What makes it different from others?

The greatest movie ever made..!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It is my conviction that films must in some way convey one or more messages to their public. In most cases they do, but the narrative of The president's analyst is a difficult nut to crack. The story is amusing but superficial, and avoids to play on emotions. I suspect that director Flicker is inspired by the Nouvelle Vague, which at the time was quite popular. Of course the leading director of this movement is Jean-Luc Godard. In fact the Godard style emerged as a rebellion against the authoritarian rule of the (French) presidential regime. If presidents do not do it to their wives, they do it to their country. Flicker addresses many of the social events, that shocked the people in the late sixties. The main theme is political spying, which still dominated the news in those days of the Cold War. The film portrays a truly paranoid society. Show me where Stalin is buried, and I will show you a communist plot. The title shots display a political execution, which according to the main character psychiatrist Schaefer is a rational and respectable deed. Note that at the time the people were confronted with the Vietnam war on a daily basis. However, it soon becomes apparent that the FBI has transformed killing into merely a bureaucratic act. Thus Schaefer himself is eventually targeted by them. For some reason the telephone company is also involved in the conspiracy plot. Fortunately, at the time an alternative emerges, the counter culture of the New Age movement. And indeed a group of hippies helps Schaefer to escape from his assailants. He immediately blends in with his new companions. They make love and say: "That was wonderful for you. How was it for me?" (just kidding). Remember that actually the humanist psychology was an important part of the New Age, certainly for the middle classes. For such an absurd script it is not a spoiler to reveal the final scene: during Christmas Schaefer fraternizes with an American and Soviet spy, which provides for a happy ending. Once again the fat guy with the red suit and white beard gets all the credit. The film is recommendable, but be warned: you must know the atmosphere of those days in order to truly appreciate it.

Dr. Sidney Schaefer (James Coburn) is picked to be the analyst for the president (never shown or named). However the president's problems begin to affect Schaefer and he gets paranoid and wants to escape from his job and life. He does--but secret agents from all over the world are out to get him because he knows so much...This was not a big hit when it came out. My guess is that it was TOO strong for its time--a lot of severe editing happened before it was even released and it was butchered in initial TV showings. But now it's been released uncut and it's been regarded as a classic. The movie is quick, powerful and never stops moving. It basically goes after everybody--the CIA, the FBI, liberals, conservatives, Russians...you name it. It's not really THAT offensive in today's climate (and it is very dated in some respects) but I can only imagine the reaction this got in 1967. The cast is dead on target. Godfrey Cambridge is amusing in a supporting role as is Joan Darling. William Daniels is downright hilarious in his small role. But Coburn holds this together. He's engaging, charismatic and full of life and energy. He's such a likable character you're rooting for him all the way. Every time he flashed that amazing grin I was grinning too! Fast, funny, loads of fun. Sadly I don't think Coburn lived long enough to see this appreciated (he passed away in 2002). It's still not well known but VERY much worth seeking out. Recommended.

There are those who will call this a cult classic, and those who will be a bit bored. The truth is probably somewhere in between. This is a cult movie, to be sure, with very dry humor, about the president'ts psychologist, and all the powerful groups who try to kidnap him, use him, or, in most cases, kill him. Coburn plays the title character, and he is along for the ride. The big scene involves the most entertaining stereotypes of the time, the peace loving hippies in a field, practicing love, unaware that an assassination or two or three or maybe more is about to take place. The laughs are well earned, but pretty sparse. It is more of a satire than a bust out laughing comedy. It's hard to know what frame of mind a person should be in to sit down and watch this movie. Possibly at a small party where the movie plays while people talk and give an occasional glance. Still, the movie deserves more than that. Like most cult classics, it has a surreal quality about, but unlike more successful ones, it doesn't develop the stereotypical characters all that much. However, there are a few instances, such as the government man being analyzed by Coburn and telling of his childhood experience. But there aren't a lot of these revealing scenes. Most of the characters are clownish (in a dark way.) The movie has a lot of appeal to it. It would be better with more hysterical scenes, but it works as dry wit. Maybe not for the more impatient viewer.

A very important and excellent scene was cut from the many TV and VHS versions of the film. That is where just after Sidney does his walk through NY, he goes to a experimental film and meets Nan, apparently at random. The vignette is a wonderful send up of Greenwich village types and without this scene we don't know that Nan is not an established lover, but a sudden free love intimate. At least apparently. Can anyone tell me if this is restored in the DVD version? One of the finest scripts of sardonic comedy, certainly on a par with 'Dr Strangelove' and 'the assassination bureau'. The anamatronic and unkillable CEO of the phone company is a deeply frightening perception of the bland, machinelike, self-righteous and perhaps unstoppable movement to box in the human being. Of course with today's technology we won't see a wire coming out of our president's shoe.