Dr. Strangelove

This landmark satire by director Stanley Kubrick takes the entire concept of global nuclear annihilation and turns it into black comedy. The classic film depicts the panic that ensues when bombers are sent to Russia and cannot be turned back. Peter Sellers stars in three roles: the mild-mannered U.S. president; a British officer held prisoner by the insane general (Sterling Hayden) who ordered the attack; and the title character, an ex-Nazi scientist. Sellers was also supposed to play the pilot of the lead bomber, but a heart attack sidelined him; the role went to Slim Pickens, and it became the most famous of his career. The cast also includes George C. Scott, Keenan Wynn, James Earl Jones (in his film debut) and Peter Bull. The jaw-dropping sets were designed by Ken Adam. Interestingly, Columbia was simultaneously shooting FAIL-SAFE, which tells the same story in a more serious fashion but STRANGELOVE was released first.