Stanley Kubrick is a master at getting out the best of his actors and camera movements. Sure the movie has dated effects but Kubrick keeps the focus on the actors. Where he positions his actors in each shot and how he chooses to move the camera with the actors is clear that influenced great directors of today like David Fincher. There's this scene with Ripper and Mandrake where the first half of the scene has the conversation only at Ripper's back. Then once we see his face we get to see how much anger and passion he has towards dropping this bomb. Saving his acting and expression until he starts he speech is another example of why Kubrick is one of the best. He gives importance to Buck when he hasn't even been introduced yet by having his voice shout from a different room. Having someone else answer his phone call also suggests how important his character is. It's just great storytelling through subliminal writing and direction. The typical flow of a normal action movie would have the general answer the phone himself and use big strong words instead.
Speaking of Buck, George C. Scott is an ineffably talented actor. You'll recognize him from Patton. How he speaks to the president shows what sort of power he has and charisma with backing up everything he has both with how he delivers the line and the mannerisms he adds to the performance. Hand movements, blinking, nodding, chewing of his gum, all of it is adding to a more interesting conversation that draws in the audience for an otherwise boring conversation.
Peter Sellers is all over the place in this film, in a good way. He plays three different characters and it's a daring move on both his acting ability and Kubrick's direction for one actor in three different parts. He plays the mild-mannered Captain Mandrake, the calm and frown-faced President Muffley, and also Dr. Strangelove of course. His conversation with Dimitri on the phone is hilarious and an instant classic. Each of his characters are so different that it's a surprise that he lost to Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady) in the Oscars that year.
Slim Pickens is the funniest actor in the film and adds an awful lot of comedy to an already filled movie. You'll recognize him as Taggart from Blazing Saddles. "Tell him I said...Ow!" He plays the pilot, Major Kong, of the B52 who will drop the bomb on Russia.
Result: A (One of Kubrick's best films though I don't know if I would want to watch this over and over)
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