Fail-Safe (1964): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Fail-Safe is a 1964 drama thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau and Fritz Weaver. It is based on Fail-Safe by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including United Nations Award at the BAFTA 1966. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Fail-Safe About?
The premise of Fail-Safe without spoilers, adapted from Fail-Safe by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Cold War, a computer error triggers a potentially disastrous sequence of events. A US bomber squadron is mistakenly launched towards Moscow, unaware of the critical malfunction. As the situation escalates, the president and his advisors race against time to avert a global catastrophe. They must find a way to negotiate with Russian leaders and stop the squadron before it initiates a nuclear conflict, all while grappling with the terrifying implications of the system failure.
Fail-Safe Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nuclear attack
- cold war
- system failure
- telephone conversation
- nightmare
- bomber
- u.s. air force
- nuclear war
- political thriller
- norad
- nuclear holocaust
- dialogue driven
+38 more Show fewer
- race against time
- strategic bomber
- catastrophic failure
- ends with disaster
- u.s. nuclear forces
- bomber crew
- war room
- recurring dream
- russian interpreter
- jamming communications
- convair b 58 hustler
- nuclear crisis
- hard boiled fiction
- cynicism
- receiving a signal
- sweaty face
- strategic air command
- nuke
- flight
- new york city
- human fallibility
- telephone call
- nuclear bomb
- nuclear weapon
- air attack
- apocalypse
- air defense
- nuclear power
- out of control
- cocktail party
- video screen
- surveillance
- supersonic airplane
- air base
- u.s. military
- nuclear threat
- doomsday
- atomic weapons
Fail-Safe Cast
Henry Fonda leads the cast, with Walter Matthau and Fritz Weaver. Directed by Sidney Lumet; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sidney Lumet
Also Starring in Fail-Safe
· 6 moreMore from Sidney Lumet
More films directed by Sidney Lumet, best-rated first: 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and Serpico.
Fail-Safe Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Fail-Safe 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 100% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 8.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 78% User score
See on TMDB
Fail-Safe Plot Summary
What happens in Fail-Safe from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Warren Black, a tormented soul residing in the heart of New York City, is haunted by recurring nightmares that revolve around a bullfight, always culminating in a piercing shriek that leaves him in distress. These chilling dreams not only nag at his subconscious but also fuel his self-doubts regarding his position as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force, where he is tasked with overseeing nuclear weaponry. His internal struggle accentuates the gravity of his role and the heavy responsibility that comes with it.
Full summary
The whole story of Fail-Safe, scene by scene
Fail-Safe Awards & Nominations
Fail-Safe earned 1 award nomination, including United Nations Award at the BAFTA 1966.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 1966 1 nomination- Nominated United Nations Award – Sidney Lumet
Fail-Safe Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Fail-Safe (1964) - Trailer
- Featurette Joe Dante on FAIL SAFE
How Well Do You Know Fail-Safe?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What recurring nightmare haunts Warren Black?
Cars in Fail-Safe
6 cars on screen, including the 1963 Ford Thunderbird and the 1963 Lincoln Continental.
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1963 Ford Thunderbird Minor role -
1963 Lincoln Continental Minor role -
1960 Checker Taxicab Background role -
1963 Lincoln Continental Background role
Fail-Safe Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Punto límite” and “Контролна зала”.
- Also known as
-
- Punto límite
- Контролна зала
- Limite de Segurança
- Fejl-sikker
- Pommin varjossa
- Synagermos thanatou
- Bombabiztos
- A prova di errore
- Michi he no hikou
- Czerwona linia
- Sistem de siguranta infailibil
- Selhání vyloučeno
+14 more Show fewer
- Missão-Suicida
- Point Limite
- Fail Safe - Feuer wird vom Himmel fallen
- Angriffsziel Moskau
- Система безопасности
- אסון בלתי נמנע
- 奇幻核子战
- Mutlak Savaş
- 未知への飛行/フェイル・セイフ
- Защитна система
- 핵전략 사령부
- Límite de seguridad
- Punt límit
- Bombsäkert
Seen Fail-Safe?
Movies Like Fail-Safe
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Fail Safe, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and By Dawn’s Early Light.
Fail-Safe FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of Fail-Safe, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Fail-Safe?
Fail-Safe runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Fail-Safe released?
Fail-Safe was released on September 15, 1964.
Who directed Fail-Safe?
Fail-Safe was directed by Sidney Lumet.
More films by Sidney Lumet Who is in the cast of Fail-Safe?
Fail-Safe stars Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau and Fritz Weaver, among 10 credited actors.
How is Fail-Safe rated?
Fail-Safe has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.
Is Fail-Safe based on a book?
Yes. Fail-Safe is adapted from Fail-Safe by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler.
Was Fail-Safe nominated for any awards?
Fail-Safe received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Fail-Safe have a post-credit scene?
No. Fail-Safe has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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