IMDb > Seven Days in May (1964)
Seven Days in May
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Seven Days in May (1964) More at IMDbPro »

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Seven Days in May (1964) -- US military leaders plot to overthrow the President because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack.

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   4,406 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Frankenheimer
Writers:
Fletcher Knebel (novel) &
Charles W. Bailey II (novel) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Seven Days in May on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 February 1964 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance | Thriller more
Tagline:
"I'm suggesting Mr President, there's a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday..." more
Plot:
US military leaders plot to overthrow the President because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Glorious 39 | Film review
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 21 November 2009, 4:06 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Forget "West Wing", here's political maneuverings with teeth more (57 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Malcolm Atterbury ... Horace, the president's physician (uncredited)
Victor Buono ... Bit (uncredited)
William Challee ... (uncredited)
Thom Conroy ... (uncredited)
Walter Coy ... (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan ... (uncredited)
Mimi Dillard ... Mother at Dulles Airport (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen ... White House elevator operator (uncredited)
Kevin Gregor ... (uncredited)
Tom Harris ... (uncredited)
Douglas Henderson ... (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes ... (uncredited)
John Houseman ... Vice-Adm. Farley C. Barnswell (uncredited)
Colette Jackson ... Bar Girl (uncredited)
John Larkin ... Col. Broderick (uncredited)

Michael Masters ... (uncredited)
Tyler McVey ... Gen. Hardesty (uncredited)
Charles Meredith ... Senate Committee Member (uncredited)
Jack Mullaney ... LTJG Dorsey Grayson (uncredited)

Leonard Nimoy ... (uncredited)
Joyce Nizzari ... (uncredited)
Hildy Parks ... (uncredited)
Bill Raisch ... (uncredited)
Irvin Richardson ... (uncredited)
Joe Walls ... (uncredited)
Charles Watts ... Stewart Dillard (uncredited)

Fredd Wayne ... Henry Whitney (uncredited)
Ferris Webster ... Gen. Bernard 'Barney' Rutkowski (uncredited)
Mike West ... (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Frankenheimer 
 
Writing credits
Fletcher Knebel (novel) &
Charles W. Bailey II (novel)

Rod Serling (screenplay)

Produced by
Edward Lewis .... producer
 
Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith 
 
Cinematography by
Ellsworth Fredericks (director of photography) (as Ellsworth Fredricks)
 
Film Editing by
Ferris Webster 
 
Production Design by
Cary Odell 
 
Set Decoration by
Edward G. Boyle  (as Edward Boyle)
 
Makeup Department
Dave Grayson .... makeup artist (as David Grayson)
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair stylist: Miss Gardner
 
Production Management
Hal W. Polaire .... production manager (as Hal Polaire)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hal W. Polaire .... assistant director (as Hal Polaire)
 
Art Department
Frank Agnone .... property master
Gene Lauritzen .... construction coordinator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Joe Edmondson .... sound mixer
 
Stunts
Bill Catching .... stunts (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Borland .... key grip
John Mehl .... camera operator
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wesley Jeffries .... costumer (as Wes Jefferies)
 
Editorial Department
Bill Brame .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Jerry Goldsmith .... conductor
 
Other crew
Thom Conroy .... dialogue coach (as Tom Conroy)
John Franco .... script supervisor
Patrick J. Palmer .... location manager
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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 more
Company:
Seven Arts Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Paul Girard (Martin Balsam) meets Admiral Barnswell (John Houseman), commander of the 6th Fleet, in Gibraltar aboard his flagship, USS Kitty Hawk, one of the newest & largest aircraft carriers in 1964. The scene was filmed in San Diego Bay, where the Kitty Hawk was actually flagship of the 7th Fleet based in the Pacific. The aircraft carrier USS Midway is in the background. The Midway is now a museum in San Diego while the Kitty Hawk is still in service (2008) and the longest serving US Navy ship. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: During the introduction of General Scott at a military veterans' convention, the speaker tells the crowd that the general holds the Medal of Honor. However, there is no MOH among the ribbons on Scott's uniform. more
Quotes:
Colonel Martin "Jiggs" Casey: The taste I have in my mouth is unmentioable. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-01-26)" (1964) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Forget "West Wing", here's political maneuverings with teeth, 16 December 2002
Author: Joseph Stachler from Chicago, Il

A splendid ensemble cast brought together in a fun, tight political thriller. John Frankenheimer's direction is first rate. I can't imagine Alfred Hitchcock doing a better job. The novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II was first published in 1962 and takes place in the early 1970s. The film, made in 1964, is more of period piece, shot in black and white by Ellsworth Fredericks. Some of the dark tones in the film are inspired by the mood of the nation since the assassination of President Kennedy. The novel, by contrast, writes of a two-term Kennedy administration. The script by Rod Serling improves on the novel by creating a sharper climax as the president overcomes the brewing plot by panicking high-ranking military officers to overthrow the Executive Branch of the US government. The film is otherwise fairly faithful to the book. Burt Lancaster plays General James Mattoon Scott, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and universally idolized military hero. The man, it seems, would make an ideal president--and that just might happen on the seventh day in May. Kirk Douglass portrays the efficient Colonel "Jiggs" Casey, who is Scott's subordinent and reluctant hero of the film. Frederick March is credible as an aging, weary president who has recently won a hard-fought battle to ratify a treaty with the Soviet Union to eliminate atomic weapons. There is a vociferous backlash against the treaty, led by right-wing television personalities. Soon it is apparent that certain elements in the military, congress, and media are all in league to usurp power from the president and, as they would reason, save the nation from the worthless treaty. The film plays on traditional political labels, both pro and con. Even though it was made 28 years ago, one can identify with many of the characters and situations in the film. In the later 1980s, President Ronald Reagan was criticized by right wing conservatives for signing a treaty with the Soviet Union to downsize nuclear stockpiles. The film has some great editing as well, most notably the scene where some of the recent mysterious occurances are beginning to make sense to Jiggs as he watches Gen. Scott address a conservative political rally. Good camerawork as well, particularly when a nervous Jiggs finally sums up to the president the fantastic plot he believes he's stumbled upon. Another great shot occurs when General Scott presents a speech he is going to make against the president to his team of co-conspirators, only the back of his head is seen. The characters are human, the story is spellbinding, the film is a classic on all levels.

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