Dr. Strangelove is a strange movie to say the least. Yet, it’s an entertaining hour and a half watch as you see the plot of a couple of misaligned generals who decide to take over the military in an attempt to start a nuclear war with Russia. In the movie, these officials were itching for a chance to take on the red enemy, and defeat him.

This movie was filmed in 1964, shortly thereafter the Cuban Missile Crisis, and highlights what was called the unmanageable defense department that was supposedly under civilian control, but in practice even the President had to take pause to the consideration of bureaucratic wishes of the department.

Whether or not a few generals could take over the department and set off an non-reversible process to full-scale nuclear war is questionable, but it’s an interesting theory. The move does ask some real questions about who controls the military, and whether or not the President could actually control the military should high level officials really control the military.

We now live in a vastly different time from when this film was made. Yet, we have to wonder who is really running our government. Is it the generals and bureaucrats or do our leaders have ultimate control? After watching this old film you will be left with question to ponder as you sit back and mull over the ideas expressed in this film.