Thiswasaveryinferiorremakeof"SevenDaysinMay".WhatdoomsitfromtheoutsetwasJasonRobardscharacterizationofGeneralLloyd(Scott).ItiscentraltothecredibilityoftheplotthatthisisaknifefightbetweenanunpopulardovishpresidentwhommostofthecountryfearshasendangeredAmericabyhisdisarmamenttreatyandhischarismatichawkishChairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff.Intheoriginal"SevenDaysinMay"GeneralScottisanationalwarherowhommillionsofAmericansidolizeandwho,iftheelectionwereheldtoday,wouldwininalandslide.JimmyCartervsDouglasMacArthur.Fortheconceptofamilitarycouptobecredibletherehastobeanationalsecuritycrisispittinganunusuallyweakpresidentagainstanunusuallypowerfulgeneral.Theoriginal"SevenDaysinMay"hadBurtLancaster,anactorofenormousmagnetismplayingGeneralScott.Youcanseehimasthekindofheroicmanonhorsebackafrightenednationwouldturntoforsalvation.Youcanseehimasthekindofmanwhocouldseduceanationinto"Well,whydontwesetasidetheConstitutionjustthisonce.Iwonttellifyouwonttell."ThisfilmsGeneralLloydwassimplyasnarlingfascistutterlydevoidofanyheroicmagnetismwhomnoonewouldfollowoffasinkingship.ItisimpossibletoimaginehimcommandingthesupportofmillionsofAmericanswhichiswhatyouwouldhavetodoifyouplanonrulingthecountryaftershootingyourwayintotheWhiteHouse .