Dr.Strangelove+Film+Analysis+by+Ryan+Chong

At a glance, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb appears to be a satire piece exaggerating people’s fears of a nuclear war during the Cold War Era. Through further analysis, one can see that because of Stanley Kubrick’s meticulous nature, there are many symbols displayed throughout the film that provides a different message. As a scholarly article points out, Stanley Kubrick shows recurring use of elements of ... to reveal a message that reflects his personal opinion on what his modern society looked like. The theme (or what the character needs) is to prevent a nuclear war, making this an anti-military film. Kubrick’s meticulous nature is often portrayed in his elaborate uses of Mise-En-Scene. In every shot, every frame is like a photograph that have been well set up. This is prominent due to the fact that before Kubrick entered the film business, he was a photographer whom was also very meticulous with his work. He did indeed have works that he manipulated the setting and actors to achieve, as well as works that captured the moment in such a way that his message was sent across to the audience. In //Dr. Stangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb//, there is a strong reoccurrence of sexual innuendoes displayed through the Mise-En-Scene, for example the opening credits of the film presents us with giant the phallic symbols the plane refueling tube and the planes themselves, going through the process of a B-52 refueling in mid air shows either sexual intercourse or a mother breast feeding which the tanker plane is the mother. This argument is supported by the commentary on the film made by various people involved with the production of the film and also a film analyst from Filmsite.org. The use of these symbols point out a the tension of males when their tendency to reproduce is restrained by an external force, such as work pressure, or internal force such as the inability to become erect. Kubrick is more than meets the eye, meaning other than the Mise-En-Scene, the director has also included hints to the theme within the sounds of the film as well, whether it is the music playing the background, what the characters day, or even the name of the characters. One of the articles that I have selected to help support this argument includes a chart which I have provided below.


 * **Character Name** || **Sexual Connotation or Reference** || **Actor** ||
 * Jack D. Ripper || a notorious English psychopathic killer of prostitutes, or a killer in general || Sterling Hayden ||
 * Mandrake || a medicinal plant root or herb, said to encourage fertility, conception or potency - an aphrodisiac || Peter Sellers ||
 * Buck Turgidson || a "buck" is a male animal or stud; "turgid" means distended or swollen; and his delayed love- making to a real-life //Playboy// centerfold Tracy Reed - the //only// woman in the entire film || George C. Scott ||
 * Merkin Muffley || merkin = slang for female pubic area or pudendum; muff = a woman's pubic area or genitalia, or specifically, the pubic hair/fur/wig for the female crotch || Peter Sellers ||
 * Col. 'Bat' Guano || bat excrement || Keenan Wynn ||
 * Soviet premier Dmitri Kissof || "kiss-off", literally means 'start of disaster', or to dump or scorn || Voice only ||
 * Ambassador Desadeski || named after the Marquis de Sade - an infamous and perverted sexual lover and sadist in the 18th century (sade-ism) || Peter Bull ||
 * Maj. T.J. "King" Kong || signifying a male beast with a primitive, destructive, obsessive lust || Slim Pickens ||
 * Dr. Strange-love || perverted love || Peter Sellers ||
 * The bombs || Inscribed with "Dear John" and "Hi There" ||  ||

//Behind the Scenes: Dr.Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (On DVD)// //Senses of Cinema – Stanley Kubrick//