How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Essay Example

Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 piece Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a study of the political tension over the fear of nuclear war. This apocalyptic look at the hypothetical scenario of nuclear annihilation had been a widespread anxiety that particularly prevailed during the 1950s up to the 1970s simultaneous with the conflict with Communist countries, more specifically, Russia. Kubrick takes on the controversial issue and turns it into a dark comedy about a paranoid general, General Jack Ripper, who single-handedly ignited nuclear warfare against Russia through a fleet of B-52 bombers each carrying 40 megatons of nuclear warheads directed strategically to Russia’s centers of military activity. The plot thickens as Russian Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky informs U.S. President Merkin Muffley that his country has the Doomsday Device that when triggered would produce a set of nuclear explosions that will eventually lead to the annihilation of all living creatures on earth. Even more alarming is the fact that the device, once triggered, cannot be recalled. The intense subject of the film, especially at a time right after the Cold War, was treated in a different light by its director. No one would have probably expected a political about this topic but this was exactly what Kubrick did. The film shows, in all its legitimate comedic value, the political and social stereotypes that would prevail as a matter of human nature and despite surrounding circumstances. The juxtaposition in the film is an important element to consider in its overall theme. The catchphrase “Peace is our Profession” is a re-appearing visual that comes out a number of times. In the opening scenes, the audience sees Gen. Ripper on the phone with Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake giving the instructions to implement Plan R and that his order is not a drill. We see him serious on the phone and smoking a cigar intently. On his back is a poster with the phrase and an illustration inside a plaque shape with a clenched fist holding thunderbolts and leaves together with clouds on the background. The same words were not seen immediately on Capt. Mandrake’s background. But as soon as Gen. Ripper can be heard signaling Plan R, the camera changes angles and one can see on his side the same phrase but on a different poster. Instead of the clenched fist, the phrase is unassumingly placed on top of a map with different coordinates around it. This is shown to create the contrast between upholding of peace and starting a war. In order to understand the political viewpoint that is prevalent during the period when the film was shot, there must be appreciation of the general American sentiment at that time. Charles Maland in his essay, Dr. Strangelove (1964): Nightmare Comedy and the Ideology of Liberal Consensus notes that it was a time after the war that Americans had begun to have a unified sense of belief against all other governments not consistent with that of America’s. This is an offshoot of World War II where the defeat of the Axis powers created a new paradigm which enforced American dominance over other nations. The only danger to this school of thought is the rise of the Communist power. The United States, consistent with its notions as the “Free World,” led the fight to topple Communism as what it perceives to be a matter of responsibility which Maland calls the Ideology of Liberal Consensus. He cites Geoffrey Hodgson in stating that there are “two cornerstone assumptions: that the structure of American society was basically sound, and that Communism was a clear danger to the survival of the United States and its allies” (697-698). This can be seen throughout the film and more evident in the military characters that embodied American patriotism and Russian suspicion. Gen. Ripper sets off the B-52 contingency plan of the United States named Operation Dropkick on the belief that the fluoridation of water is a Communist conspiracy to overtake the world. He sends out the initially ominous message after detonating the plan of attack saying, “God willing, we will prevail, in peace and freedom from fear, and in true health, through the purity and essence of our natural... fluids. God bless you all” (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb). The message which mentions God twice is in clear contrast with the belief that Communism does not partake of believing in God. This fact was again re-established by General ‘Buck’ Turgidson when he calls Ambassador Alexi an atheist. When Major Kong receives and confirms the message that Plan R is in force, the Major represents the patriotic soldier from the South who awakens the morale of his troop for the glory of the country. Wearing his cowboy hat and in his thick Southern accent, he makes a speech through the radio, enticing them on the possibility of awards and recognition for their efforts with the marching beat of When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again playing in the background to reinforce the air of loyalty and heroism (Boyer 101). Ironically though, his last name Kong is far from any known American last names which should be consistent with his character. Toward the end of the movie when the door of the plane would not open to release the bomb, he goes down the aircraft to manually disarm it. He becomes successful and the viewer gets a last glimpse of Maj. Kong riding his nuclear warhead like a cowboy trying to get hold of a mechanical bull and absolutely happy about it. America’s allies are also not amiss in the film. Group Capt. Mandrake represented the British Army and was an important character in the film. He was contacted by Gen. Ripper and had sent off the message to carry out Plan R. However, his realization that the decision was not by the President but only by Ripper came a little too late. Mandrake is shown to ineffectively pacify the delusional Gen. Ripper. The satirical film is filled with allusions that only reinforce the black comedy that it pursues. The names chosen add to the general humor and substance that prevails. Gen. Jack D. Ripper is a reference to the serial killer in London who never got caught. The name of the stray plane is “The Leper Colony” which suggests that its crew is incapable. Major Kong indicates the ape character from another film. While the name of the president, Merkin Muffley is a designation on the street term for female parts. Another is Gen. Turgidson whose first two syllables mean erection based of Freudian terminology. These names only add to the absurdity and the caricatures of the individuals (Wakefield 191-192). Their names all have a direct link to the characters they are designated to and they represent the reality of the men that are actually behind an entire country’s safety. Not unlike in the movie, a breach in the chain of command could easily setoff something that would be difficult to take back. In the film, we see Gen. Turgidson explain to the President exactly what happened, and the latter oblivious that everything was actually approved by him. Communist name-callings and labeling was commonplace in the movie and so was American imperialistic impression. These prejudices and disagreements were a constant indication of the contradictions that are prevalent between Americans and Russians. But this is not only a political commentary but also a cultural one. Aside from this, there are also chauvinistic stereotypes that are frequently shown. Gen. Turgidson is the classic representation of the male philanderer giving importance to sexual intercourse amid their doomsday dilemma. When Dr. Stangelove proposes the mineshaft shelter where the men against women ratio should be 10:1, Turgidson supports the idea asking rather excitedly that this would eliminate monogamy. Dr. Strangelove replies saying, “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.” Even the ambassador thinks this to be a good idea. It is also worth mentioning that there is not one significant female character in the movie. There is only a short appearance of Turgidson’s secretary answering the phone for him in a skimpy outfit easily suggesting they have relations other than professional. Speaking of stereotypes, Dr. Stangelove is the embodiment of typecasting in the film. The brilliant but handicapped doctor is the most objective character in the movie. He voices what he thinks based on logical appreciation of the facts. However, he remains the exaggerated German scientist who had a direct connection to Adolf Hitler and his Reich regime with the primary aim of racial purification. The satirical character is in a wheelchair speaking monotonously on his scientific knowledge about nuclear technology when inquired upon. His right hand is covered in dark gloves and when he expresses his opinion of the effects of the fallout, his hand shoots up to the air and he gestures the famous ‘hail Hitler’ salute. This is further emphasized as he addresses Pres. Muffley as mein fuhrer a couple of times including when he rises from his wheelchair excited about the recent turn of events. The Nazi notions that people will ordinarily have were all wrapped in the character of Dr. Strangelove. The impact of the film is not based on its accurate depiction of a nuclear war among nations but it lies on the honesty embedded within the embellished ironic comedy. The safeguards that are main basis of retaliatory plans of attack are founded on the basis of not wanting to be overcome by the enemy. It plays on the suspicion of an all-out arms race that preoccupied many people during that time and takes it to a scope where imagination becomes reality. “Kubrick portrays a nuclear holocaust arising from the intersection of contemporary nuclear strategy and human fallibility” (Boyer 97). The need to be on top preoccupies the characters above everything else. Human error is an evident reality and this was shown by the events that allowed Gen. Ripper to install a plan that should not have been within the decision of only a single man. Further, the mineshaft idea was supported by the people in the War Room mainly because they do not want to suffer the mineshaft gap and not because it is toward the preservation of the human race. A nuclear war remains a real threat and though the main actors may have changed, the fear over this immensely destructive technology remains. It is just upon hoping that rather than being like the characters in the film, people could actually come together and set aside personal or political agendas. Works Cited Boyer, Paul. “Dr. Strangelove: Stanley Kubrick Presents the Apocalypse.” Fallout: A Historian Reflects on America’s Half-Century Encounter with Nuclear Weapons. Ohio: The Ohio State University, 1998. 95-102. Ohio State Press. Web. 12 May 2014. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Dir. Stanley Kubrick. Perf. Peter Sellers.Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1964. DVD. Maland, Charles. “Dr. Strangelove (1964): Nightmare Comedy and the Ideology of Liberal Consensus.” American Quarterly 1979: 697-717. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Web. 12 May 2014. Wakefield, Caran. Dark Roots: Humor and Tragedy in Doctor Strangelove” Mercer Street 2008: 191-98. New York University. Web. 12 May 2014. Read More