THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER

US, 1974, 125 minutes, Colour.
William Devane, Martin Sheen, Howard de Silva.
Directed by Anthony Page.

The Missiles of October is an arresting docu-drama. It is a reconstruction of aspects of the administration of President John F. Kennedy - especially in the confrontation with Premier Nikita Khrushchev and the Cuban missiles of October 1962. The experience of the Cuban missiles and the confrontation highlighted questions of nuclear war and nuclear fears and the time. Subsequent to these events films like Dr. Strangelove, Seven Days in May and Fail Safe were made.

This telemovie, made for the widest audience, was filmed ten years after the events - with the retrospect of the death of President Kennedy, the Vietnam war and the change of attitudes in confrontation between Russia and the United States. The reconstruction of actual events in world history is helpful for later decades, especially with the questions about nuclear issues of the 80s - and so many films focusing on this theme. William Devane is a look-alike President Kennedy. Martin Sheen portrays Robert F. Kennedy - and in a British mini-series of the early 80s was to receive acclaim for his portrayal of President John F. Kennedy. Direction is by Anthony Page, English cinema director (Inadmissible Evidence) and many telemovies (Jamaica Inn).

1. The quality of this television film? Interest, history, television techniques? The fact that it was released in 1974, the American political situation at the time? The influences in presenting it, the insight into politics and international affairs? American patriotism and self-criticism? The justice and fairness of the presentation?

2. The effectiveness of the television impact for home audiences, commercial interruptions? The eliciting and retaining of audience interest? Television techniques of close-ups, emphasis on dialogue, the narration, the indications of days and times? The limited number of the scenes, the effectiveness of the cross-cutting, especially from Moscow to Washington? The build-up of tension and the awareness of the issues and responsibilities?

3. The use of televisions stars? The appropriate faces and characters for real people known to so many of the viewers? How credible was the drama made by the choosing of the actors?

4. The importance of the incidents and the events of 1962? Audience attitude to them before the beginning of the film? Audience response after they had seen the issues visualised? The tone taken by the narration, the build-up of the crisis and its importance, the spelling out of the implications, the end with Khrushchev backing down and America going ahead?

5. Audience response to John F. Kennedy and his reputation? The skill of William Devane in communicating the character and the personality of the President? The importance of the visual resemblance, the way of speaking, the manner and the mannerisms? The critique of Kennedy at the time as being weak and compromising? The background of his meeting Khrushchev in 1961? His status as President in 1962, in Washington, in the North, in the South? Robert Kennedy and his role in the administration? The attitudes of the people in Washington and their skill in administration?

6. The film's presentation of Kennedy as a credible President? The nature of his skills, his mind, his ability to assess situations and people, his coping, his coping with strain? The details of his handling people, his attitude towards truth and politics, his capacity for ruthlessness, his exercise of power and the nature of his control, his concern for consensus and appearing to be fair? Comment on the quality on the quality of his insight into persons and personalities. The historical background with references to Jackie Kennedy seeing an Audrey Hepburn film? The irony of the fact that he was to be dead almost a year later? The comment on the pilot's son as being the same age as John etc.? A humane and rounded character?

7. The film's assessment of the President of the United States: as the representative of the people, the interests of the people, the importance of elections? The importance of such meetings and gatherings as at Harvard, meals and banquets, communications with friends as the English? The importance of keeping face and saving face? An American President in crisis with so much power? The nature of the advice, the consent that he gives?

8. How well did the film present the character of Khrushchev? His political background, loyalty to the Party, personal ambitions, knowledge of people, work with Gromyko? The parallel with Kennedy? The paralleling of power in Russia and America? The limits of power? The accountability of the President?

9. Did the film clearly present the situation of nuclear danger, the nuclear weapons in Cuba? The terms of offensive or defensive weapons, the distance from America, their power and force? America's face and its relationship with its allies? Russia and its allies?

10. Why was Cuba a focus in 1962? Feelings in Cuba, Castro and his regime, the influence of communists so near America? The reaction of South American countries? Russian interest in Cuba?

11. The presentation of the issues with the Hawks and Doves in America? The presentation of the military forces with their Hawk attitudes: the Army, the Navy, Curtis LeMay? and his bombing attitudes. Dean Atchison and the memories of past diplomacy? How just were the comments of the Hawk approaches to the situation, the bombing of Cuba ?

12. The importance of the United Nations in the early '60s? As a forum for discussion? The role of Adlai Stevenson, the trust that Kennedy put in him, the criticisms of his seeming weakness, the skills of his diplomacy and assessment of situations and people? The importance of his role in the crisis of October?

13. The film's presentation of the Kennedy administration, their honest assessment of situations? The role of McNamara? as Secretary of Defense, his relationship with the Joint Chiefs of Staff? Dean Rusk, Pierre Salinger and his having to handle the press? Kennedy's personal aide? The varieties of responsibility? The various points of view that they represented, especially as visualised in meetings, the nature of advice, votes?

14. The film's presentation of Robert Kennedy, in the light of his brother, his impulsiveness, strong character, the nature of his advice, his administrative role and diplomatic roles?

15. The importance of American intelligence, U2 planes, missiles, the situation in Cuba and Turkey and Italy? The issues of the attack or the blockade? The risks of both, the effects of both?

16. The film's presentation of diplomacy: bluff, time, not taking risks, compromise and diplomacy? Where could things have gone wrong? The importance of the intelligence and shrewdness of those involved in diplomacy?

17. The importance of the letters, stalling in the United Nations, the American Ambassador, Westinghouse and his interview with Khrushchev and information? What did they contribute to the resolving of the crisis?

18. The importance of persons like Forman and his influence with the press, Scally as a channel for diplomacy? The detailed sequences in the restaurant and the language of negotiation?

19. How satisfactory was the resolution? How real was the danger of war and nuclear destruction; the film's focusing on Khrushchev and Kennedy and the way that they filled the screen?

20. How valuable is a film like this as a warning as well as a representation of history and its dangers? The value of this kind of TV movie as record, as propaganda, as warning?