Fail Safe - command with no way out

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Movie
German title Fail Safe - command with no way out
Original title Fail Safe
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 2000
length 84 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Stephen Frears
script Walter Bernstein
production Tom Park
camera John A. Alonzo
occupation

Fail Safe is an American television film from 2000 , based on the novel Fire will fall from the sky (original title: Fail-Safe ) by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. The film was staged live on American television on CBS . In Germany the film was marketed on VHS from August 18, 2000 .

The novel was first made into a film by Sidney Lumet in 1964 ; the German title was target Moscow . Because the TV version has left out the subplots, it is shorter than the 1964 film.

action

In the early 1960s, at the time of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union , an unknown aircraft was reported approaching the North American continent from Europe. The bomber squadrons of the US strategic air forces are in their failsafe commanded positions near Russia. From there they are not allowed to advance further without a special attack code. The supposed threat turns out to be a lost airliner and the bombers are asked to fly back. However, due to a technical error, the sixth squadron , consisting of six bombers and four escort fighters , was sent the attack code. To check the attack order, the commanding pilot Colonel Grady tries to contact the headquarters in Omaha . However, the Soviets disrupt radio communications, so Grady believes the nuclear war has begun. He orders his bombers to fly to the predetermined target: Moscow .

On the US side, the government is discussing a solution to the problem with the military and scientists. Professor Groeteschele suggests exploiting the situation and launching a first strike to force the Soviets to surrender . The President, however, sends the four escort fighters after the bombers to shoot them down so that the Soviets can see that it is a mistake and not an attack. However, the fighter planes run out of fuel on the way and crash into the sea. The American president then contacts the Soviet general secretary and offers him help in shooting down the bombers. The Prime Minister initially rejects this, but then agrees. So his air defense can shoot down four of the bombers.

The remaining two bombers are steadfastly heading for Moscow. The Grady carries two 20- megaton - bombs , while the other is unarmed and is only for distraction. The American General Bogan advises his Soviet counterpart, Marshal Nevsky, to ignore this aircraft and concentrate on the actual bomber. However, Nevsky thinks this is a trick and has his planes attack the dummy plane. This gives Grady's bomber the time it needs to break away and head for Moscow. A few minutes before reaching the target area, Grady radioed the headquarters in Omaha and informed them of his intention. The US President personally tries to convince Grady that it is all a mistake and even lets Grady's son speak to him. But Grady is trained so that the opponent could use "tricks" such as voice imitation in an emergency , and does not let himself be deterred.

As a final attempt, the Soviets fire barrages from nuclear missiles to bring the low-flying bomber out of the sky, but it fires decoys and is able to escape. Convinced that they are doomed to die anyway due to the radioactive contamination from the Soviet defense missiles and that there is no longer a home, he plans to detonate the two atomic bombs on the plane over Moscow. In the meantime, the US President has ordered an American bomber to circle over New York City . Its pilot, General Black, whose family lives in New York, is supposed to drop his two atomic bombs over the city in case Moscow is destroyed. As a voluntary retaliation measure, the global nuclear war is to be prevented. The American ambassador in Moscow reports on the last few seconds before Grady detonates the bombs. Thereupon Black receives the order to attack. He drops his cargo and immediately commits suicide using lethal injection.

Awards

The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2001 for Best Mini-Series or TV Movie . He received two Emmy Awards in 2000 for lighting and cinematography and was nominated for three more, including directing. The film was nominated for the Television Critics Association Award in 2000; In 2001 he won the Saturn Award and was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award and the Television Producer of the Year Award .

Reviews

The film-dienst saw "a remake of a film by Sidney Lumet Attackziel Moscow , 1963, which impressively reflects the mood at the height of the Cold War and also creates a high tension as a chamber play thanks to good actors and a determined staging without ostensible effects." Laura Fries from Variety saw great acting and flawless production in a flawless replica of the good ol 'days of live television.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Fail Safe - Command with no way out in the Lexicon of International FilmsTemplate: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used , accessed on September 19, 2007
  2. ↑ Laura Fries (variety.com) ( Memento of October 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on September 19, 2007