Film Summary

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

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1964

Resources for Teaching Film

Group Captain Lionel Mandrake: Peter Sellers

President Merkin Muffley: Peter Sellers

Dr. Strangelove: Peter Sellers

General "Buck" Turgidson: George C. Scott

General Jack D. Ripper: Sterling Hayden

Colonel "Bat" Guano: Keenan Wynn

Major T. J. "King" Kong: Slim Pickens

Ambassador de Sadesky: Peter Bull

Miss Scott: Tracy Reed

Lieutenant Lothar Zogg: James Earl Jones

ONE * * * * * * * *

1. Image of fog shrouded peaks above the clouds (as if from an airplane flying at 30,000 feet. A deep-voiced narrator explains that the Russians are rumored to be building "the ultimate weapon" -- a doomsday machine, somewhere at a base north of the Arctic Circle.

Cut to title sequence--scene of a B-52 bomber being refueled in the air. We hear a lush romantic ballad as shots of the refueling take place. Key images include the long rigid fuel hose that snakes down to the fueling port on top of the B-52, and the two planes swaying at 30,000 feet, as if dancing, shown joined by the refueling rod.

2. Night shot of a Strategic Air Command base. The roar of jets is heard in the background. Quick shots of a radar, a jet revving its engines at the base, and a jet taking off. Cut to a computer room, where Col. Captain Mandrake is checking a long printout. He is a British officer taking part in an officer exchange program. He hears a buzzer and goes to the phone. Then a parallel editing track is set up between Captain Mandrake and General Ripper. Compare the composition of the shots--the busy magnetic tape disks revolving in the computer room where Captain Mandrake sits and the isolation of General Ripper in his office at night alone--the only light the fluorescent light above his desk.

Their conversation quickly turns bizarre. General Ripper tells Captain Mandrake that the base is to be put on condition "red." "Jolly good idea, sir, keeps the men on their toes," Captain Mandrake mumbles. "I'm afraid this is not an exercise." Captain Mandrake is stunned. "It looks like we're in a shooting war," General Ripper says. "Oh, hell," Captain Mandrake replies. Notice that every shot of Captain Mandrake is the same camera set-up. But almost every shot of General Ripper is from a different angle--to emphasize his strangeness, his madness. He tells Captain Mandrake to transmit "Plan R, for Robert" to the wing (a group of planes).

Then we cut to a different camera angle to show Captain Mandrake--in a profile shot--taking his orders down. Back to General Ripper, who tells Captain Mandrake to confiscate all radios on the base--they may be used by saboteurs. General Ripper has arranged for the Military Police to have lists of all owners of radios--so every radio can be tracked down. Last shot of General Ripper is the same wide shot we began with. He hears the air horns bleating the condition "red," and he moves to his windows, draws all the blinds, and then returns to his desk and sits down, as if weary from the stress.

3. Wide shot of wing of B-52 bombers. As shots of the bombers continues, the narrator notes that a wing of bombers is always in the air, ready for attack. Each bomber can deliver 50 megatons of nuclear bombs, equivalent to "16 times the total explosive force of all the bombs and shells used by all the armies in World War II." Every bomber is two hours from its target inside Russia.

Cut to close shot of the pilot of one of the bombers. We hear the drone of the engines in the background. Camera pulls back to show him reading from a Playboy magazine. Four more shots follow showing the other crew members and then the pilot again. Every man seems lost in his own world, working on tasks or relaxing. Notice the hand-held camera feel of these shots, also the tight framing of the shots. These men are used to life in enclosed spaces. The hand-held shots also refer to documentary filming techniques developed in the 1960s, lightweight cameras were developed so that filmmakers could take them into the field rather than filming in studio.

Suddenly a message comes in to the plane. The radio operator consults his top secret code book. When he turns to the correct page, suddenly the camera zooms in to show "Wing Attack Plan R." Reaction shot of radio operator--he is stunned. He calls the pilot, Major Kong, and reports the message. The copilot, who has been lying down, sits up when he hears the message. Two other crew members have gathered around the radio operator--they are stunned. And Major Kong is equally stunned. He can't believe it. He thinks this is a joke--and tells them so. But the radio operator says it's not a joke. He goes back to check himself.

Reverse angle shot shows the pilot is sitting only ten to fifteen feet away from the radio operator--they could have talked without using the intercom! Here is the editing:

1. Shot of the pilot and three crew members looking down at the code book.

2. CU of the code--F G D 1 3 5. Camera pulls back to MS from General Ripper's point of view. We can see radio operator's helmet on the right of the screen.

3. Reaction shot of General Ripper. He holds the code book. But he keeps looking at the code. He wipes his mouth.

4. Close shot of the radio operator--who looks up to the pilot.

5. Close shot of another crew member who looks on.

6. ECU of the code book, from Major Kong's point of view. Camera tracks right across the page--as if his eyes are scanning the line desperately.

7. MS of the panel, where the code is displayed. Point of view shot. The pilot's hand enters the frame and points to the code--as if making sure it says what he thinks it says.

8. Reaction shot of the four crewmen. Major Kong throws the code book. "Maybe you'd better get a confirmation from the base."

Major Kong leaves the group and goes to a small safe behind the cockpit. He opens the safe, takes off his helmet, and puts on a set of headphones. Suddenly two crewmen from below lift the hatch and stick their heads out. Lieutenant Zogg asks if this could be a loyalty test. "Ain't nobody ever got the go-code yet. And old Ripper wouldn't be giving us Plan R unless those Russkies had clobbered Washington and a lot of other towns with a sneak attack."

The radio operator then confirms the message from the base (of course, General Ripper has secured the base), and suddenly Major Kong pulls a cowboy hat out of the safe, fits it onto his head over the headphones, and announces, "Well, boys, I reckon this is it. Nuclear combat toe to toe with the Russkies." Martial music begins to play--strains from the Civil War classic, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again."

Cut to Major Kong in the cockpit. He tries to give a John Wayne-type speech to encourage the troops. As he does so, the music continues, and we see shots of the crew. "I want you to remember one thing. The folks back home is counting on you. And by golly, we ain't about to let 'em down." Then he tells them that they are all in line for "some important promotions and personal citations when this thing is over with. And that goes for ever last one of you--regardless of your race, color, or your creed."

TWO * * * * * * *

4. Wide shot of a woman wearing a swimming suit lying face down on a bed in a hotel room. Mirrors line the walls. The phone rings. She calls to a man, "Buck, should I get it." He's in the bathroom. She gets up and answers the phone. At first she speaks with a silken secretary's voice to the person on the phone. After all, she is the General's secretary, Miss Scott. When the caller identifies himself, her voice changes and becomes intimate--as if she knows the caller, a Colonel, intimately. Her image is reflected in the mirror behind her. Notice how her voice changes in the scene--from the intimate tone she uses on the phone to the broader and familiar voice she yells when she calls out to General Turgidson. The other joke here is what she is calling out--details of a secret code. If a spy were in the next

room . . . .

Finally, General Turgidson comes out of the bathroom. We see him first in the mirror at the right of the screen. He is dressed in a loose fitting print shirt and boxer shorts. When he talks to the Colonel, he becomes concerned. Why "Plan R." There are no threats reported from the War Room. "Where are my shorts?" he asks Miss Scott. "On the floor." He tells her he is going to visit the War Room. "At 3:00 in the morning?" Then she lies back on the bed and stretches out, invitingly. He notices her invitation. He crawls across the bed next to her and says, "You just start your countdown, and old Buckie will be here before you can say, 'Blast off!' "

5. Exterior of Burpelson Air Force Base. Several troops stand around a jeep. A machine gun is mounted in the back of the jeep. Behind the men is the omnipresent sign, "Peace is our profession." We hear on a loudspeaker the voice of General Ripper, who is telling the men on the base that "the commie has no regard for human life, not even his own." He warns them that the "enemy" is out there--"he may even come in the uniform of our own troops." Great reaction shots of the troops on the base, as they listen to this bizarre message. He gives the men three rules: trust no one, anyone who approaches within 200 yards of the perimeter is to be fired upon, and shoot first and ask questions later. As he speaks, we see a load of radios that have been secured.

Cut to Captain Mandrake, who is leaving the computer room. He turns off lights. Back to General Ripper. "And now men, I would like to say, that in the two years it has been my privilege to be your commanding officer, I have always expected the best from you. And you have never given me anything less than that." As he speaks, we see Captain Mandrake find a transistor radio on a shelf under a printer. He turns it on and hears music coming from the radio. "Today the nation is counting on us. We are not going to let them down." Captain Mandrake listens intently to the radio. Excited, he turns and walks quickly away.

6. Martial music--strains from "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again." Inside the B-52. One of the crew opens a safe (notice the pinups on the inside of the door) and pulls out the appropriate top secret orders for their bomber. He hands the attack profile to Major Kong. Each member of the crew has an envelope. Major Kong opens his. The marching music continues. The pilot reads instructions to the rest of the crew, and one by one, each instruction is carried out. We learn that their target is an ICBM complex. Secondary target is a missile complex.

7. General Ripper's office. He is sitting at his desk. From his point of view we see Captain Mandrake enter his office. Captain Mandrake is still carrying the transistor radio. "Listen to that, civilian broadcasting." Notice the director does not cut away from this shot. General Ripper stands up and goes to the door--where he locks it. Captain Mandrake is worried that since the bomber wing will be reaching Russian radar in twenty minutes it would be a good idea to call them back. General Ripper sits down again. "We don't want to start a nuclear war unless we really have to," Captain Mandrake says. Then General Ripper drops his bomb: "The planes are not going to be recalled." Captain Mandrake continues to stand in front of the desk, at long shot range. Then Captain Mandrake figures out what is happening. "If a Russian attack was not in progress, than your issuing the orders for Plan R . . ." Suddenly he puts the radio down, stands at attention, salutes, and informs General Ripper that it "is my duty to issue the recall code upon my own authority and bring back the wing." He strides to the door and finds it locked. He asks for the key to the recall code. But General Ripper doesn't budge. "I'm the only person who knows the three-letter code." Captain Mandrake asks for the code. Note the editing here:

1. Extreme low angle shot of General Ripper. His cigar is stuck firmly in his mouth. All the citations and commendation badges are shown brightly in the lower right of the frame.

2. Close shot of the top of his desk. His hand lifts a file to reveal a pearl-handled pistol on his desk.

3. Close shot of Captain Mandrake. "Do I take it that you are threatening a brother officer with a gun?"

4. Same set-up as shot 1. He begins to lay out his master plan. The president and joint chiefs are meeting in the War Room right now--and they will have to make a decision.

5. Same as shot 3. "When they realize there is no possibility of recalling the wing, there will be only one course of action open."

6. Same set-up as shot 1. "Total commitment." General Ripper complains that Clemanceau was wrong when he said, "War is too important to leave to the Generals."

7. Same as shot 3

8. Same as shot 1. "I can no longer sit back and allow communist

infiltration, communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all our precious bodily fluids."

THREE * * * * * * *

8. The War Room. President Muffley, the chiefs of staff, and other advisors are gathered around a circular table. A circular light above them casts light upon each of the men. President Muffley asks General Turgidson for an update. President Muffley is a bald, bespectacled man in his 50s. [Look close--it's Peter Sellers, the same character who is playing Captain Mandrake.] General Turgidson is filmed in an extreme low angle shot. He explains (the notebook in the foreground reads "World Targets in Megadeaths," what General Ripper did.

General Turgidson gestures to the wall map of Russia behind the table. Flashing lights represent the bombers--closing in on Russia from all quarters. Within 25 minutes the planes will penetrate Russian radar. President Muffley is shocked. "I thought I was the only one in authority to authorize the use of nuclear weapons." General Turgidson agrees, but then notes, "It's beginning to look like General Ripper exceeded his authority." But he clarifies that Plan R is an "emergency war plan" that allows subordinates to launch an attack after a sneak attack. Although he considers Plan R a safeguard, he admits, "The human element has failed us here."

The editing continues in a parallel fashion between President Muffley and General Turgidson. When President Muffley presumes the planes will return of their accord when they reach their fail-safe point, General Turgidson explains that the planes already "were" flying at their fail-safe points. After the issuance of the go-code, they penetrated beyond their fail-safe points. So why can't General Turgidson call the planes and tell them to turn back? Because one of the provisions of Plan R is to prevent the possibility of Russia sending fake orders to the planes (ordering them to turn back). Thus, all normal radio contact with the planes is impossible--unless the message is preceded with the correct three-letter group code prefix. (And General Ripper knows that prefix, but isn't about to give it up to Captain Mandrake.) President Muffley is stunned. How does General Turgidson know all this information? General Turgidson explains that General Ripper called Strategic Air Command and told them everything. He even reads a portion of the transcript of General Ripper's call. "My boys will give you the best kind of start--1400 megatons worth, and you sure as hell won't stop them now. God willing we will prevail in peace and freedom from fear and in true health through the purity and essence of our natural fluids." General Turgidson slows down as he reads the last few words. Long reaction shot of President Muffley and his advisors.

Off screen we hear General Turgidson say, "We're still trying to figure out that last phrase." President Muffley snaps, "There's nothing to figure out! This man is obviously a psychotic." Reaction shot of General Turgidson, again filmed from extreme low angle. "I'd hold off judgement until all the facts were in," he says. Finally, President Muffley snaps and yells at General Turgidson, saying he is losing patience with him. Reaction shot of President Muffley, again low angle, as he pops another stick of gum in his mouth, crosses his arms, and pouts like an angry little boy.

Suddenly General Turgidson get a phone call from his lover, his secretary Miss Scott. He whispers angrily that she shouldn't call him here. [Talk about a breach in security--she knows the telephone number of the War Room!] "Of course it isn't only physical!" he whispers, as if he believes that himself. "I deeply respect you as a human being. You go back to sleep. Buckie will be there as soon as he can." He puts the phone down and looks as if he has just stolen a cookie from the cookie jar.

So the plan: A nearby Army Base will send its men to attack Burpelson Air Force Base and seize General Ripper so that the crisis will be averted. But General Turgidson reminds President Muffley and the other General that under Condition Red Burpelson Air Force Base will resist any attack by anyone. The Army General submits that his men will "brush aside" the Air Force defenders. So General Turgidson submits his plan: first, he doubts President Muffley will be able to recall the bomber wing, second, the bombers are fifteen minutes away from radar contact with Russia, third, the Russians will retaliate with their bombers when they spot the American bomber wing, fourth, if we do nothing, we will suffer "virtual annihilation."

Cut to MS of General Turgidson, who sits back in his chair and grins, as if excited by the inevitable conclusion: "If we were to launch an all-out attack on all targets, we'd stand a good chance of catching them with their pants down. Hell, we've got 5-1 missile superiority as it is!" Then he really gets excited. "Six--in an unofficial study we undertook for this very eventuality (did President Muffley or the Congress know about this study?), we learned we would destroy 90% of their nuclear capabilities. He concludes, "We would prevail and suffer only modest and acceptable civilian casualties from the remaining force!" He is delighted to have gotten this off his chest. He looks confident President Muffley will embrace his plan.

But President Muffley reminds him that America has vowed never to strike first. "I'd say General Ripper has invalidated that policy!" General Turgidson quips. To General Turgidson it all boils down to this: it's better to live in a post-nuclear war environment with 20 million American casualties rather than with 150 million American casualties (the entire American population in 1964). "You're talking about mass murder--not war!" President Muffley responds. General Turgidson groans--as if President Muffley just isn't smart enough to "get it." "No more than ten to twenty million killed--tops!" They continue to argue.

Then President Muffley learns the Russian Ambassador has arrived. He orders that he be shown into the War Room. Now General Turgidson really explodes. "Are you aware of what a serious breach of security that would be? He'll see everything! He'll see the big board!" President Muffley answers, "That's precisely the idea."

FOUR * * * * * * *

9. Back to the bomber. Major Kong goes over the "survival kits" each member of the crew has been given. Some of its contents: a miniature Russian phrase book and Bible, nine packs of chewing gum, four days of concentrated food, one issue of condoms, lipstick, three pair of nylons--as if the men are planning to liberate Paris all over again--a kind of World War II mentality at work.

10. The War Room. The Russian Ambassador is led in. He walks behind a long buffet table loaded with food. Meanwhile, General Turgidson approaches President Muffley and warns him not to let "that commie stooge" in the War Room. The AR walks over to the President. He tells President Muffley that the Russian Premier, Premier Kissov, is not to be found in his office--and supplies a number that is evidently that of a brothel. "The Premier is not only a man of the people--but he is also a man," as the Russian Ambassador explains.

Finally Premier Kissov is reached. When President Muffley heads for the phone, he stops when he hears General Turgidson and the Russian Ambassador fighting. President Muffley goes over to them and yells, "Gentleman, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room!" General Turgidson has found a spy camera on the Russian Ambassador. President Muffley is shocked!

11. Point of view shot--through binoculars. We see a line of advancing Army trucks. The men defending Burpelson Air Force base are amazed at how much the vehicles look like U.S. Army trucks. "You gotta hand it to those Russians," one soldier says. Fighting breaks out. The Air Force defenders fire away, and the scenes take on the look of World War II documentary footage. Use of point of view shots (from the Air Force men's point of view) heighten the reality.

Inside General Ripper's office. He is sitting on his desk. Captain Mandrake is sitting on the sofa. Sound of fighting in the background. Captain Mandrake checks his watch. General Ripper listens intently.

12. The War Room. The Russian Ambassador speaks to his Premier. "Be careful, Mr. President. I think he's drunk." President Muffley begins talking to the Premier. He has a hard time getting to the point. Finally, he says, "You know how we've always talked of the possibility of something going wrong with the bomb--the hydrogen bomb. One of our base commanders--he went a little funny in the head--and he went and did a silly thing. I'll tell you what he did. He ordered his planes to attack your country."

"Let me finish, Dmitri. Listen, how do you think I feel about it?" Shots of other men listening in on their phones. "Why do you think I'm calling you? Just to say hello? Of course, I like to talk to you! Of course I like to say hello!" After some more comedy, President Muffley tells the Russian Premier the planes won't reach their targets for another hour. Cut to the "Big Board"--the flashing lights are getting closer to their targets. Then President Muffley explains his big plan--America will give Russia all the information about targets and defensive mechanisms employed by the planes so that Russia can destroy all the planes.

While he explains these points, we see General Turgidson listening in on his phone--he looks stunned, as if betrayed. "I know they're our boys." Back to shot of President Muffley. "Who should we call? Then President Muffley asks for the phone number. "Just ask for Omsk information?" President Muffley apologizes for this situation. Then more comedy as they compete with each other to declare who is more sorry than the other.

President Muffley gives the phone to the Russian Ambassador. The Russian Ambassador listens intently, moans, and puts the phone down. He turns to President Muffley and says, "The fools . . . the doomsday machine, a device that will destroy all human and animal life on earth." Reaction shot of General Turgidson--he doesn't believe this for a second.

13. General Ripper's office. General Ripper moves over to sit next to Captain Mandrake in a close shot. He wraps his arm around Captain Mandrake's shoulder. Captain Mandrake looks uncomfortable and terrified. "Have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water?" "I can't say I have." General Ripper continues: "Vodka, that's what they drink. On no account will a commie ever drink water. Captain Mandrake can't believe he's listening to this conversation. "Mandrake, water is the source of all life. 70% of you is water. You and I need fresh pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids." Captain Mandrake sits nervously fussing with a wrapper from a stick of gum. The more General Ripper talks, the more Captain Mandrake begins to titter nervously. "Have you ever wondered why I only drink distilled water and rainwater, and only pure grain alcohol? Have you ever heard of fluoridation? Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?"

Suddenly shots ring out and Captain Mandrake ducks for cover. Meanwhile, Captain Mandrake stands right in front of the window as the room is raked with machine gun fire. "That's nice shooting, soldier!" Miraculously General Ripper is not hit. He crosses the room, lifts his golf clubs to his shoulder, and moves over to his desk. He pulls a huge barrelled machine gun from the pack and asks Captain Mandrake to come over to help him defend the fort. "Are you calling me, Jack?" Captain Mandrake says. General Ripper insists that he come over to help. "The Redcoats are coming!"

FIVE * * * * * * *

14. The War Room. The Russian Ambassador is telling everyone how the Doomsday Machine will be wreak havoc on the earth's atmosphere because of the radiation it will release. "In ten months the earth will be as dead as the surface of the moon!" General Turgidson challenges his assumptions. But the Russian Ambassador goes on to explain that a special isotope the Russians discovered can be added to their bombs so that a radioactive cloud will circle the earth for 93 years. As he explains the details, he walks toward the camera (away from the War Room table). General Turgidson follows him closely, watching his every move. "What a load of commie bull!" he says.

President Muffley comes over to them. The Russian Ambassador and President Muffley stand across from one another. General Turgidson stands between them. The Russian Ambassador explains that the machine is designed to trigger itself. It doesn't need human beings to set it off. "Bur surely you can disarm it!" President Muffley says. The Russian Ambassador says there is no hope of disarming it. General Turgidson jumps into action. He slips on the floor, rolls over and hops up, and points at the "Big Board." "They're getting ready to clobber us!" He gives up when President Muffley ignores him.

Back to close shot of the Russian Ambassador and President Muffley. The Russian Ambassador explains why Russia built the Doomsday Machine. They discovered that it was less expensive than continuing the usual military buildup. And the deciding factor was when they realized the Americans were building one too. They became afraid of a "Doomsday Gap!" (Remember the phrase, "Missile Gap"?) President Muffley says he never authorized any such construction.

President Muffley calls on Dr. Strangelove to answer these allegations. Dr. Strangelove is a man in his 50s with thick hair that grows longer on one side of his head than the other. He is in a wheelchair, and one of his hands is covered in a black glove. He wears dark glasses and smokes a cigarette. He wheels his chair over to President Muffley. From a low angle (from President Muffley's point of view), he explains he investigated the possibility of designing a Doomsday Machine. He speaks in a clipped German accent, and his dark suit appears to be two sizes too small. He decided it was impractical "for reasons that are at this moment all too obvious." President Muffley realizes it may have been possible to build such a device. Reaction shot of Dr. Strangelove, who has trouble releasing his gloved hand from its grip of his cigarette. Dr. Strangelove explains that building such a device depends only upon the "will" (emphasized) to do so. President Muffley still can't understand how something that could destroy the world would be designed so that no one could disarm it.

Dr. Strangelove explains, "Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy the FEAR to attack! Since this device rules out human meddling, the Doomsday Machine is terrifying and simple to understand and completely credible and convincing." Reaction shot of General Turgidson who grimaces. He tells the man next to him, "I wish we had one of those Doomsday Machines!" After more comedy from General Turgidson, we return to Dr. Strangelove. "The whole point of the Doomsday Machine is lost if you keep it a secret! Why didn't you tell the world, eh?" he asks the Russian Ambassador. The answer: it was to be announced in a few days at the Party Congress. The Russian Ambassador says, "As you know, the Premier likes surprises.

15. More scenes of fighting at Burpelson Air Force Base. Many point of view shots of the soldiers fighting to seize the base. Inside General Ripper's office, where General Ripper shoots his machine gun from the hip. Poor Captain Mandrake crawls around the floor to stay out of the line of fire. General Ripper stands up and fires at will. He keeps his cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth. More shots from outside the building where General Ripper is holed up. One point of view shot shows a machine gun firing, and in the distance we can see the sign, "Peace is our Profession."

Inside the office, during a lull in the fighting, General Ripper informs Captain Mandrake that more items are going to be fluoridated--soup, salt, flour, and even ice cream--"children's ice cream." Then he adds, "Do you know when fluoridation was started? 1946. How does the coincide for your post-war commie conspiracy? Foreign substances introduced into our PBF's without the knowledge of the individual, certainly without any choice." Finally Captain Mandrake can recover from his shock to ask a question: "When did you first develop this theory?" General Ripper says, "I first became aware of it during the physical act of love. Yes. A profound sense of fatigue. A feeling of emptiness followed." Cut to a CU of General Ripper. "Luckily I was able to interpret these feelings correctly." Cut to Captain Mandrake in CU--a shocked look on his face. General Ripper continues, "Loss of essence." Back to General Ripper in CU. "I can assure you it has not recurred. Women sense my power, and they seek the life essence. I do not avoid women, but I do deny them my essence." Reaction shot of Captain Mandrake--"Yes, yes," he mutters.

More scenes of fighting outside the building. Suddenly men yell out, and we see several Air Force soldiers exiting the building. Their hands are in the air--surrender. Inside, General Ripper realizes the "boys have surrendered." Captain Mandrake asks him to recall the wing--there's still time. Now General Ripper is depressed. "These boys were like my children. Now they let me down." Captain Mandrake tries to cheer him up. He goes over to General Ripper and says, "I'm sure they all died thinking of you." The editing track:

1. Cut to CU of General Ripper-his face partly in shadows, his cigar still in his mouth. He seems lost in thought. Captain Mandrake keeps prattling on. He tries to convince General Ripper that his "poisoned water" theory is nonsense.

2. Wider shot, shows General Ripper seated, and Captain Mandrake standing near him. "There's nothing wrong with my precious bodily fluids." General Ripper deadpans, "Mandrake, were you ever a prisoner of war?" Captain Mandrake admits he was. "Were you ever tortured?" "Yes, I was, Jack. Not a pretty story." General Ripper asks for his story.

3. Closer shot of the two, General Ripper on the left, Captain Mandrake on the right. He tells about being tortured by the Japanese. He didn't talk. Then Captain Mandrake reflects, "I don't think they wanted me to say anything. I think it was just their way of having a bit of fun, the swines. The strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras."

4. Back to that great CU of General Ripper, same as shot 1. He is in a deeply psychological place right now--remote from Captain Mandrake. "You know, those clowns are going to give me a pretty good going over--for the code."

5. Same as shot 3. Captain Mandrake agrees that such torture is likely.

6. CU of General Ripper, same as shot 1. "I don't know how well I could stand up under torture." Then Captain Mandrake tries some psychological tricks himself. He tells General Ripper to give him the code now, and when the bad guys come in, "We'll fight them together." General Ripper shakes his head, as if disturbed by the twist of this idea.

7. Wide shot of the two, same as 3. Captain Mandrake tries to keep the patter going. "Just like when I was on the floor and I was feeding you. 'Feed me,' you said, and I was feeding you."

8. CU of General Ripper, same as shot 1. "I know I'll have to answer for what I've done. I think I can."

He stands up and walks like a zombie to the bathroom. Captain Mandrake holds the machine gun and stands outside. He keeps prattling on, as if to keep General Ripper encouraged and stable. General Ripper closes the door. Captain Mandrake says, "I'll try to guess what the code is--" suddenly a shot rings out. Captain Mandrake tries to push against the door, but General Ripper's body is blocking it.

SIX * * * * * * *

16. Wide shot of the bomber sailing through the sky. The same martial music can be heard in the background. Inside, the crew is running through a fuel check. Suddenly the navigator reports that an unidentified object is approaching the plane at the distance of sixty miles. CU of the radar screen. "Looks like a missile tracking us. Confirmed. Commence evasive action right." Quick reaction shot of Major Kong as he swings into action. Close shots of Major Kong show him concentrating, responding to the messages from the navigator. He tries to evade the missile--but no luck. More reaction shots follow of the crew members. The missile stays on track. Suddenly the missile begins to deflect its course. We follow its progress on the radar screen. "Missile detonating"--suddenly the navigator's voice becomes a blur of static and shouting. The center of the screen is illuminated, showing the missile burst. Editing track:

1. Rapid shot shows explosion in the cockpit. We see a puff of smoke (1/4 second)

2. The pilot is hurled forward in his chair. (1/4 sec.)

3. Close shot of Lieutenant Zogg, who looks up in terror--then the image is blurred by the force of the explosion. (1/2 sec.)

4. Explosion in the cockpit--everything is a blur--we see fire and smoke and movement--then a cloud of smoke. (2 sec.)

5. Shot of the navigator and another crew member at seated in front of their instrument panels. Camera moves toward them--they begin to stand up. (1 1/2 sec.)

6. Close shot of Major Kong, a silhouetted image (we can see his cowboy hat) as Major Kong moves about in the cockpit. (1 1/4 sec.)

7. Close shot of another crew member in silhouette, as he stands and tries to get his bearing in the darkness (1 sec.)

8. The same crew member reaches for a fire extinguisher--all around him is a bright light of smoke and fire. (2 1/4 sec.)

9. More bright light and movement--someone is using the fire extinguisher (1 sec.)

10. The pilot and copilot fight to maintain control of the plane--shown from their point of view--we can see the instrument panel through the smoke (3 sec.)

11. Exterior shot of plane flying through snow-covered mountains. The plane is trailing black smoke. (5 1/4 sec.)

Scene continues with more than 10 shots of the crew members fighting the fire, shots from the point of view of the pilot and copilot struggling to control the plane, views of the exterior of the plane. Cut to a close shot, point of view of the pilot and copilot. "Give me full power!" Major Kong yells. The plane levels out. Martial music resumes to a crescendo, as the plane climbs over the last mountain and has only open water ahead.

17. Close shot of a word puzzle that General Ripper had been writing. Captain Mandrake is examining the puzzle for clues to what the three-letter recall code might be. Some of the words in the puzzle: "Peace," "Earth," "Essence" Purity." "POE," Captain Mandrake keeps repeating. "Purity of Essence." We see him standing above General Ripper's desk. He examines the doodling. Suddenly shots ring out--an Army officer has shot off the door's lock. Captain Mandrake looks up. The door opens. There stands Colonel "Bat" Guano, a rifle slung under his arm. "Put your hands over your head." Captain Mandrake is outraged to hear this kind of language. But Colonel "Bat" Guano repeats his order. This time Captain Mandrake conforms with the order. "What kind of suit do you call that?" Colonel "Bat" Guano asks. Captain Mandrake informs him he is General Ripper's executive officer. Colonel "Bat" Guano doesn't believe him. Captain Mandrake insists he knows the recall code. It's some variation of "Purity of essence" or "Peace on Earth--POE or OPE." But Colonel "Bat" Guano doesn't believe him. "Don't you know General Ripper went as mad as a bloody march hare and sent the entire wing to attack the soviets!" But Colonel "Bat" Guano orders him to leave the room.

18. Exterior of the plane over Russia. The radio operator reports that the radio and the auto destruct mechanism have been destroyed. Other crew members check in. The navigator reports how much fuel is left. Major Kong sums up. "We've got three engines out and more holes in us than a horse trader's mule. The radio's gone and we're leaking fuel and if we was flying any lower we'd need sleigh bells on this thing." Then he tells the crew they are flying so low the Russians won't be able to spot them on radar. Exterior of the plane skimming the surface of the frozen lake.

19. Burpelson Air Force Base. Colonel "Bat" Guano leads Captain Mandrake out of the office. Captain Mandrake stops and demands to know what Colonel "Bat" Guano thinks is going on. "I think you're some sort of deviated prevert." He thinks Captain Mandrake killed the General. "All I was told is to get General Ripper on the phone with the President of the United States." So Captain Mandrake tries to bluff his way past Colonel "Bat" Guano. He tells him he will call the President on the pay phone a few feet away. Colonel "Bat" Guano allows him to try. Captain Mandrake reaches the operator, and he tells her the truth--it's an emergency and he needs to talk to the President of the United States. Of course, he can't get through when he realizes he doesn't have enough change on him.

Then he gets a brainstorm--he orders Colonel "Bat" Guano to shoot the lock off the Coca-Cola machine to get the change inside. Colonel "Bat" Guano is dumbfounded. "It's private property." He won't do it. So Captain Mandrake threatens him that if he doesn't shoot off the lock, he will be in trouble when it is learned that he has "obstructed a telephone call to the President of the United States." Colonel "Bat" Guano gives in--but he warns Captain Mandrake that if he doesn't get through to the President, then Captain Mandrake will have "to answer to the Coca-Cola company." He gets the money.

SEVEN * * * * * * *

20. The War Room. Low angle shot shows the President and others standing attentively in front of the Big Board. Over the loudspeaker, we hear the news that the bombers have been recalled--the OPE recall codes worked. We can see the flashing lights going off on the Big Board. The editing track:

1. Low angle shot of General Turgidson, who stands on a chair and gets everyone's attention. He wants to make a speech. "I'm not a sentimentalist by nature, but I think I know what's on everyone's mind. And I think we all ought to bow our heads and give thanks for our deliverance. LORD! We have heard the wings of the angel of death flying over our heads from the valley of fear--"

2. Long shot of Doctor Strangelove, seated in his wheelchair in the dark, in the corner of the room. "You have seen fit to deliver us from the forces of evil--"

3. Low angle of one of the President's advisors at the round table. He is on the phone. He talks to the President. "Premier Kissov's on the phone, and he's hopping mad."

21. Exterior view of the bomber. Inside the crew is hard at work--Major Kong is flying the plane, and the navigator is finding out that they have less fuel remaining than they had thought.

The War Room. The editing track shows parallel cuts between A (long shot of President Muffley and his advisors standing behind him and a long shot of General Turgidson across the table from him):

1. Long shot of President Muffley and his advisors standing behind him. He's on the phone with the Russian premier. "No, Dmitri. There must be some mistake." He puts the phone down temporarily. "He says one of the planes hasn't turned back. It's headed for its primary target--Laputa."

2. Long shot of General Turgidson, who slaps his head and exhales, "That's impossible! Look at the Big Board. 34 planes, and 4 splashes, and one of those was targeted for Laputa." (Of course, they don't realize that the plane wasn't shot down after all.)

3. Back to President Muffley, who learns from the Premier that the Russian Air Defense only claims to have shot down three planes.

4. Long shot of General Turgidson. He looks sick--we hear the President's voice conclude, "the fourth plane may only be damaged." General Turgidson shakes his head and then has it figured out. "I'm beginning to smell a big fat commie rat! Suppose he's lying--and just looking for an excuse to clobber us."

5. Long shot of President Muffley. "If this report is true, and the plane manages to bomb the target, is this . . . is this going to . . . is this going to set off the Doomsday machine?"

6. Long shot of General Turgidson. He leans forward, his mouth open and eyes bugging out. The President's voice: "Are you sure! I guess you're just going to have to get that plane, Dmitri."

7. Long shot of President Muffley. "I'm sorry they're flying so low and jamming your radar. But they're trained to do it. You know, it's initiative. I'm sure your entire air defense can stop a single plane."

8. Long shot of General Turgidson. He holds his head with one hand. He still looks stunned.

9. Long shot of President Muffley. "It's not going to help either one of us if the Doomsday Machine goes off, now is it? Dmitri! There's no point in you getting hysterical."

10. Long shot of General Turgidson. He still stands stricken with horror at what is happening. President Muffley's voice. "I'm just worried, that's all.

11. Long shot of President Muffley. "Can I give you one word of advice? Put everything you have into those two sectors and you can't miss."

22. Exterior view of the bomber. Inside, the navigator informs President Muffley that the fuel loss means they can't make it to the primary target. Major Kong is frustrated. "We didn't come this far to dump this thing in the drink. What's the nearest target opportunity?" He is told they can reach a nearby ICBM complex. Major Kong designates this as the new target. So the plane changes course. (Naturally, this will confuse the Russians even more.)

23. The War Room. President Muffley on the phone. "Remember, we are all in this together. We're right behind you. We're with you all the way." He hangs up. He asks General Turgidson if that plane can get through. Cut to long shot of General Turgidson. He is excited. He begins to digress. President Muffley brings him back to the question. General Turgidson is animated, delighted to respond. "If that pilot is really good, he can barrel that baby in so low (he holds his arms out like wings)--you ought to see it some time, a big plane like that--"

President Muffley interrupts him. "Has he got a chance?" Back to General Turgidson. "Has he got a chance?! Hell ye--" Suddenly he stops, as if he realizes the implications of his response. He looks around, and he shuts up.

24. The crew readies for final bomb run. Lots of edits, as the crew checks continue. The men are precise, professional, concentrating on their tasks. The shot selections move between shots of Major Kong, the bombardier, Lieutenant Zogg, close shots of the instrument panels, and an exterior view of the plane. After 26 shots of this checking and double checking, we see Lt. Zogg has a problem--the bomb bay doors won't open. They try back-up circuit, emergency power, and manual override. Nothing works. "Fire the explosive bolt!" Major Kong orders. But nothing works.

So Major Kong decides to go below and check for himself. He climbs down into the bomb bay. We see him in a low angle long shot climbing below two huge atomic bombs that loom large over him. One has "Hi There!" written on it; the other has "Dear John" written on it. Above the hand painted messages is stenciled, "Nuclear weapons. Handle with Care." Major Kong examines the circuitry above the bombs. The wiring is shorting out, spewing smoke. He climbs onto one of the warheads and examines the wiring. Inside the plane the crew continues with the bomb run, as ordered. Meanwhile, Major Kong works below to solve the wiring problem. They are eight miles from the target.

This editing track includes shots of a crew member looking into the radar screen, a close-up of the radar screen, the plane flying, Lt. Zogg consulting his instruments, Major Kong working to resolve the wiring, and a point of view shot in the cockpit, showing the copilot's view out the front of the plane. As the scene progress, the music ("When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again") grows louder. At the 21st shot they are 3 miles from the target. We can see the target in sight out the front of the cockpit. Close shot of Major Kong. The circuits come alive suddenly. He holds onto his hat as we hear the sound of the bomb doors opening below him. He still sits astride one of the two bombs. "Yahoo!" he yells, like a bronco buster or a Brahma bull rider. He drops with the bomb--cut to Lt. Zogg. "What about Major Kong?" Cut to Major Kong astride the bomb--an impossibility--but perfect for this moment, as he rides the bomb down to the target. He waves his hat back and forth and yips and yahoos all the way down. This a point of view shot--from the bomb's point of view.

Silence. Screen goes almost white--we see a low horizon line at the bottom of the screen. Then an atomic bomb goes off--the cloud begins to form. Cut to high angle of the bomb as we hear the explosion.

EIGHT * * * * * * *

25. The War Room. Editing track:

1. Low angle shot of Doctor Strangelove in silhouette. He wheels his chair around and addresses President Muffley. "I would not rule out the chance to preserve a nucleus of human specimens."

2. President Muffley, General Turgidson, and another advisor are seated next to each other. They look drained emotionally.

3. Close shot of Doctor Strangelove. "It would be quite easy--at the bottom of some of our deeper mine shafts." He approaches closer to President Muffley. Now he has come out of the shadows. Others begin to gather around him. He lays out the plan of surviving as a species underground.

The parallel editing in the scene continues with cuts between camera se