Seven Days In May is an odd movie to dub pulp fiction. The novel on which it was based was pretty darn pulpy but the film had an A-List cast, prestige director and first rate screenwriter. I’m trotting it out today because it’s a personal favorite of mine; every time I stumble into it on cable, I watch it as if it were the first time. In short, it’s a thrilling thriller.
This tale of an aborted military coup against a dovish nuke cutting President (Fredric March) was inspired by the massive falling out between JFK and his generals after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Kennedy read the book and told the author that General Scott reminded him of Gen. Curtis LeMay. Mercifully for the country, LeMay was no Burt Lancaster, and his foray into politics as George Wallace’s running mate in 1968 was an embarrassment for all concerned.
Here’s the trailer:
