The President's Analyst (1967)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Theodore J. Flicker

Writer:

Theodore J. Flicker (writer)

Release Date:

21 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Only two people on earth want Sidney Schaefer alive. Sidney Schaefer. And the President of the United States.

Plot:

At first, Dr. Sidney Schaefer feels honored and thrilled to be offered the job of the President's Analyst...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Suburbia | Christmas | Restaurant | Blowgun

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Coburn	...	Dr. Sidney Schaefer
Godfrey Cambridge	...	Don Masters, CEA Agent
Severn Darden	...	V.I. Kydor Kropotkin
Joan Delaney	...	Nan Butler
Pat Harrington Jr.	...	Arlington Hewes, President of TPC (as Pat Harrington)
Barry McGuire	...	Old Wrangler
Jill Banner	...	Snow White
Eduard Franz	...	Ethan Allen Cocket, CEA Director
Walter Burke	...	Henry Lux, FBR Chief
Will Geer	...	Dr. Lee-Evans
William Daniels	...	Wynn Quantrill
Joan Darling	...	Jeff Quantrill
Sheldon Collins	...	Bing Quantrill
Arte Johnson	...	Sullivan, FBR Agent
Martin Horsey	...	1st Puddlian (Canadian Secret Service)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Memorial, National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

Panpiper Productions

Trivia:

The San Franciscan band The Grateful Dead were asked to be in this film. They would have been a rock band that Dr. Schaefer winds up hanging out with. Unfortunately the band wanted complete control over that scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Nan is moved to a hotel, a camera shadow is visible on the CEA director and Sidney as the director pulls Sidney to the right.

Quotes:

Don Masters, CEA Agent: I'm a CEA agent.
Dr. Sidney Schaefer: [rises from desk, walks over to read ID card] You ARE a CEA agent. And you really did kill someone!
Don Masters, CEA Agent: Ahhummm.
Dr. Sidney Schaefer: Fascinating, Don... I suppose it's the conditioning of motion pictures, or television, or maybe it's just it's the times we live in, but... killing is serious business, yet this little card makes it somehow less shocking... acceptable in a way! You mean to say you can actually legally kill someone?
Don Masters, CEA Agent: Yeah, and it bothers me sometimes that I don't feel guilty about it. Don't you think that's psychotic behavior?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Burn After Reading (2008)

Soundtrack:

Joy to the World

Over-looked gem

Too many films want it both ways, but this is that rare example of a film that actually gets it. It genuinely is of its age - all swinging Sixties and cultural revolution - but it also sends all that up.

Read the plot elsewhere but suffice to say that those numb-nuts who believe it to be shambolic clearly don't know a carefully structured film when they see one. It's a comedy thriller that zips along whilst never missing an opportunity to provide some of the best satire you'll ever see on Flower Power, Psychiatry, American Liberalism and the Cold War.

Furthermore, for me, it's James Coburn's best performance because we get to see his comedic skills whilst at the same time get a generous slice of just what makes him the coolest cat ever to grace the silver screen.

I'm gobsmacked that this - one of my Top 25 films - is not considered a classic. For me it's up there with Dr Strangelove because it's got everything: great direction, a great great story, great dialogue, great sound-track, and did I mention the acting...?