Seven Days in May (1964)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Fletcher Knebel (novel) &
Charles W. Bailey II (novel) ...

Release Date:

12 February 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

"I'm suggesting Mr President, there's a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday..."

Plot:

US military leaders plot to overthrow the President because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack.

Plot Keywords:

General | U.S. President | Colonel | Cold War | Coup

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Gen. James Mattoon Scott
Kirk Douglas	...	Col. Martin 'Jiggs' Casey
Fredric March	...	President Jordan Lyman
Ava Gardner	...	Eleanor Holbrook
Edmond O'Brien	...	Sen. Raymond Clark
Martin Balsam	...	Paul Girard
Andrew Duggan	...	Col. William 'Mutt' Henderson
Hugh Marlowe	...	Harold McPherson
Whit Bissell	...	Sen. Frederick Prentice
Helen Kleeb	...	Esther Townsend
George Macready	...	Christopher Todd
Richard Anderson	...	Col. Murdock
Bart Burns	...	Art Corwin

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:12 (1964) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:Approved (certificate #20565) | Canada:PG (video rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-8 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Imperial County, California, USA

Company:

Seven Arts Productions

Trivia:

Some film reference works (e.g., the multivolume set, "The Motion Picture Guide") incorrectly list Jack Mullaney's character as "Lt. Hough". "Hough" is the last name of this character in the novel upon which the film is based.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Paul Girard visits Admiral Barnswell on his ship at Gibraltar, he arrives in full daylight and demands the admiral's statement immediately. When he returns to shore it is fully dark. Since his business is urgent, this must not be long after sunset, and hence in Washington it should still be afternoon. Yet at the same time, Ellie is cooking dinner there.

Quotes:

Eleanor "Ellie" Holbrook: I'll make you two promises: a very good steak, medium rare, and the truth, which is very rare.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: 'The Contender': The Making of a Political Thriller (#7.17)" (2000)

Can it really happen? Is it about to happen?

John Frankenheimer directs this powerful political thriller about a conspiracy by top military brass to overthrow the government. A marvelous cast in a powerful, pulse pounding drama. Kirk Douglas is a Marine Colonel that suspects the Joint Chief of Staff Chairman(Burt Lancaster)of plotting a disguised military coup that would destroy the President's nuclear disarmament treaty. Veteran actor Fredric March is outstanding as the President.

The very talented supporting cast includes: the beautiful Ava Gardner, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan and Edmond O'Brien. John Houseman makes his debut in this Rod Serling screenplay. This one is a heavyweight. Paranoia prevails. The Russians are always suspect; but who would think of your own military turning inside out?