EXECUTIVE ACTION

EXECUTIVE ACTION (1973 ) Director: David Miller. Written by Dalton Trumbo.

This interesting if little-seen movie -- which today we would call a "docudrama" -- utilizes stock footage of JFK and other key figures as it presents the fictionalized behind-the-scenes story of how a group of ultra-conservative politicians, [played by Burt Lancaster (Farrington), Robert Ryan (Foster), Will Geer (Ferguson), and others] conspired to have President Kennedy assassinated, using Lee Harvey Oswald as the perfect dupe. It's interesting to see the liberal Lancaster playing such a super right-wing character. Dick Miller has a small role of one of the riflemen. The movie is chilling and depressing in equal measure. Although there have always been conspiracy theories about the shooting of JFK, Executive Action disappeared from theaters fairly quickly, although a similar film, The Parallax View with Warren Beatty, didn't suffer the same fate.

Verdict: Interesting take on a significant moment in world history. **1/2.