loading loading...

Fail Safe Details

2000 DVD Certificate PG.gif
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1059 members

This groundbreaking live broadcast television drama, directed by Stephen Frears, features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Richard Dreyfuss, Don Cheadle, and Harvey Keitel. When a American bomber is accidentally ordered to drop a bomb on Moscow, the crisis must be averted before all-out war ensues. Read more

Starring George Clooney, Richard Dreyfuss, Noah Wyle, Brian Dennehy
Director Stephen Frears
Genres Drama

loading loading...

Fail Safe

This groundbreaking live broadcast television drama, directed by Stephen Frears, features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Richard Dreyfuss, Don Cheadle, and Harvey Keitel. When a American bomber is accidentally ordered to drop a bomb on Moscow, the crisis must be averted before all-out war ensues.

Starring George Clooney, Richard Dreyfuss, Noah Wyle, Brian Dennehy, Hank Azaria, Sam Elliott, James Cromwell, John Diehl, Harvey Keitel
Director Stephen Frears
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 26 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate PG.gif
Genres Drama
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles English
Released DVD: 18 Sep 2000
Production year: 2000
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews of Fail Safe

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    Remaking the 1964 Sidney Lumet Cold War classic about a president who nukes New York in atonement for a rogue missile's decimation of Moscow was a challenge in itself. But to do it in one take and in letterboxed black and white was asking a lot of even this talented cast. It was 40 years since live TV drama went out of vogue and the odd gaff here explains why. Yet, director Stephen Frears achieves a judicious blend of suspense and philosophising, as the various hawks and doves seek to sway Richard Dreyfuss while George Clooney's plane gets ever closer to its target.

    • Radio Times
  • Most helpful member's review of Fail Safe

    View all
  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A Hit

    Cold war drama with a similar storyline to Dr Strangelove, but without the comedy.

    The sense of 1960s TV theatre is real - this is a recording of the live b/w TV broadcast. Moving performances from a brilliant starry cast remind you just how good these actors can be.

    America's climate of fear is as relevant today as it was then. Depressing to think that no real President would have the nobility to make the kind of agonising sacrifice that Richard Dreyfus does here.

      • Lord Q from Winchester, UK
  • Most recent members' review of Fail Safe

    View all
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Do n't bother

    One to miss, it did nt work and was dreary.

      • A customer from Harrogate
  • More like this

    View all

Rating breakdown

1,059 Member ratings
  • 100
93
  • 90
74
  • 80
167
  • 70
162
  • 60
179
  • 50
109
  • 40
81
  • 30
65
  • 20
75
  • 10
54

Related user collection

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop


    • Fail Safe
    • DVD: £3.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £5.99 (you save: 34%)
    • This groundbreaking live broadcast television drama, directed by Stephen Frears, features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Richard Dreyfuss, Don Cheadle, and Harvey Keitel. When ...