THE KIDNAPPING OF THE PRESIDENT

Canada, 1980, 114 minutes, Colour.
William Shatner, Hal Holbrook, Van Johnson, Ava Gardner, Maury Chaykin, Jackie Burroughs.
Directed by George Mendeluk.

The Kidnapping of the President is a Canadian film focusing on an attempt to kidnap the President of the United States during a visit to Toronto. The build-up to the staging of the kidnapping, the holding, of the President, the resolving of the case are all done with pace and interest?

Hal Holbrook is credible as the American President both in office and as captured. William’s Shainer is in charge of security and resolving the case. There is a guest spot by Van Johnson as the Vice President, caught up in tele financial scandal, but having. to act as President during the kidnapping. Ava Gardner has a few moments as his greedy wife.

The focus is on some South American terrorists, clashes within the terrorist group, the leader coming to Canada and exploiting a victim's sister for the whole plan. There are sketches of CIA personnel and the Toronto police.

Perhaps the police seemed somewhat implausible in the early '80s, but assassination attempts and terrorist behaviour during the '80s give some plausibility the screenplay.

1. Interesting thriller? Political thriller? Focus on terrorism in the 80s?

2. Canadian production: the use of locations especially the use of the centre of Toronto? The re-creation of the white House and the Oval Office? The special effects and stunts for the kidnapping, the rescue? Musical score and atmosphere?

3. The title, the focus on the events? Plausible during the 80s? Assassination attempts? Terrorist activity? The possibilities of the security forces and police in resolving the case and rescue?

4. The focus on the terrorists: the Argentinian background, working with Che Guevara? The ethos of the group? Clashes, fights and massacres? The irony of the chief terrorist and his killing of Erica? Her trust in him? His coining to Canada, his being met by the fake blind rnan, the set-up, Harvey and his technical assistance, Linda and her trust, their combining with getting the truck ready, personal relationships, taking, the truck, the heated engine, the killing at the service station and the explosion? The techniques for the kidnapping - the Mexican pressman, the handcuffing the President, the gelignite attached to his body? His allowing himself to be taken, appearing at the window to reassure his safety? Linda in the crowd with the detonator? The build-up to the breaking of the case? The motivation? Linda and her discovering the truth? her shooting the terrorist?

5. The focus on the President, energy crises in North America, the visit to Canada? Advice? the CIA? O' Connor? Information about the terrorists? The support of the President and the support of his wife, her caution? The plane ride, the heart attack of the security aide? O' Connor taking charge? The early success of the visit, the closed car, the time and the ease with which the terrorist took the President? The crisis, the President's hard line, O' Connor's decisions? His going into the truck?

6. The siege and the resolution of the problem? The information about Linda, her photo, surveillance, her being taken, the ruse with the baby, her capture? Her being told the truth about the terrorist? The terrorist and his being taken, deals, million dollars in diamonds? His self-assuredness? His mistaking Linda's motives?

7. O' Connor and his abilities, inventiveness, information, decisions? The CIA chief and time: taking of Linda? The clash? The putting of the microphone into the van while Linda’s attention was on the terrorist? The passing of time, the armoured truck, impregnable, the explosives? The President himself and his ability to cope, giving information from inside? His talking with his wife?

8. The finance, his ambition? chairing the meeting? Contact? scandal and the Vice President? Egged on by his wife, his decision to resign? Handling of the situation, meetings, the possibilities of a hard line or a soft line? O' Connor, with the President? His being asked not to resign?

9. Rivalries within security services, the CIA? police? The role of the Toronto settings?

10. The finale and the split-second timing? the ingredients of a popular thriller? Far-fetched? Related to political events of the 80s?