Because of a technical defect an American bomber team mistakenly orders the destruction of Moscow. The President of the United States has but little time to prevent an atomic catastrophe from occurring.
Direction
Lumet traps you in rooms with no escape — physically or morally.
Acting
Fonda's presidential composure cracking in real-time is devastating.
Editing
Ruthless cuts between rooms build pressure until something snaps.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Henry Fonda
The President
Walter Matthau
Prof. Groeteschele
Fritz Weaver
Col. Cascio
Larry Hagman
Buck
Frank Overton
Gen. Bogan
Edward Binns
Col. Jack Grady
Dan O'Herlihy
Brig. Gen. Warren A. Black
William Hansen
Defense Secretary Swenson
Russell Hardie
Gen. Stark
Janet Ward
Helen Grady
Dom DeLuise
TSgt. Collins
Russell Collins
Knapp
Sorrell Booke
Congressman Raskob
John Connell
Thomas
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released same year as Dr. Strangelove; Kubrick's comedy actually hurt Fail Safe's box office. Audiences picked their poison.
The black-and-white aesthetic wasn't budget — Lumet wanted newsreel immediacy. You weren't watching a movie. You were watching history that hadn't happened yet.
US
