Seven Days in May

In the tense and gripping 1964 film Seven Days in May, directed by John Frankenheimer, the story revolves around a chilling plot by a group of high-ranking military officials to topple the United States government. The film is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II, which serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of military intervention in politics. The plot begins with Colonel James "Jiggs" Casey (played by Burt Lancaster), a decorated and respected Army officer who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Casey serves as the chief of staff to General James Mattoon Scott (played by Frederick March), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When Casey discovers a planned military coup against President Jordan Lyman (played by Gregory Peck), he knows that he has a difficult decision to make. The coup is set in motion by a charismatic Air Force general, James Mattoon Scott (General M.G. Scott) and his Chief of Strategic Planning, E.G. Ralston (played by Martin Balsam). The General's reasoning for the coup is centered on the notion that President Lyman is planning to abandon the country's nuclear deterrent as a major component of his foreign policy strategy. This, the General believes, would result in the Soviet Union becoming emboldened to further its aggressive expansionist policies. General Mattoon Scott and his cohorts plan to seize control of the government when they learn that the Soviet Union will soon be able to deploy a massive nuclear submarine that could launch a surprise attack on the United States. They reason that a military take-over is necessary to prevent the President from allowing the country to fall into chaos. The General has a trusted loyalist, Colonel Casey's close friend and colleague, to assist him in the coup. Colonel Mandrake (played by Frank Overton and later George Kennedy), who is the General's most trusted subordinate, is tasked with carrying out the coup. However, Colonel Casey, who is deeply committed to democracy, learns about the planned coup through a conversation with a trusted engineer named Dr. Benjamin Cohn (played by Harry Gribbon), who discovered a crucial secret that General Scott's crew had been working on. This information is key to his understanding of how and when the General plans to make his move. With his growing unease and moral dilemma, Colonel Casey confides in his friend and President Lyman's Secretary of Defense, M.M. (Martin Milner). He then secretly meets to warn the President about the coup, urging him to take swift, decisive action to prevent the military from seizing control. Meanwhile, General Mattoon Scott and his fellow conspirators prepare for their move to overthrow the government. Their plan is to stage a massive military exercise, using this event as their cover to remove President Lyman from office. The tense confrontation unfolds with a series of dramatic events. Colonel Casey, realizing that General Scott is intent on carrying out the coup, must decide where his loyalties lie – to the military code of duty or to the Constitution and democracy. President Jordan Lyman and his defense secretary must also figure out who to trust among the military brass. With General Scott prepared to seize power, Colonel Casey, with the help of President Lyman, attempts to find a way to prevent General Scott and his loyalists from staging the military coup against the civilian government. In the process, he must rely on his knowledge of military protocol and his close associations with key personnel within the military to undermine the General's plans. Seven Days in May is a gripping cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked military power and the erosion of civil liberties. The film is a testament to the enduring value of democratic principles, which must be vigilantly guarded against power-hungry individuals with grandiose ideals but without true understanding of the consequences of their actions. Despite the many changes that have occurred in the world since the release of this film, its message remains pertinent today, serving as a reminder to politicians, military leaders, and ordinary citizens alike of the need for accountability, transparency, and checks and balances in a democratic system.