During this time period, nuclear annihilation was the greatest fear of the majority of people in the world. However, this film was willing to bring forward the potential events in a light that managed to make it humorous as well as eye opening. From simple things such as the personality of the B-52 pilot to mocking the relationships between leaders, this film brought up many different points that raise questions about certain aspects of the nuclear warfare and the Cold War.
Major King Kong, the pilot of the B-52, is made out to be like an American cowboy, which obviously uses that American icon as a way to influence the view of the character. The way he acts along with many of his actions make him out to be what you would normally see as the hero in a movie. However, he is ignorant to the fact that he is about to cause a gigantic blow to the human race. It manages to put people in an awkward position making them wish to root for them to succeed while at the same time hoping they don't, out of the knowledge that it will destroy mankind. Even up to the detonation of the bomb, as he rides it out of the plane, he's seen whooping and cheering like he managed to perform a great deed and is going out a hero. Knowing that he is oblivious to the effect of his actions, the viewer has no choice but to feel good for the character regardless of the fact that we know he's basically ended modern civilization. This double sided view makes people uncomfortable with how to take in a successful nuclear attack from their own side.
Another important aspect of the film to note, is the way that the President speaks with the Russian Premier. The way they speak to one another is like that of old friends completely removing the urgency of the impending nuclear attack. It makes it seem like nuclear destruction isn't all that important and that what really matters is who feels more sorry. Their conversations are so casual that it makes you forget the fact that these two countries are in conflict with one another. It brings to light a view that in the face of impending nuclear annihilation, the leadership of the world is incompetent to deal with it. It makes the relationship between the leaders funny while at the same time horrific in the thought of this occurring during the event in reality.
Something of note that the reading brings up is the success of different technologies in the film. It's true in that everything destructive is successful while anything productive seems to fail when it's needed. The plane is struck by a missile and the only thing that seems readily damaged is the radio which is necessary for calling off the attack. The bomb is initially stuck but is freed when it is needed to be dropped on its target. When Mandrake needs to call the President to relay the code to call off the attack, he is short on change to use the phone. To me, this all points out how non-destructive technology also has an influence in the events that transpire. Had everything worked, the attack would have been called off or unsuccessful and crisis would be averted. It brings to mind what should be in place to make sure that these events could be covered for in an emergency.
One of the last things the film manages to point out, is the absurdity of the competition during the Cold War. The fact that the greatest worry at the end is not the wide-spread destruction that will be caused, but the possibility of a mine shaft gap brings up the point that the competition ignores the consequences of itself. People are so worried of not falling behind that they don't pay attention to the fact that they are putting themselves in greater jeopardy but pushing farther. The arms race was focused on creating the largest nuclear weapons supply but it was this fact that created fear of nuclear destruction. The competition between the two countries is so unnecessary that it brings up the question of why there is the competition in the first place.
This film managed to bring up many touchy subjects of the time and put them forth as humorous while at the same time being realistic. It is in this way that the film can have the greatest influence on peoples' views of the time. Now, we can see the absurdity of everything that occurred but during the time, the possibility of such events made the film have a much greater impact. It was funny then as it is now, but in a different way due to the people watching.
