Executive Action (1973)

Director: David Miller

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Will Geer

More info: IMDB

Tagline: Their Goal...Assassination. November 22, 1963...Accomplished!

Plot: This fictionalized speculation posits that a covert group of rogue intelligence agents, ultra-conservative politicians, unscrupulously greedy business interests, and free-lance assassins become increasingly alarmed at President Kennedy's policies, including his views on race relations, winding down the Viet Nam War, and ending the oil depletion allowance. They decide to terminate him through an "executive action" utilizing two teams of well-trained snipers during JFK's visit to Dallas and place the blame on supposed CIA operative Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone assassin.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Sure.



I'm no conspiracy theorist. I'm not saying that conspiracies don't exist - they do, but not in the extent that many would lead you to believe. I believe in coincidences and that often times the simplest explanation is likely to be the truth. I don't claim to know enough about the Kennedy assassination to discuss it. While I find it interesting to hear all sides of those who have an robust opinion, it's not a subject that I'm passionate enough to delve into. I will watch the movies, however.


I liked this one. It moves fairly quickly partly due to the two sides of the story being told in pieces, side by side. One is the planning and decision making between behind closed doors politicians, businessmen, king makers and so on. The other is the training of the potential assassins. I found the brains side more interesting than the brawn due to the heavyweights in the acting department. You've got Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Will Geer as the planners and the only name on the action side that stands out is the great Ed Lauter. It's lopsided, sure, but it sure is great seeing these men work that dialogue.


Something else that works is Randy Edelman's sparse score. Movies like this work best will little to no music. It creates a colder, more realistic tone. THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (1973) comes to mind. Also, from the moment the first shot is fired killing The President (OOOOPS. SORRY. SPOILERS), the only sound you hear for the next forty seconds is the sound of the other two shots fired. You see people screaming and other actions that require a good deal of sound and there is none. It's very effective and harrowing.


Together the whole thing plays out like a cold thriller. The only difference is you know who did it and to whom. So, in reality, who killed JFK? I don't know and I suppose it doesn't matter one way or the other. No matter what evidence surfaces, this debate will never end, ever, because the very nature of a conspiracy theorist will always have a reason to support it or deny it regardless of the facts. There could never be anything that would change his mind. But you can still enjoy a movie about it, can't you?