the audience applauded

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The acting in this movie is really good.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of the best books I have ever read.. and the movie parallels the book exactly. Buried deep in the archives of history is an actual event in the US that never came to fruition. A brilliant film and Frederic March at his best.

I'd have rated this a 9 in terms of actual film craftsmanship (as in the days of the circumspect classic Olympics long gone I never give 10s) but the work's utterly arrogant left-wing self-righteous misrepresentation of military preparedness utterly oblivious to history made a 9 impossible. This film shows why many (though not enough) Americans are thoughtful independents eschewing the gross, arrogant hypocrisy of both left-wing and right-wing bigotry, each fingering the other in delusions of godhood without honestly confessing its own sins; 1 John 1:7-10. While it's obvious from history, especially America's great Founders' provision of the Second Amendment and our armed forces, that lethal force was necessary, as the Bible also says in Romans 13 "for he [=the ruler] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil," that nevertheless does not prevent God from ordaining their overthrow (e.g. the American Revolution) when they overstep his appointed bounds. The only hope left-wing and right-wing have (an eagle needing both wings to fly) is the fear of God that alone can sustain their understanding of their need one for the other (1 Corinthians 12). Modern godless secularism, even in the days of the making of this unreal fantasy of a film, is wholly insufficient for the task, something America's Founders understood in their stern, God-fearing warning of the certain fatality for the nation of such an abomination, as it's proved to be, the opening riot of the film being a far more accurate picture of what would have been than the actual ending.

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY is a political thriller, that brings to us, in a realistic way, an attempt by several combative generals to take control of the Government in the United States during the crisis, which is caused by the Cold War. It is based on the novel of the same name by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II. This film, from a former perspective, acts as a frightening sight in a near future.James M. Scott is a general, who is convinced that liberal President Jordan Lyman is soft on America's enemies. He plans, together with his partners, takeover of the United States, because he has the great public support. However, his closest aide, Colonel Jiggs, has revealed their plan to the President. Every effort made by President Lyman to find concrete evidence of General Scott's scheme is scuttled by political protocol, human error and accidental death. The conflict seems to be inevitable... but...A shocking plot develops through the game of cat and mouse, in which the roles are not entirely clear. This can be seen as a kind of conflict between self-confidence, pride and ideology. Of course, the ultimate winner are the United States. This is probably correct, at least in this case. Mr. Frankenheimer has stepped up the tensions to the limit, through a series of speculations, in this melodramatic story. Of course, he has laid a cruel trap for the audience, because, a national hero becomes a traitor. A climax is followed by a realistic confrontation between the main protagonists. That political philosophy can be seen in several ways. The fear and anxiety are the causes of the problem in this case. The generals are trying to do something at the time of the nuclear threat and thus they lose their identity in that madness. Of course, there are the visible consequences, usually through conspiracy theories.Fredric March as President Jordan Lyman is an extremely powerful character who has awakened from a kind of lethargy. Mr. March has offered a convincing performance. Kirk Douglas as Colonel "Jiggs" Casey is a brave and dignified key of the plot. He is torn on all sides, but skillfully puts together the pieces of the mosaic into a single unit. Burt Lancaster as General James Mattoon Scott is a confident and cold character, who seems to have all trump cards in his hands.Their support are Ava Gardner (Eleanor Holbrook) as a former and current love, Martin Balsam (Paul Girard) as a skeptical press secretary and Edmond O'Brien (Senator Ray Clark) as a drunk scout.The wisdom and the courage, in combination, are the strongest weapon.

There's a themed programme to be mounted at Film Clubs throughout the land with the tentative title: Cold-War Thrillers. Included would be Fail-Safe, The Manchurian Candidate, Dr. Strangelove, and this one, Seven Days In May. All these titles were shot in black and white as befits the starkness of their themes, which really of course amounted to one theme viewed from different perspectives. Seven Days In May is both typical of the genre and as well made as any; as charismatic megalomaniacs go Burt Lancaster's only serious rival was Adolf Hitler, though on his day, Kirk Douglas, here playing the 'goodie', would give him a run for his money. There's some fine talent on display here, Eddy O'Brian, George McCready, Martin Balsom, Andrew Duggan and even Freddie March, an actor I've never really warmed to, weighs in with a fair performance. Holds up well.