This first picture shows the "Darkness" of Rippers character.
This is the war roomy war room.

It seems to me that while Dr. Strangelove was this highly acclaimed introspective intellectual satirical etc. and so forth masterpiece, at the root of it all Kubrick seemed to just fun with the project.

His personality is reflected through the film, and a lot of messages are conveyed in a not-up-front manner. Let me elaborate. One of the first scenes is Mandrake talking to Ripper on the phone. In Rippers set, everything is dark and quiet (representing his dark, Mysterious qualities), while Mandrake is in the bright room with all the fast moving lights and sounds. As Russ said, this may represent his logic and intelligence to be shown later in the film.

In the war room a lot of comedy is used and I think it really reflects how Kubrick does his work. I liked how the war room looked exactly like a war room. The dark background with all the focus on the huge round table and the war board screams war room. We must remember we are watching a film produced by the guy who did A Clockwork Orange, starring detective Jack Cloustouee (you should know who that is). It is a match made in heaven. Kubrick uses the wild militant (Turgison) to represent the ideal American. Strong, proud, but a little quick to the assumptions, and of course his counterpart (Muffley). Muffley is like the indecisive politician. Everyone is waiting for Strangelove to appear (the movie is named after him), and his entrance is awesome. Whealchair plus silly accent with dark background and intense focus on him. It seems that everyone in the war room listens to him and is presumably under him in intelligence. Kubrick rocks. Its just cool how he puts it all together in a way that "makes fun" of our culture, but definitely keeps it light hearted and goofy.

The whole movie has a hint of sarcasm. You can taste it in the airplane scene where they are taking the camera and showing us every step the guys go through when they get the messages and when they try to put down the landing gear. It Kubrick's sense of humor, and you get a feel for it.

We learn that the movie was largely influnced by random things in Kubrick's enviornment. "Elements unique to the Kubrick screenplay also seem to echo films and television programs highlighted in that week’s Time listings" (Stillman 490) . In the words of Stillman, “discovery of these roots in no way diminishes the overall intellectual and artistic achievements of this film.” Yes… the sets mirror doctor No. Why? Its because Stanley liked Dr. No. Yes.. he uses random bits and pieces from his environment and threw them all together in a salad of awesome to put it together. Why? He needs to fill in the spaces. I think he just does it.

We can see Kubrick in this film: the film is him. In a video representation. We cannot forget when we all laughed when Furgison said “He will see the big board”. He had fun with this movie: you don’t see that anymore. I think he just rolled wit it.



WORKS CITED:

Kubrick, Stanley, Dir. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB. COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION: 1964, Film.

Stillman, Grant B. "Two of the MADdest scientists: where Strangelove Meets Dr. No; or, unexpected roots for Kubrick’s cold war classic." Film History Volume vol. 20:4. (2008) 487-500.