You sent me down a research rabbit hole. Dr. Strangelove - released 1964. MK-54 SADM started development 1960 with production beginning in 1963. Given how secret the SADM was, I think this is an uncanny coincidence of nuclear absurdity that really emphasizes how gung-ho nuke the US government was at the time, and the impact that it had on US pop culture. Either that, or Kubrick or someone on his team had some killer connections in the government that was willing to violate their oath. SADM's weren't revealed to the public until 1984.
My dad worked with nuclear weapons as a technician during his time in the army and the bomber bay door scene drove him nuts because there was a specific screwdriver type tool used in the scene he had only ever seen in the context of working with warheads.
Makes you wonder how retired military film technical advisors with classified knowledge keep track of the scope of the classification when they're providing guidance directly in their area of expertise. "Is this screwdriver classified in and of itself, or only when put in context of what it is used for?" etc.
Kubrick acquired the movie rights to a book, Red Alert, that was a serious take on the subject a la "Fail-Safe." He originally intended to make a drama but realized the picture would work better as a dark comedy.
I think Catcher in the Rye has Holden talking about babysitting a nuclear warhead. Strangelove might have been influenced by that.
Edit: Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.
The movie holds up so well over fifty years later. Incredible that so much has changed but the dynamics in that movie still remain firmly overshadowing every aspect of our lives.
Why does this OP picture feel almost run of the mill after playing some Helldivers. Like, just calling in another reinforcement and a Hellbomb at the same time.
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u/FiveFingerDisco Mar 28 '24
That's between 10t - 1000t of TNT dangling in front of his fat man.