Aurora University presents 'Dr. Strangelove'

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," a 1964 black comedy film, will open a 2008-09 film series at Aurora University.

The free public series opens at 7 p.m. in Perry Theatre in the Aurora Foundation Center for Community Enrichment, 1305 Kenilworth Place in Aurora.

Donovan Gwinner, assistant professor of English, will introduce "Dr. Strangelove" and moderate a discussion following the screening. The films are part of AU's "Celebrating Arts and Ideas series, 21 events including art, films, theater, music and lectures during 2008-09.

Call (630) 844-5615 for information.

"Dr. Strangelove" (1964) is a black comedy film directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott, and featuring Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn and Slim Pickens. Loosely based by screenwriter Terry Southern on Peter George's Cold War thriller novel "Red Alert" (aka Two Hours to Doom), the film satirizes the Cold War and the doctrine of mutual assured destruction.

The story concerns a mentally unstable U.S. Air Force general who orders a first strike nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. The plot follows the president of the United States, his advisers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Royal Air Force officer as they try to recall the bombers to prevent a nuclear apocalypse, as well as the crew of one B-52 as they attempt to deliver their payload.

In 1989, the Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. Additionally, it was listed as third on the American Film Institute's 100 Years - 100 Laughs.

The film series continues at 7 p.m. in Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration, 407 S. Calumet Ave. in Aurora. The schedule is: "Iron Jawed Angels," Nov. 3; "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Jan. 28; and "Bigger, Faster, Stronger," March 23.