JFK wanted movie "Seven Days in May" made

[KansDem]

Arthur Schlesinger and John Frankenheimer (director) talk about the movie "Seven Days in May", a 1962 movie about a military coup to overthrow the President and how JFK was anxious to have the movie made in order to create public awareness of the military's resistance to his policies.

From IMDB--

Storyline
An unpopular U.S. President manages to get a nuclear disarmament treaty through the Senate, but finds that the nation is turning against him. Jiggs Casey, a Marine Colonel, finds evidence that General Scott, the wildly popular head of the Joint Chiefs and certain Presidential Candidate in 2 years is not planning to wait. Casey goes to the president with the information and a web of intrigue begins with each side unsure of who can be trusted.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058576/

Good cast!

[gordianot]

1. Fascinating thanks for the link.

[Graybeard]

2. Crazy General and RW Senators.

The film shows how the bat-shit crazy General is supported in this treason by RW Senators. The semi-documentary style of the film makes it riveting from beginning to end.

[Enrique]

3. the DVD commentary for that movie is excellent

Frankenheimer had tons to say about it and he remembered everything.

[Graybeard]

5. Kirk Douglas was going to play the General.

But Douglas wanted his buddy Burt involved in this great project. So he offered to let Lancaster play the General and Kirk stepped down to the role of the aide Jiggs. It worked out great. Both are perfect.

[longship]

4. Isn't Ava Gardner in that flick?

My damn imdb won't work tonight so I can't look it up. Hmmph!

[Graybeard]

6. Yes. And she's gorgeous as always.

Her role is based on the real life mistress of General Douglas MacArthur.

MacArthur was going to sue journalist Drew Pearson for libel but dropped the suit when Pearson told him he would call the mistress to the stand in the trial.

[longship]

7. Gardner's 60's work was stunning

Remember her in On the Beach Neville Shute's apocalyptic nuclear war story? Starred Gregory Peck and a very surprising Fred Astaire. But Ava was incredible in that flick, too.

Thanks for the response.

[jakeXT]

8. Leimnitzer was a nice guy?

The author of Northwoods?