Seven Days in May

The Cold War may have been a time on unimaginable paranoia and fear that nearly tore our society apart but it was also an amazingly fertile ground for film. The very elements that made this period of our history so frightening also set the stage for anxiety and apprehension that few circumstances could have provided. We are now approaching a half a century removed from that time and even for those of us that lived through this era the memories are fading. What will remain for a very long time to come are the excellent examples of cinema that came out of this clash of global super powers. Lately I have been revisiting these classic movie, most of which remain among my all time favorites. The one being considered here is one of the tightly crafted political films of the era, ‘Seven Days in May’. This story depicts a worst case scenario where the U.S. Military feed up with the manipulation of the politicians decide upon the drastic course of action; a coupe d’état. While such military involvement is more common in other counties it is unheard of here in the States. We have always lived under the security that the military and civilian governments have worked in unison to achieve a common goal. This film explores the desperate situation where this symbiosis is on the verge of complete breakdown. Like many films involving the Cold War your perception and understanding of the story will largely depend on whether you are of an age sufficient to recall these turbulent times. If you are too young to remember back then this is still a film of such cinematic achievement that it will be certain to hold your attention. From the tightly crafted script to the perfectly paced direction and star studded cast, this movie is one of the best representations of the time.

Many will recognize the name of the man who turned the novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II into a screenplay into a screenplay. That man was no other than Rod Serling. Throughout the fifties and sixties he provided the distinctive voice and many of the insightful stories used in the best known science-fiction/fantasy anthology series ever broadcast on television; ‘The Twilight Zone’. At this very moment the first season of that groundbreaking series is being prepared to enter a new technological with a Blu-ray release. Much of his writing both for the series and outside of it was concerned with clearly focused socio-political commentary. Serling had a unique literary voice that could lay bare the perceived problems in our culture and society in an eminently entertaining fashion. The script for this film remains one of his best works. It depicts an extremely sensitive subject in a way that will make an indelible impression on the viewer as well as a lasting ability to entertain. While the themes are drastic even nightmarish Serling does a remarkable job of planting the idea that the events shown here could very well occur. He cultivates this in the mind of the audience building the suspense and tension as only a master story teller of his caliber could manage. Once again this country is contending against an enemy whose main weapon is fear\. We are engaged in a war where political and military objectives don’t always mesh making this film as topical today as it was back in 1964.

Directing this film was one of the best especially when it came to political intrigue; John Frankenheimer. His movie ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ remains the seminal film of the political genre. His direction is nothing short of masterful. For those not used to black and white movies study the way Frankenheimer uses shadow to reinforce the subterfuge and deceit key to the actions of the central characters. Color photography may have been a major boon to cinema but black and white is just a different, often more difficult medium for a director to work. In the hands of a master craftsman like Frankenheimer the results do more with a cast shadow or streak of light than most director can accomplish with a full palette of colors. Set in the midst of the Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union are on the verge of signing a mutual nuclear disarmament pack. President Jordan Lyman (Fredric March) is under as lot of very vocal criticism for pushing this accord with picket lines outside the White House breaking out in to fights and his popularity dipping below 30% approval. The President does have his supporters such as old friend Sen. Raymond Clark (Edmond O’Brien) but one of his most adamant and vocal opposition is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James Scott (Burt Lancaster). Being a man of action Scott is not about to sit idyll by and watch the country he dedicated his life serving destroyed, laid helpless before our enemies by what he considers to be a grievously bad political decision. One of the General’s senior aides, Col. Martin 'Jiggs' Casey (Kirk Douglas) is also a man who spent most of his adult life defending the country he loves. While he agrees in principle with the General he has complete faith in the Constitutional foundation of the government. Slowly Jiggs begins to notice little things that just didn’t add up. The brilliance of this film is in how the clues are subtle but Jiggs is able to piece them together. The first clue is when he discovers a betting pool for a horse race next Sunday. All the members of the Chefs of Staff are in on it except the Navy which coincides with the attendance in a special covert meeting. It turns out that Scott is behind a plot to isolate the President during a mock military exercise using it as a cover to overthrow the government.

This is a perfect example of the proverbial nail biter. There isn’t a single frame of this film that is wasted; everything moves smoothly along pulling in the audience for a thrill ride the likes of which are difficult to exceed. As if this isn’t enough this is a dream cast that could not be duplicated today. There are several films that play Lancaster against Douglas but this is by far the very best. The performances here are among the most powerful and emotionally forceful ever committed to film.

Posted 07/30/2010