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Seven Days in May

7.5

4,019

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Original title

Seven Days in May

Year

1964

Running time

120 min.

Country

United States

Director

John Frankenheimer

Screenwriter

Rod Serling. Novel: Fletcher Knebel, Charles Waldo Bailey II

Cast

Music

Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography

Ellsworth Fredericks (B&W)

Producer

Seven Arts Pictures, Joel Productions

Genre

Thriller. Mystery | Politics. Army. Cold War

Synopsis

At the height of the cold war, a weakened President and a popular four-star general face off in a battle for control of the US government. President Jordan Lyman has successfully negotiated an arms reduction treaty with the Soviet Union, but his measure is unpopular and does not sit well with General James Mattoon Scott, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who has been quite vocal in his opposition. Marine Corps Col. Jiggs Casey, who works for Scott, begins to suspect that senior military officers are plotting a coup to overthrow the government.

Rankings Position

#87 Best Thrillers in the history of film
#95 Best Mystery Films

Awards: 1964: 2 nominations for Oscar: Supporting Actor (Edmond O'Brien), Art Direction (B&W)

1964: Golden Globe: Supp. Actor (O'Brien). Nominated for Actor (March), Director, Score

1964: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Nominated for Best Drama Screenplay

1963: David di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Actor (Fredric March) (ex aequo)

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Critics' reviews

"Frankenheimer's fascination with gadgetry is used to create a striking visual metaphor for control by the military machine. Highly enjoyable"

Time Out
"There is a lot of suspense (this isn't an action film like Ronin), and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie"

IGN
"John Frankenheimer directed, too much in love with technique, though he ably taps the neuroticism of Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Fredric March."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Tribune
"The whole thing achieves a tingling speed and irresistible tension under John Frankenheimer's direction, which deftly lifts some of the tricks of pictorial and musical emphasis from the old Nazi "Blitzkrieg" films."

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"The performances are excellent down the line, under the taut and penetrating directorial guidance of John Frankenheimer."

Variety Staff: Variety
"'Seven Days in May' smacks of realism, from its skillfully realized sets to its wholly believable supporting performances by O'Brien, Balsam, and John Houseman. Sure to keep you on the edge of your seat."

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Seven Days in May

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