Without opening up a feminist can of worms, I think it's reasonable to say that historically, men have had to wrestle with more demons--or at a minimum, very different demons--growing up than women--fear of failure, fear of losing one's manhood, fear of death or dismemberment on the battlefield or on the job (which is frequently used as a Freudian symbol of castration in the movies--Barry Lyndon losing his leg, Luke Skywalker losing a hand, etc.--there's those phallic references again!), fear of getting loved ones or family killed as a result of error or incompetence, etc., etc., These are ancient, primal fears, that have been with men since The Dawn of Man (oh wait, that's from a different Stanley Kubrick movie--never mind). And overcoming those fears, or at least controlling them, is essential to functioning as a man. And Dr. Strangelove is all about all of those fears--and more.
All of which are my take, off the top of my head, as to a few of the reasons why Dr. Strangelove is one of the great guy films of all time.
Article comments
1 - Anne
I do intend to see "Dr. Stangelove," since Kubrick's other films have impressed me, frustrated me, or otherwise left me thinking about them for a long time afterward. However, I must take issue with the idea that men have had to face more demons than women. However different those burdens may be, that doesn't mean women's are less stressful. That said, I mean no ill will--your article was the impetus for my plans to rent the film this weekend (though I don't think it'll much of a date movie).
2 - SKBubba
Hey, nice analysis of my #1 favorite movie of all time. Purity of Essence and Peace on Earth!
3 - Sarah
I dunno. I'm a woman in my early twenties, and I LOVE "Dr. Strangelove." And I know other women who like it, men who like it, and lots of women and men both who just don't get it.
To me, a kid who never experienced the terror of seemingly imminent nuclear war, it's just a really funny movie.