Main Cast: George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Richard Dreyfuss, Hank Azaria, Brian Dennehy
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
Plot
A seemingly-minor electronic error sets the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation in this made-for-TV adaptation of the novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler (which was previously filmed in 1964). Due to the burn-out of a piece of circuitry, a computer orders a U.S. Air Force jet on a strategic bombing raid, destroying targets in Russia with nuclear weapons. As Generals Bogan (Brian Dennehy) and Black (Harvey Keitel) desperately search for a way to recall the planes once the mistake has been discovered, the bomber's commander, Col. Grady (George Clooney) sets out on his mission with grim determination, while the President (Richard Dreyfuss) and his translator (Noah Wyle) stay in contact with the Soviet premier, trying to convince him that this was all a terrible mistake. Fail Safe was first presented as a live television broadcast which aired on CBS on April 9, 2000. The supporting cast includes Hank Azaria, Don Cheadle, James Cromwell, and Sam Elliott. Star George Clooney spearheaded the unique project and served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Harvey Keitel - Warren Block; Don Cheadle - Pierce; James Cromwell - Gordon Knapp; Sam Elliott - Congressman Tom Raskob; John Diehl - Colonel Cascio; Norman Lloyd - Secretary Swenson; Bill Smitrovich - General Stark; Doris Belack - Mrs. Johnson; Cynthia Ettinger - Betty Black; Tommy Hinkley - Sgt. Collins; Grant Heslov - Navigator
Credit
Barbara Miller - Costume Designer, Stephen Frears - Director, George Clooney - Executive Producer, Laura Ziskin - Executive Producer, Pamela Oas Williams - Executive Producer, Barbara Miller - Composer (Music Score), John A. Alonzo - Cinematographer, Walter Bernstein - Producer, Tom Park - Producer, Ed Green - Sound/Sound Designer, Walter Bernstein - Teleplay By, Walter Bernstein - Screenwriter, Walter Bernstein - Co-Executive Producer, Harvey Wheeler - Co-Executive Producer, Harvey Wheeler - Book Author, Eugene L. Burdick - Book Author