Five for Fonda Film Series: Fail Safe

Fail Safe (Sidney Lumet, 1964, 35mm, 112 mins)

Henry Fonda is an American president in crisis when a computer glitch sends nuclear bombers to attack Moscow. Released the same year as Dr. Strangelove, this other black-and-white Cold War classic is a taut, tense, psychologically-rich political drama that warns against our over-reliance on fallible and destructive technology. “An impressive and disturbing brink-of-doom thriller” (Kim Newman) that “packs a melodramatic wallop” (Bosley Crowther). 35mm print from Sony Pictures.

The “Five for Fonda” series features a selection of films starring or about actor Henry Fonda.