Seven Days In May

Starring: Lancaster, Burt and Douglas, Kirk

Product Description

It happens with startling swiftness and violence. An armed cadre seizes state control. Fortunately, a coup d'etat can't happen here. Or can it? A classic of suspense directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin) and written for the screen by Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone), Seven Days in May tautly explores that possibility. At odds are a popular general and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman (Burt Lancaster) and an unpopular president (Fredric March) with a pacifist agenda. At stake is the survival of the Republic. A vigilant colonel (Kirk Douglas) uncovers the scheme. But are the seven fateful days ahead enough time to derail a takeover? The clock is ticking.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 888574454029
• Release Date: January 1
• Rating: Not Rated
• Publisher: Allied Vaughn
• Director: Frankenheimer, John
• Starring: Lancaster, Burt, Douglas, Kirk
• Runtime: 1 hour, 58 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: DVD
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

Select the cast and stick to the essence of the book.

Every president and government since this film has always been against the characters in this film. People are paranoid on both sides of the issue. I do not think it is still relevant today. Even a president as head of the military may have temptations. The story was adjusted a little from the book "Seven Days in May" by Fletcher Knebel to accommodate the media; however, the essence of the story is still there. The timing of the movie was perfect, as it was during the Cold War. Moreover, we are not out of the woods today. Anyway, President Jordan Lyman (Fredric March) is planning a disarmament treaty. Everyone knows, including the President, that the Soviets never keep a promise. However, something must be done, and the President thinks he has a workable plan. Openly opposed to the plan is General James Mattoon Scott (Burt Lancaster) sort of Douglas MacArthur of his time. Covertly opposed is the Vice-Admiral Farley C. Barnwell (John Houseman), sort of the Admiral Nimitz of his time. Being opposed is one thing; however, the constitution leaves only one way to manage this situation (the election). Yeah right. Colonel Martin 'Jiggs' Casey (Kirk Douglas), Scott's right-hand man, gets suspicious. He thinks Scott is planning the "Yeah, right" for real and brings this suspicion to the White House. 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 lie? If the president relied on extortion, would he be any better than the opposition? How would the Soviets react to a military takeover in the US? OK, let us face the real question this movie poses: Does the end justify the means? On the other hand, is the end the result of the means? There is a 1994 remake of this film, "The Enemy Within" (1994)