While I agree with your overall point, I’d like to make a small nitpick: Irony is a very broad concept of which satire is one subset. “Irony” basically means “multiple layers of meaning that conflict with each other”. Satire is a form of irony, sarcasm is a form of irony, etc.
The point that some people “get” certain kinds of irony but not others is well made though.
Personally, I think Dr. Strangelove is one of the best movies ever made. Certainly in my top ten. I was born in '82, and didn’t see it until 2002 or so, but I also have a pretty deep knowledge of 20th century history and attitudes, so I “get” much of the movie that I think others with a different perspective might miss.
Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has different interests and priorities. I’m not going to look down on anyone for their tastes. OP hates Dr. Strangelove, I hate My Dinner With Andre. (:barf:) Different strokes for different folks.
I am hard-pressed to think of any comedy in the 60s that even comes close to Strangelove in terms of writing, characterization, and simply hardcore laughs. With a few exceptions, most of Kubrick’s stuff holds up remarkably well because it remains smart, soulful, incisive, and merciless in its depictions of human nature. While a few cultural nuances may be lost over the passage of time, Strangelove isn’t largely dependent on that for its humor. But the humor is incredibly dry and very deadpan and for those people who need more obvious cues to tell them when to laugh, it’s not going to impress them much because subversive wit very rarely goes out of its way to signal these things–it’s just a part of the landscape and easily overlooked.
Satire is the holding up or persons, institutions, etc. to ridicule. Irony is the juxtaposition of opposites. For example, it is ironic that Senator Stongbottom is vehemently opposed to equal rights for homosexuals, and condemns homosexuality as an abomination, yet he is himself a homosexual. Satire is the creation of a ‘Senator Strongbottom’ character (or caricature) to display the real senator’s hypocrisy. My earlier example of fighting taking place near a sign that says ‘Peace Is Our Profession’ is ironic. Showing a military force behaving violently while its ‘mission statement’ is peace is satirical. Or, the Colt 1873 was called ‘The Peacemaker’. That’s ironic because it was used to kill so many people. Satire would be naming the Colt 1873 ‘The Peacemaker’ for the purpose of making a point about its being anything but peaceful. Satire uses irony within a context.
I was born in the late 1980s and I think Dr. Strangelove is one of the best films ever made. Kubrick is my favorite director, and I think most of his stuff holds up pretty well. In fact, the only film of his I don’t like is Eyes Wide Shut, which was his last film.
I suppose there are two kinds of people in this world. People who don’t think the threat of nuclear armageddon is the ultimate joke, and those who do.
Scenes that I can’t even think about without laughing:
General Turgidson clutching a folder entitled: “Projected Civilian Casualties measured in Megadeaths.”
The president’s angry protest that he thought he was the only one with the authority to deploy nuclear weapons being met with the reply of: “Yes… well… it would appear that General Ripper has exceeded his authority.”
I could go on and on really. The point is, I don’t think you have to be old to like Dr. Strange Love. I’m a strapping young buck and I think the film gets funnier every time I watch it.
I have to watch it again I think. The one time I saw this movie was with my then girlfriend who absolutely did NOT enjoy it, and was sure to let me know that.
As I recall I thought it was pretty OK, apart from the Strangelove character - I get the parody, I just thought it was too much, I dunno, funny voices, slapsticky.
Humor is very time-sensitive. Try watching “Stalag 17” now. The main story still works but the parts that are supposed to be funny fall flat on their face.
Another example is one of my favorites from way back when: “The President’s Analyst”.
Then you weren’t aware when we all–even Canadians–nearly died that October. It gave people born before you a fatalism that made us “seize the day” for years after not waking up dead.
They were when I was. Doc Looney (real name) used his as a wine cellar.
Maybe that’s the thing. I don’t watch a lot of movies.
When I was a kid there were no VCRs. You had to wait until a movie came on TV, like The Wizard of Oz once a year.
When VCRs and movie rentals became available I was about 20 and my parents didn’t own a VCR. When we rented movies we rented the VCR and 2 or 3 tapes.
Shortly after, I left my parents’ house and moved 400 miles away. No one owned a VCR at the time. They shortly became popular but the group I hung around with was more interested in music and conversation, so movie nights were limited to a sporadic Monty Python night or Airplane! or something.
There are hundreds of classical movies I’ve never seen due to my demographics and who I hung around with.
When I got married in 1996 my (ex)wife would only rent the latest releases. I could never choose a classic that I hadn’t seen.
Since we separated two years ago I’ve slowly been trying to catch up on classics, but to be honest I don’t like devoting 2 hours to watching a movie. There are almost no movie rental places now, and my rural internet speed won’t support Netflix. I’ve been a victim of technology and marriage!
Born in 1986, I was never around to appreciate the cold war. I still loved the movie. You definitely don’t have to have been through the cold war to appreciate Dr. Strangelove.
I was going to mention this as Kubrick’s joke on Fail Safe, where this concept was treated seriously. And I think the book was “Equivalent Cities in Megadeaths.” But I have been meaning to watch it again when I get the chance.
Other great stuff, which no one has mentioned, is on the plane. Kubrick did this realistic set with no help from the Air Force. (Hardly surprising.) Slim Pickens, a great last minute choice. And the beautiful irony that the heroism and problem solving ability of the B52 crew results in the end of the world.
I saw it when it first came out, and have loved it ever since. I have the novelization and “Red Alert” which it was kind of based on.
OK. Don’t beat me up here, but I’m thinking maybe I don’t appreciate satire as comedy.
I recall watching “Spinal Tap” the first time and not liking it very much; it was too reality-based to be funny.
Over the years, as I re-watched Spinal Tap, I came to terms with the satire and learned to enjoy the movie for what it was.
The Marx Brothers are satirical, and I love their movies though. I dunno. Shit the Three Stooges are funny to me. I don’t know how to compartmentalize all this.
Funny to me is:
Monty Python
Airplane!
Police Squad
Benny Hill
George Carlin
SCTV
Bill Maher
Early Simpsons
The Flintstones
Bugs Bunny
Green Acres
Beverly Hillbillies
Charlie Chaplin
Buster Keaton
etc.
ETA: Not much “high brow” stuff now that I think about it. Hmmmm…
Yes the film was of its time but come on! Do we not still worry about military uñderlings overstepping their bounds? About powerful people disregarding the fate of the cannon fodder? Leaders being utterly disconnected from their actions (
Leaffan, this may not have spoke to you, but i would have bet everyone involved in writing Airplane loved Dr strange love
But I have to say:: Airplane! is a lower version of the same type of comedy as Dr S.L. And I know “lower” is loaded but I liked Airplane! so please don’t take it that way.
I love B&W films. Some modern films made by excellent directors (like Stanley Kubrick who directed Dr. Strangelove and Mel Brooks who directed Young Frankenstein) just don’t feel the same way to me as older B&W films.
I’m not sure exactly why it is, but those earlier films transport me to the time and place shown in the film. I think I should just shut up now and list some of my favorites. Many involve James Mason or Humphrey Bogart.
For anyone interested, here is a list of some of my favorite B&W films. Many of these can be classed as “Film Noir”. If you are ever in the mood for a B&W film, I hope you will enjoy some of these. I just picked some of my favorite. This list is by no means complete.
1941 The Maltese Falcon (Bogart)
1942 Across The Pacific (Bogart)
1948 The Treasure Of Sierra Madre (Bogart)
1954 Sabrina (Bogart)
1947 Odd Man Out (James Mason)
1951 The Desert Fox (James Mason)
1952 5 Fingers (James Mason)
1959 North By Northwest (James Mason)
1962 Lolita (James Mason)
1932 I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang
1940 Virginia City
1941 49th Parallel
1941 The Little Foxes
1942 Once Upon A Honeymoon
1942 Saboteur
1944 Double Indemnity
1944 Laura
1944 Murder My Sweet
1946 Green For Danger
1946 The Best Years Of Our Lives
1946 The Killers (Robert Mitchum)
1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice
1946 The Razors Edge
1947 Lady In The Lake
1947 Monsieur Verdoux (Charlie Chaplin)
1947 Out of The Past (Robert Mitchum)
1948 The Naked City
1949 White Heat
1949 Impact
1949 The Big Steal
1950 Caged
1950 Mystery Street
1950 Sunset Blvd
1950 The Asphalt Jungle (Sterling Hayden)
1950 Winchester 73
1952 Kansas City Confidential
1953 Stalag 17
1956 Invasion Of T Body Snatchers
1956 The Killing
1957 12 Angry Men
1959 On The Beach
1960 The Apartment
1962 To Kill A Mockingbird
1964 Dr. Strangelove
1965 In Harm’s Way
1984 Broadway Danny Rose
1993 Schlindler’s List
I thought Failsafe, which I liked, was a better movie than Dr. Strangelove, which I didn’t. But part of it is that I’m not really a fan of Kubrick’s, maybe. The only films of his I liked were Spartacus and Barry Lyndon.