Fail-Safe

TCM's Dave Karger introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

TCM's Dave Karger introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

TCM's Saturday afternoon host Tiffany Vazquez introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

Guest host Dave Karger introduces Fail-Safe, 1964.

While there's only a routine strategic alert in place, hawkish civilian nuclear war expert Groeteschele (Walter Matthau) is giving a previously scheduled talk to top military brass, jousting in particular with General Black (Dan O'Herlihy), in Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe, 1964.

Dan O'Herlihy, as "General Black," features in the nightmare sequence and opening credits to Fail-Safe 1964, directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau.

First scene for translator Buck (Larry Hagman) and for the president (Henry Fonda), going underground at the start of the crisis precipitated by an accidental incursion by an American nuclear bomber squadron, consulting with General Bogan (Frank Overton), in Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe, 1964.

First scene for nuclear war theorist Groeteschele (Walter Matthau), holding court at a Washington cocktail party, diplomat Foster (Dana Elcar) objecting, with no suggestion of the crisis that comes later in the film, in Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe, 1964.

Knapp (Russell Collins), Colonel Cascio (Fritz Weaver) et al at missile command as the accidental American nuclear attack proceeds, Secretary Swenson (William Hansen) presiding in the war room, hawkish civilian Groeteschele (Walter Matthau) dominating, the president (Henry Fonda) sequestered, in Sidney Lumet's Cold War thriller Fail-Safe, 1964.