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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Fail-Safe


Genre: Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 45 (Jan/Feb 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Dan O

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3
DD Sound Rating: 1.5
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: NA
Internet Links


Special Features
Extras include director


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 05424
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Rating Reason):

NA
(Retail Price): $24.95
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 112
(Color Type): Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 1964
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 10/31/00
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Sidney Lumet
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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(Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
When a military computer deploys a squadron of Strategic Air Command bombers to destroy Moscow in error, the President of the United States tries to call them back. But the Fail-Safe system to enable the military to abort the mission fails and the bombs are in the air. To prevent the Soviets from retailating, the President makes the decision to sacrifice an American city in exchange for Moscow if the bombers succeed in their mission. From the novel by Eugene Burdick & Harvey Wheeler. (Laurie Sevano)

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD exhibits good image quality, with nicely rendered visual information within the gray scale. Blacks are deep and whites are bright with generally good contrast. Images are sharp throughout, but fine detail is wanting, especially in the darker scenes. Fine film grain is revealed throughout, but is not overly perceived. Overall, the DVD should generally please for its age. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby