Writing a column about political dramas is challenging in 2024 … real life politics may be more intriguing (and frightening) than those concocted by screenwriters. Before delving into American political intrigue, you may want to check out a few of the greatest foreign political thrillers that foretell some eerily precarious moments in other countries: “Battleship Potemkin” (1925, USSR), “The Battle of Algiers” (1966, Italy/Algeria), “Z” (1969, France/Algeria), and “Argentina, 1985” (2022, Argentina).
Below are a few frightening, and prescient, visions of the future of American politics.
Take One
Most people know Andy Griffith as the sentimental sheriff of Mayberry and single father to his precocious son Opie (Ron Howard) in his titular TV program of the 1960s. Dispensing morals and wisdom to countless generations of kids, parents, and other do-gooders with his trusty but inept sidekick Barney Fife (Don Knotts).
So it may come as a surprise that in 1957 Griffith got his big break in Elia Kazan’s compelling political drama “A Face in the Crowd” where he plays an off-the-rails demagogue who ruthlessly commands the radio airwaves and amasses considerable power. What’s most shocking is that he achieves this by appealing to populist swaths of the country, spouting exaggerated lies and hawking sham products. Does any of this sound familiar?
Griffith gives the performance of a lifetime as Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes, the ultra-charismatic radio host who increasingly isolates himself as he tears apart the advertising industry. Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, an uncredited Rip Torn and Lee Remick all shine in supporting roles, as does Budd Schulberg’s razor-sharp dialogue.
If you enjoyed Oliver Stone’s “JFK” (1991) and it’s far-fetched conspiracy theories, you may want to check out director William Richert’s “Winter Kills” (1979), a black political satire, which posits an even more absurd set of conspiracy theories related to the assassination of one President Kegan (clearly based on JFK). Jeff Bridges, in an early starring role is the half brother of the slain President and seems to be having a lot of fun trying to track down what really happened, even as he becomes the target of his brother’s enemies. He’s matched by an even more eye-popping supporting cast that includes (but is not limited to) John Huston as his estranged and psychotic father, Anthony Perkins as the family accountant who is manipulating global outcomes, and Eli Wallach, Sterling Hayden, Dorothy Malone and legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa-regular Toshiro Mifune delightful as over the top conspiracy theorists.
Look out for an uncredited cameo by Elizabeth Taylor.
The movie is among the more ridiculous entries in the political conspiracy genre, but then again, there’s little in the film that’s totally implausible these days.
Take Two
Could there ever be a military coup overthrowing the government of the United States? That is the premise of director John Frankenheimer’s 1964 cliffhanger, “Seven Days in May,” based on the best-selling novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles Bailey, II. A military cabal, angered by the President’s agreement to a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union and led by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Scott, plot the takeover of the federal government by force. Only a marine colonel, an aide to the General, stands in the way of success.
The all-star cast includes Burt Lancaster as the charismatic Scott, Kirk Douglas as his patriotic aide, Fredric March as the beleaguered President, and Ava Gardner as the society matron torn between both principals. The screenplay was written by Rod Serling, creator of TV’s “The Twilight Zone.”
Many nuances in the film reflected concerns (at that time) of the Kennedy administration’s relationship with our country’s military.
I’m going to bet that few readers of this column have ever heard of this next film, despite Paul Newman often citing it as one of his favorites. “WUSA” (1970) is a disturbing parable on what can go wrong when extreme political views go unchecked. WUSA is a right wing talk radio station in New Orleans that hires cynical drifter (Newman) as their daytime DJ. The plot revolves around a white supremacist hate rally, black militants and an unhinged assassin. Newman’s companion is a down-on-her luck girl, from the wrong side of the tracks, played by Newman’s real-life wife, the always-interesting Joanne Woodward.
The off-color supporting cast includes a naive Anthony Perkins, a deceitful Laurence Harvey, and Pat Hingle as the right-wing radio station owner.
Finally, we would both be remiss if we didn’t mention one of our favorite political dramas “Advise & Consent” (1962) based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alan Drury and directed by the controversial Otto Preminger. The plot revolves around the Senate confirmation process to confirm the President’s nominee for Secretary of State.
The all-star cast includes Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Don Murray, Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford, Lew Ayres, Gene Tierney and a very young Golden Girl – Betty White.
All films are available on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
(This column is written jointly by a baby boomer, Denny Parish, and a millennial, Carson Parish, who also happen to be father and son.)
