[Oatka]

What frizzed my hair was when it dawned on me that Gen. Ripper was mad. Hayden did a flawless transition from a tough-talking general into a lunatic. He later praised the film editors, saying that he was half drunk when he did the scene and amid all the retakes, they got that Sterling (ahem) performance.

Another realistic touch was using the hand held camera during the attack on the base - gave it a "you are there" feeling.

Could it have actually happened? Don't think so. If they were able to receive a recall code then they also could have received a code to blow up the plane - I'll bet that was another unknown - a self-destruct device that could be activated by headquarters in case some pilot went nuts.

And who can forget Sgt. Bat Guano (Keenan Wynn).

[okie01]

What frizzed my hair was when it dawned on me that Gen. Ripper was mad.

Dr. Strangeglove was blessed by the performance of five superb character actors -- Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, George C. Scott and Peter Sellers. Each was so skilled that they could go "over the top"...and succeed.

[Wilhelm Tell]

I agree that Sterling Hayden did an incredible performance as the insane general. The scene where he chomps on a cigar and does his famous rant about "precious bodily fluids" is unforgettable. Hayden made the character so serious -- as if he believed the crazy things he was saying and it was a matter of life or death. And his facial expressions -- and the fanatic's glare -- something about his eyes and the way he glared seemed to perfectly depict what one would expect an insane fanatic to look like.

Have you seen a picture of a lunatic (say a terrorist or a war criminal) and noticed -- I don't know how else to describe it -- their eyes kind of look dead? Kind of glassy? Hayden somehow captured the expression in a way that I found rather frightening. I didn't know the story that he was half-drunk at the time. I guess that explains the glassy-eyed look, LOL!