Seven Days in May on France 3: Kirk Douglas faces a military conspiracy

An officer discovers that his own superior is planning a coup. In Seven Days in May, John Frankenheimer pits Kirk Douglas against Burt Lancaster in a clash between the American civilian government and part of its military. France 3 is showing this 1964 political thriller in its Cinéma de minuit slot.

The action takes place in an imagined 1970: the president of the United States, played by Fredric March, supports a nuclear disarmament agreement with the USSR. General Scott opposes it. When Colonel Casey suspects a plot to overthrow the president, he must get the warning to the White House.

The screenplay was written by Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, based on the novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II, published in 1962. This source places the story at the heart of the Cold War: here, the threat comes from those who claim to protect the country. Ava Gardner and Edmond O’Brien round out the cast of this black-and-white film, released in France on March 25, 1964.

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For more, check out our selection of films, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s picks in What to watch today on streaming.

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