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPU1AYTxwg4

Here is the film on archive.org - - https://archive.org/details/dr-strangelove-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-bomb

As usual when the film came out the military and the administration issued denials, saying something like this could never happen. There is a whole chain of command that has to participate. One person could not start this by themselves.

Look around this government and the current military. They are getting rid of anyone who has experience, knows what they’re doing, and are willing to disagree with the administration. Do you really doubt this could happen?

I referred to this film earlier as a “documentary”. I know in reality it is not. But the way things are going, it could very well be.

I continue to show this film every year and it always sparks discussions. I’m amazed that younger kids who come to college still remember what happened in 2018 in Hawaii.

Introducing films like this to students and the discussions afterward, is really the only reason I teach anymore.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room! - Peter Sellers – President Merkin Muffley

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Here’s a link to me reading from my story, The Gas Mask. Back in the 70’s a friend of mine hooked up an old World War Two gas mask to a water pipe making one of the most efficient pot delivery systems to get you really stoned quickly. But there were a few drawbacks… I hope you enjoy it.

https://vimeo.com/759262962?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

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