SEVEN DAYS IN MAY

This is a high-quality political thriller from 1964.

The basic set-up is that General Scott, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the ever-watchable Burt Lancaster) is planning a military coup because he disagrees with the peace treaty US President Lyman (Fredric March) has signed with Russia. 

The seven days of the film cover the period from the Monday when Colonel Casey (Kirk Douglas) begins to uncover the plot to the Sunday when the coup is due to take place.

Everything in this film is top notch but highlights for me were the intelligent dialogue (courtesy of Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame, adapting the source novel) and March's performance as a US President of integrity. 

There are several stand-out scenes, such as the climactic confrontation between Lyman and Scott, and pretty much all those involving Edmond O'Brien as a Senator who is a close friend of the President and who likes his drink a little too much.

But probably my favourite scene is one between Casey and an ex-lover of Scott, Eleanor Holbrook (played by Ava Gardner), in which Casey has the uncomfortable job of using her feelings for him to get some dirt on Scott. It's a beautifully written and performed scene, especially by Gardner as someone who is worldly-wise yet emotionally vulnerable.

If I have a criticism (beside the ludicrous way the President’s Chief of Staff is killed) it is that the attempted coup maybe fizzles out a little too easily.

But overall I found this a thoroughly absorbing and entertaining couple of hours. The film is directed by John Frankenheimer who was at this early point in his career in the middle of a spectacular run of films, his previous being the equally good but better known 'The Manchurian Candidate'.

RATING: ✓✓ Catch It If You Can