loading loading...

Fail Safe Details

2000 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1069 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 Certificate PG
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: 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
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    This is great. I haven't seen the original but would very much like to. This was effectively made-for-tv in production, but the cast alone is top notch. The tension is palpable and the actions believable under extreme circumstances. I would also recommend twelve angry men if you like this film (or visa versa).

      • Patrick#46 from LEICESTER
  • More like this

    View all

Rating breakdown

1,069 Member ratings
  • 100
95
  • 90
74
  • 80
168
  • 70
165
  • 60
181
  • 50
109
  • 40
83
  • 30
65
  • 20
75
  • 10
54

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 ...