We had
Dr Strangelove (released 29 Jan 1964) and the lesser-remembered
Fail Safe (released 7 Oct 1964) (on cable a month or so ago), which were of the "Big Boom cuz of Screwup" genre.
We had Slap's
Seven Days in May (released 12 Feb 1964), of the "Big Conspiracy" genre - timely as being released a few months after JFK was killed.
We also had the
7 Sep 1964 Daisy Ad, which played on fears that the Dr Strangelove and Fail Safe scenarios would actually play out. That is, if the electorate allowed "conspiratorial nutcases" (i.e., Goldwater et al) to assume the reins of power.
Such was 1964 Hollywood's normative view of the military (scarcely in its eyes a profession of arms at flag officer level). While I hated that view then and now, I admit to some addiction with the films themselves. But, I also appreciate
The Battleship Potemkin .
More recently, we find another fan of "Seven Days" in a high place:
Pentagon Memo: Gates Sees Fallout From Troubled Ties With Pakistan
Too bad he didn't write a review for us.
Cheers
Mike
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