The HAU Movie Club of the Hellenic American Union concludes its screening season with the political thriller by John Frankenheimer, Seven Days in May (1964), starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas
Based on the novel of the same name by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II, the film depicts an attempted military coup in the United States. The plot revolves around U.S. military leaders trying to seize control of the government because the President supports a treaty to demilitarize nuclear weapons with the Soviet Union. Fearing possible Soviet betrayal, the military moves to take over.
President John F. Kennedy had read the book and considered it a plausible scenario for the near future of the United States. For this reason, he authorized filming at the Pentagon and the White House. However, he was assassinated before production concluded and never saw the completed film.
The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Edmond O’Brien and Best Art Direction.