SEVEN DAYS IN MAY
US, 1964, 118 minutes, Black and white.
Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Frederic March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O' Brien, Martin Balsam, George Macready, Hugh Marlowe.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.
Seven Days in May still has quite some impact and must have been quite strong on its first release in the mid 1960's. It deals with the tensions of a nuclear situation and the tensions of a right-wing, anti-leftist military coup. By now we have seen many films dealing with this theme, especially since the late 60's when the era of the 1930's and the Fascist history of Europe interested film-makers.
Seven Days in May was a best-seller along with Failsafe and both were filmed at the same time. Failsafe, considers the human element of mistake in a tense anti-communist atmosphere. Seven Days in May, like Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate, focuses on the atmosphere within the armed forces and in American society. While this serious exploration was going on - so soon after Cuba 1962 and the Bay of Pigs - Dr. Strangelove was being made by Stanley Kubrick, and the satire and parody element was being introduced into films critical of war; a trend which led to Catch 22, and M*A*S*H.
John Frankenheimer made several significant films in the early 60's of which this is one. It is also one of five he made with Burt Lancaster (including -Birdman of Alcatraz; The Train; The Gypsy Moths). Later Frankenheimer turned his attention to man's exertions and testing through strength and age - from Grand Prix onwards. Seven Days in May works well as a political suspense thriller with depth.
1. Discuss the impact of the title and the seven day structure of the film. What techniques were used for creating atmosphere during the film?
2. Was the story of this film plausible?
3. What picture of the United States did the film give? Was it accurate? What was the importance of patriotism in this film and what meanings did it have?
4. What kind of person was Jiggs Casey and what poj.nt of view and ideology did he represent? How were the audience meant to identify with him? Did you agree with his ideas?
5. what ideology did Scott represent? Did you agree with his ideas? Did you feel sorry for him when his conspiracy was stopped?
6. What kind of person was the President? Did he appear as a good President? How shrewd was he in dealing with the situation? What alternatives did he have? Should he have followed the advice of his secretary?
7. Comment on the presentation of the rightist military men. How were small scenes indicative of their attitudes and beliefs?
8. What was the importance of Ellie as a character in the film?
9. How effective was the conclusion?
10. List the major themes of the film and evaluate the success of the film's treatment of them.
11. Comment on specific sequences: the audience seeing conspiracy through Jiggs' eyes; the details of the Ecomcon plan and the ideologies behind it; Scott's playing God and his T.V. appearance; the advice of Paul Gerard and his visit to Gibraltar, his death; Ellie and the letters; Ray Clark and the El Paso cafe, imprisonment at the base; the President's decision about the letters; his final speech and its themes; the 'Judas' confrontation between Jiggs and Scott.
