What Was On TV Last Night
Last night Turner Classic Movies ran the film "The President's Analyst". I had only a vague memory of watching part of it late at night a long time ago, so I thought that I would give it another chance. What a great movie! It's a tongue-in-cheek 60's spy spoof, with more sophisticated political satire than you might see in films like "In Like Flint" and "Casino Royale". (There is no sense in my writing a synopsis of the film, as there are already so many versions available on the internet. You can read a fine synopsis of the film on Wikipedia, for example.)
The film is also remarkable in that it accurately predicts the present issues that face the American public with the telecom industry. Watch this clip! It's eerie - And some of the dialog is downright spooky!
The film is also remarkable in that it accurately predicts the present issues that face the American public with the telecom industry. Watch this clip! It's eerie - And some of the dialog is downright spooky!
Kropotkin: Are you trying to tell me every phone in the country is tapped?
Masters: That's what's in my head.
Kropotkin: Don, this is America, not Russia!
Masters: That's what's in my head.
Kropotkin: Don, this is America, not Russia!
James Coburn stars, but through most of the film he plays straight man to the comedic characters played by Arte Johnson, Godfrey Cambridge, and Severn Darden (The mutant leader in "Battle for the Planet of the Apes").
The film spoofs Cold War paranoia, patriotism, American culture and psychiatrists. As the film progresses you find that the loyalties of the all characters are impossibly skewed and insane. The plot does meander a bit, and I think that there was definitely room for more miniskirts and go go boots - but overall I thought it was a very good movie.
The film spoofs Cold War paranoia, patriotism, American culture and psychiatrists. As the film progresses you find that the loyalties of the all characters are impossibly skewed and insane. The plot does meander a bit, and I think that there was definitely room for more miniskirts and go go boots - but overall I thought it was a very good movie.
UPDATE: Johnny Yen has a post about the film as well!
7 Comments:
I loved this movie since I was a kid. I watched most of it last night but I had to stop when I kept nodding off. It's just as good as I remembered it.
There's ALWAYS room for more go-go boots and mini skirts. It's like Jello
Indeed, this movie is a treasure, and highly unlikely to be remade except in the most awful and unwatchable fashion so as to tarnish the original by association.
"That's the car gun, Bing"
;>)
What a great film.
One of my favorite movies ever-- I had a post last year on it.
One of my favorite scenes ever in a movie-- at the end, when James Coburn is shooting the attacking guards, yelling "Take that, you hostile bastards!"
Dr. Monkerstein: Isn't it a great movie? I loved the whole TPC (The Phone Company) bit. I am glad that you get Turner Classic Movies.
Devilham: Yes! Truer words have never been spoken. (I like jello too.)
Darkblack: "That's the car gun, Bing" I loved that line! The whole exchinage wit the family was one of my favorite parts.
Comrade Kevin: It meandered a bit, but still it was great!
Johnny Yen: "Take that, you hostile bastards!" I loved that line! I am not sure that everybody got it, though. I found your post and add the link to my post.
One of my favorites too. I always loved the New Jersey family.
I remember seeing the missing art theater scene many years ago and wondered what happened to it. It's not on the DVD release either.
Post a Comment
<< Home