Friday, February 7, 2020

Part 2: A Marathon Movie Tribute to KIRK DOUGLAS

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY from JOEL PRODUCTIONS (1964). This is the Kirk Douglas film I've watched the most and after his recent passing. I had to watch it again.   

Kirk Douglas (Col. Martin 'Jiggs' Casey) works under Burt Lancaster as (Gen. James Mattoon Scott) at the United States Pentagon. Martin goes on a risky hunch when he believes that his boss James is plotting something against the current U.S. President - Frederic March (Jordan Lyman). Martin's hunch proves to be right when it is discovered that James wants to over throw the U.S. government in a political coup. The President and his trusted aides have only 7 days to stop this over throw.

John Frankenheimer directed this Oscar nominated film in glorious "Black and White." He opened the film with fighting protesters outside the White House. That fight represents not just U.S. citizens, but also those who work inside that White House. The television medium is used as a weapon for good, but mainly for bad as James plots his coup using the three major TV networks.

Kirk Douglas as Martin anchors the film because it is he who discovers wrong-doing by men who work closely with the President. This movie is now on Blu-Ray and it is fantastic. Check it out.

(Movie DVD Poster 1964. Nominated for 6 Oscars).

(Lobby Card 1964. Getty Image archives. Kirk Douglas as Martin Casey).

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