critics consensus

John Frankenheimer's striking direction and a first-rate cast conspire to make Seven Days in May a stark, riveting tale of political intrigue. Read critic reviews

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Seven Days in May Photos

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Movie Info

U.S. President Jordan Lyman (Fredric March) hopes to bring an end to the Cold War by signing a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviets, much to the displeasure of the hawkish General James Scott (Burt Lancaster), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When Scott's aide, Martin "Jiggs" Casey (Kirk Douglas) stumbles on shattering evidence that the General is plotting a coup to overthrow Lyman in seven days, "Jiggs" alerts the President, setting off a dangerous race to thwart the takeover.

Genre:

mystery and thriller
Original Language:

English
Director:

John Frankenheimer
Producer:

Edward Lewis
Writer:

Rod Serling
Release Date (Theaters):

Feb 12, 1964 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jul 24, 2014
Runtime:

1h 58m
Production Co:

Seven Arts Pictures, Joel Productions
Sound Mix:

Mono

Cast & Crew

Burt Lancaster
Gen. James Mattoon Scott

Kirk Douglas
Col. Martin 'Jiggs' Casey

Fredric March
President Jordan Lyman

Ava Gardner
Eleanor 'Ellie' Holbrook

Edmond O'Brien
Sen. Raymond Clark

Martin Balsam
Paul Girard

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Critic Reviews for Seven Days in May

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (2)

A strikingly dramatic, realistic and provocatively topical film.

August 13, 2007 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
John Frankenheimer directed, too much in love with technique, though he ably taps the neuroticism of Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Fredric March.

August 13, 2007 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Highly enjoyable.

June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

Derek Adams
Time Out
As dismal as is the complication that they and this picture present, the acknowledgment of its possibility and the discovery of how it might be resolved, with wisdom and fundamental courage, make this a brave and forceful film.

May 9, 2005 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Quote not available.

December 24, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
Seven Days in May stands up ... the issue of the threat represented by the American military to the democratic rights of the people has hardly receded into the background. On the contrary, it is ten times more pressing than it was in 1964.

February 10, 2021 | Full Review…

David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
I went expecting to be entertained by a tough, fast, realistic melodrama... I sat through a meandering parade of conventional TV types wandering through situations so vaguely defined that it would be charity to call them implausible.

August 13, 2019 | Full Review…

Dwight MacDonald
Esquire Magazine
one of the finest political thrillers ever made

May 19, 2019 | Full Review…

Raquel Stecher
Out of the Past
...a decent hour-long thriller trapped within the confines of a bloated misfire.

October 3, 2018 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Frankenheimer's gripping political tale of conspiracy benefits from taut direction, good acting by an all-star cast, and excellent technical values, especially cinematography.

May 13, 2012 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
It's a good, engaging movie - great-looking, too, with top-notch photography and production design - but it tends to fall apart when you start kicking the tires and peek under the hood.

December 20, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Christopher Lloyd
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Frankenheimer's Washington, D.C., less baroque than in The Manchurian Candidate but just as hazardous

February 20, 2010 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion