Dr. StrangeloveIn the article Strangelove and The Silence, Jack Richardson discusses the flaws of the movie Dr. Strangelove. Richardson seems to be very unsatisfied and criticizes many components of the movie.
" It may very well be the best American movie made in years and a bold statement in context of the 'general viewing public,' but this is the only praise-by-paradox and could apply equally to films many times inferior to it. There are fine things in Dr. Strangelove, and praise for them need not qualified; but there are also flaws which fatally injure a fair notion" (Richardson 251).
Richardson also criticizes the actors and their performances. He believes that the director allowed the actors to do whatever they like with out little direction. There are also many other aspects of the movie the Richardson is unhappy with that are often seen as important or unforgettable parts in the movie. "Perhaps universial destruction has turned into a tired comic device, like banana peels and baggy pants. Perhaps the old paradoxes are not enough and the film should have cut deeper and gone beyoned the often punctured targets of semi-illiterate militarists, effete liberals, and Neanderthal soliders" (Richardson 253).
Although, Richardson does not like many parts of the movie, he does find some areas that meet his levels of satisfaction. There are a few parts during the movie that he finds amusing. For example, in the beginning when the plans are refuelling and "Try a Little Tenderness" is playing in the background.
" It may very well be the best American movie made in years and a bold statement in context of the 'general viewing public,' but this is the only praise-by-paradox and could apply equally to films many times inferior to it. There are fine things in Dr. Strangelove, and praise for them need not qualified; but there are also flaws which fatally injure a fair notion" (Richardson 251).
Richardson also criticizes the actors and their performances. He believes that the director allowed the actors to do whatever they like with out little direction. There are also many other aspects of the movie the Richardson is unhappy with that are often seen as important or unforgettable parts in the movie. "Perhaps universial destruction has turned into a tired comic device, like banana peels and baggy pants. Perhaps the old paradoxes are not enough and the film should have cut deeper and gone beyoned the often punctured targets of semi-illiterate militarists, effete liberals, and Neanderthal soliders" (Richardson 253).
Although, Richardson does not like many parts of the movie, he does find some areas that meet his levels of satisfaction. There are a few parts during the movie that he finds amusing. For example, in the beginning when the plans are refuelling and "Try a Little Tenderness" is playing in the background.
This scene in the movie, Richardson finds amusingGrant Stillman focuses his article on the history and the inspiration that the director used to write and produce his movie. Mostly Stillman makes connections between articles and scenes or props that are in the movie. He also talks about how the different characters were developed, named, and why they are seen in a certain way in the movie. Since there are many connections between the real life events and the movie you can often see this residue in the the movie, such as newspapers and magazines that the characters can be seen reading. This article is helpful to understand how Kubrick came up with the inspiration and ideals he used to produce his movie.
Miss Scott, is a well spoken secretary for the Pentagon
In the movie, Dr. Strangelove, there is a complete lack of women present in the movie. Only one women can be seen, breifly during the movie. Miss Scott, played by Tracy Reed, is a secretary for the Pentagon who is seen relaying information between two millitary officers, but also can be seen
in the movie at a different time. " Miss Scott, the well-spoken Pentagon secretary under the sunlamp displaying ample navel, also pops up as the centerfold in the Playboy magazine being admired by Major Kong in the cockpit" (Richardson 494).
In the movie, Dr. Strangelove, there is a complete lack of women present in the movie. Only one women can be seen, breifly during the movie. Miss Scott, played by Tracy Reed, is a secretary for the Pentagon who is seen relaying information between two millitary officers, but also can be seen
in the movie at a different time. " Miss Scott, the well-spoken Pentagon secretary under the sunlamp displaying ample navel, also pops up as the centerfold in the Playboy magazine being admired by Major Kong in the cockpit" (Richardson 494).
The War Room
Also, there can be seen a presence of games within a movie. The first can be seen in when General Ripper pulls out a gun from a golf bag. The second, is a game of poker that can be seen in the War Room. The circular table with the millitary personal sitting around it hints at the ideal that they are gambling with the fate of the world against nuclear war. "It should be like a poker table: there's the president, the generals, and the Russian ambassador playing a game of poker for the fate of the world" (Stillman 494).
You did a nice job of touching on a lot of themes and subjects in this movie. I think that you did an excellent job quoting both of these articles. However you could have done more to incorporate your own ideas as well. I don't believe that this project was about summarizing the articles.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a good job summarizing the attitudes of the different critics as well as your own insights into the themes that you found relevant. I suppose I would have liked to hear more about what you thought of the movie as opposed to what the critics thought, but I understand you had constraints from the requirements of this assignment.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you talked about Richardson and how he thought that the director let the actors do whatever they wanted. I like how you brought up that Miss. Scott was the only women present in the movie and that she was used to relay a message between two men. I also like how you talked about the game metaphors like the war room looking like a poker room. Maybe you could have talked about irony a little bit but I liked your article a lot.
ReplyDeleteI like your reflection on the war room and how there was a lack of presents of women in the movie. I liked the sentence leading to the quote; "The circular table with the millitary personal sitting around it hints at the ideal that they are gambling with the fate of the world against nuclear war." Try and fix your margins layout, half of it is in the middle and half is on the left side. You could probably also reflect more on the women's presents and say what you think of it. There are good pictures and everything in you essay.
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