Seven Days in May a political thriller

Based on a novel of the same name by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II, "Seven Days in May" is characterized by a very tense plot whose central axis is the defense of liberties, world peace and the fight against fascism, political fanaticism and prejudices of all kinds.

Perhaps today the film suffers from a certain complexity, because the plot follows a course too predictable and sometimes loaded with a message somewhat "Capra" but without the touch of comedy.

Be that as it may, at all times we are in front of a drama, a political thriller of high quality that keeps the viewer in suspense until the end, with an impressive black and white photography, shots to take off your hat and with impeccable performances that compensate (and by far) any shortcomings of the work.

The cast is cathedral-like: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Martin Balsam, Edmond O'Brien and an Ava Gardner who seemed to be in a stage of pre-case in his career, but in this film proved his worth more than enough and above from a supporting role that knew how to lead masterfully to a key position for its ability to further tighten the rope with his changes of facial expression in the scene he shares with Kirk Douglas, a true monster of cinema that once again made dignify a role that many others would have been too big.

Great performance by Fredric March, one of my favorite actors, whose presidential role gave a strong personality to the play, accompanied by a discreet Paul Girard, played by Martin Balsam (one of my favorite supporting actors) who knew how to manage the elementariness of the character with note and an Edmond O'Brien who in my opinion was very up to a role with a lot of emotional charge.

And what to say about the enormous Burt Lancaster, who embroidered a repulsive character, with clear fascist overtones and who achieved some high octane interpretative heights although perhaps at the end they take away the gas too suddenly for my taste.