Kick-Back Friday: #67

Fail-Safe

(1964): With its self-important tone and preposterous ending, it's more miss than hit for director Sidney Lumet and his original* cold-war drama. But as a time capsule of doomsday angst, the film has its merits, including a surprisingly touching performance by Larry Hagman (pre-"I Dream of Jeannie") as the President's Russian translator.

* In 2000, Fail-Safe was remade as a live TV broadcast, starring Richard Dreyfuss and George Clooney.