Reviews

Notice: May contain Spoilers

If "The American President" (Michael Douglas) is politically correct, this mini with Kirk Douglas has to be the most socially correct I can imagine. It's a time capsule of social agendas for the 70's. According to this film, banks are run by bad guys until they start listening to their liberal activist lawyer girlfriends. Then they start to qualify as human beings.

A classic line: as Kirk Douglas and Susan Flannery walk through the bank-financed low-income housing project, she declares, "What we need are more of these... and bigger." Unbelievable.

Great acting all around. Patrick O'Neal is superb. His scene with Christopher Plummer where he cries, "It's gone!!" is riveting. And Lorne Greene as the billionaire Quartermain is diabolical.

Kirk Douglas plays Alex Vandervoort, the smart, thinks-on-his-feet bank Vice President...the guy we'd all like to be... a little wiser than his peers. And Christopher Plummer plays his role perfectly...denying the realization that his world is coming apart, until he cracks. His final walk down the hall followed by that silent jump from the roof was totally engaging. Don't think I've ever seen a scene like that one.

A little soapy at times, but all in all, a well-balanced and entertaining movie with several subplots.

This all but forgotten flick is akin to films like "Ice Station Zebra", "Hunt for Red October", et. al,. You could find women in this movie (a 1-minute church scene), but after that it was all guys. It's strong point was the detailed "insider" information that makes the viewer feel like he's being let in on the secret stuff. Like the missile control panel booby traps,... and the classified information discussed in the Oval Office meetings that the "public" can't be allowed to know. (***Possible Spoilers Follow***) I agree with some of the other reviewers here...it's pretty hard to believe the entry guards wouldn't be a bit suspicious when a truckload of "new faces" shows up... and they even fumble their own Social Security numbers! Geez... It occurred to me also that it would only take a few Howitzers or even a few tanks to blow those missiles to kingdom come as soon as they elevated from the silos!! Geez... But the most ridiculous scene was watching General McKenzie running the whole crisis operation while alone in a room, and sipping Jack Daniels while doing it!!! Geez. Another weak point...Dell (Burt Lancaster)demanded $10 million, Air Force One, and the President, but failed to ask for a JEEP to drive him from the silo to the plane!! No, he chooses to walk 1/2 mile past sharpshooters, snipers, APC's, and a gallery of rubberneckers! Oh well, it was still a GOOD MOVIE if you just go with it and don't ask too many questions. Rate it 7/10.