The 10 best movies for those with presidential aspirations.
Oct 16 '04 (Updated Oct 18 '04)
The Bottom Line In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower
Those were the words of our president who in three days was to hand over the solemn mantle to a former senator from Massachusetts. The West Point grad who led the largest European invasion since the Norman Conquest had cautioned the next administration, legislators and public to beware and yield to conventional scruples. The "military/industrial complex" was a necessary evil, in hindsight, to combat the Soviet Union and their allies throughout the globe; however, no amount of bomb shelters, Nike missiles, B-52's, missile silos or air raid drills could erase the terror of nuclear war. Whom ever runs for our highest office in the land, I hope they happened to watch my film list mindful of Ike's farewell address. I gather his influence touched the writers and directors of the following recommendations:
The Best Man (1964) 104min,VHS,DVD
Gore Vidal, who happens to be a distant cousin of Al Gore, wrote the screenplay as well as the original play it was based on. His story pits two presidential candidates, Secretary William Russell, played deftly by Henry Fonda, and Senator Joe Cantwell, well acted by Cliff Robertson. Russell, sonorously mannered and gifted, is hampered by his indecisiveness. Contrast that with Cantwell's staunch anti-communism plank and demagogic ego, well, makes for a very good watch. Look for Lee Tracy as the wily President Art Hockstader who also played in the stage production. Take a glimpse of the Ambassador Hotel in LA, the venue where Richard Nixon wrote his 1952 "Checkers" speech and, sadly, Robert Kennedy's assassination happened in 1968.
Advise and Consent (1962) 142min,VHS
Henry Fonda also plays nominee for Secretary of State, Robert A. Leffingwell in Allen Drury's Pulitzer-winner Advise and Consent. Drury nebulously drew material from his times as congressional reporter and alludes to cases like Alger Hiss and of HUAC (House Committee on Un-American Activities). Director Otto Preminger dramatizes the inner machinations of the Senate and "Foggy Bottom" stained by a post-McCarthy era. Look at it as Peyton Place meets C-SPAN. It's great fodder guessing who's actually mimicked in reality.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 126min,VHS,DVD
John Frankenheimer's film depicts two soldiers; SSgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) and Cpt. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), respectively; returning back to the US after serving the Korean War. One's the son of privilege and the other is his commanding officer, troubled by post-traumatic syndrome. Shaw's doting mother, Eleanor Iselin (Angela Lansbury) and Sen. John Iselin (James Gregory) connive their way to become the next presidential nominee. The "McCarthyism" theme continues to a jingoist fervor yet, the story unveils to a very surprising climax. (note: I have yet to see the 2004 version to comment on.)
Seven Days in May (1964) 118min,VHS,DVD
Another Frankenheimer favorite is this film starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Ava Gardner and Fredric March. It's safe to say that writer, Rod Serling, heeded Ike's warning and wrote a taut thriller in which Gen. Scott (Lancaster), and members of the Armed Joint Chief of Staff plot a coup d' etat in response to the administration's disarmament policies. President Jordan Lyman (March) is cautiously warned by Col. Jiggs Casey (Douglas) of his superior's intention, whilst, Gardner's Ellie Holbrook is the paramour to both Scott and Casey. For those who are inclined to see a moral here, it's choose your confidant(s) wisely. A great film!
Fail-Safe (1964) 112min,VHS,DVD
If there was a task that any US president fears is the moment leading to the conclusion of Fail-Safe. Sidney Lumet's film of Eugene Burdick's novel presents the frightening premise of a nuclear bomber group mistakenly given the "go code" to strike Moscow. An era when ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missiles) was approaching it's zenith in numbers yet "stratobombers" give the film it's visual and contextual drive. Fine performance by Henry Fonda as The President brought me to ask myself whether a few voters wrote in him as a candidate in 1964. The antipodean affect may have been the October's debut before the election, in part, thwarted Barry Goldwater's chances for the presidency.
Thirteen Days (2000) 145min,VHS,DVD
Robert Donaldson's film of the book, "The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis" by Ernest May and Philip Zelikow documents the harrowing conflict between the US and Soviet Union. JFK and his staff try to parse actions discovered by reconnaissance flights over Cuba. I prefer this film slightly over The Missiles of October due the DVD's quality. I recognized the second author's name while watching C-SPAN. Mr. Zelikow is the executive director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known as the "9/11 Commission."
Paths of Glory (1957) 87min,VHS,DVD
Director Stanley Kubrick brilliantly directs producer/actor Kirk Douglas as Col. Dax, who has to lead his group of French soldiers to attack a German fortification knowing full well it will result in fifty percent casualty. I happened to watch Turner Classic Movies yesterday when Sen. John McCain, invited to introduce the film, says, "I would hope that the next president of the United States is well aware of those responsibilities, and is best informed and best advised before he sends our young Americans into harm's way."
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 93min,VHS,DVD
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room! - President Merkin Muffley
"Human beings are fallible. They make mistakes ... That's why it's so important to have somebody at the top of the civilian government who understands what's happening and has good sound judgment." says Sen. John Edwards, Vice Presidential nominee, upon introducing the feature on TCM. Writer and director Kubrick again brings satire and a nation to its highest stakes. He, too, heeded Ike's plea and deftly crafted a parody of Peter George's Red Alert that stands forty years since it's debut.
All the President's Men (1976) 138min,VHS,DVD
It leads everywhere. Get out your notebook. There's more. - Deep Throat
How long before we know who Deep Throat was? Unlike Col. Jiggs Casey of Seven Days in May, DT's conscience, rather than duty, had got the best of him and tells Bob Woodward to, "follow the money." Thus, we start through the proverbial rabbit hole that is Washington. What starts as a "third-rate burglary" at the hotel Watergate slowly, leads Woodward and Bernstein unsettling towards 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
1776 (1972) 180min,VHS,DVD
This is a revolution, dammit! We're going to have to offend SOMEbody! - John Adams
I first saw this movie in Radio City Music Hall courtesy of then US delegate to the UN, George Bush. This rousing musical helped me understand ably what our founding fathers reckoned for and against independence. "Molasses to Rum", "Mamma Look Sharp!" and "Is Anybody there?" are songs that still resonate within me. Richard Nixon persuaded Jack Warner to remove "Cool, cool considerate men" from the original print so I wasn't able to see it. Apparently, the song didn't paint the Tories a pretty picture. Fortunately, it's been restored in the new DVD.
As we plod through another election year, these films serves to remind the electorate how powerful democracy can be. I can only hope more films of this calibre can be made irrespective of political consequences; military nor industrial influence. They can only serve as a canvas to our ideals for the next President of the United States.
Executive Oath of Office: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
—United States Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 8
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