Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Seven days in May, 16 Mar 2003
A taut cold war thriller, has a U.S. General Scott,( Burt Lancaster) who plans a takeover of the American Government, when he learns that the President plans to radically cut back on defence spending, in order to make a peace deal with the Russians,
But when the General's aide Colonel Casey (Kirk Douglas), accidentally uncovers the plot, Casey has to try and convince the President, and the inner circle, before it is to late.
With a story line that includes murder,kidnapping,and blackmail, the viewer is kept in suspense right up the final scene.
A superb cast that includes Lancaster, Douglas, Edmond O'Brien,
Ava Gardner, Frederick March as President Lyman, George Macready, and Martin Balsam, and directed by the master John Frankenheimer, this is a superb political thriller, and comes highly recommended.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Select cast and sticks to the essence of the book., 8 Jul 2004
Every president and government since this film is always weighed against the characters in this film. People are paranoid on both sides of the issue. Do not think it is not still relevant today.
The story was adjusted a little from the book (ASIN: 0553269569) to accommodate the media, however the essence of the story is still there. Place the ASIN number in the search engine to find the book.
The timing of the movie was perfect as it was during the cold war. And we are not out of the woods today. Anyway the President is planning a disarmament treaty. Everyone knows including the president that the Soviets never keep a promise. How ever something has to be done and the President thinks he has a workable plan. Openly opposed to the plan is General James Mattoon Scott (Burt Lancaster) sot of a Douglas MacArther of his time. Covertly opposed is the Vice Admiral Farley C. Barnswell (John Houseman) sort of the Admiral Nimitz of his time. Being opposed is one thing; however the constitution leaves only one way to handle this situation (the election). Yea right. Colonel Martin 'Jiggs' Casey, Scott's right hand man gets suspicious. He thinks Scott is planning "Yea right" for real and brings this suspicion to the Whithouse.
As the story unfolds is the threat real and if so what can be done about it? Whose side are you on? If you were Jiggs working for a great General and a good friend, what would you do? Where should loyalty lay? If the president relied on blackmail, would he be any better then the opposition? How would the Soviets react to a military take over in the US?
OK lets face the real question this movie poses. Does the end justify the means? Or is the end the results of the means?
Seven Days in May by Fletcher Knebel
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