As noted in numerous fifty-year remembrances, 1964 was a banner year for many cultural events, one of which was political films. This was in no doubt due in part to the ongoing struggle for civil rights, the Kennedy assassination, and the 1964 election (despite the outcome of that contest never seriously being in doubt). Three of the finest political films ever made were released that year: Stanley Kubricks Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb on 29 January, John Frankenheimers version of Rod Serlings Seven Days in May on 12 February, Franklin J. Schaffners version of Gore Vidals The Best Man on 5 April, and Sidney Lumets Fail-Safe on 7 October. This day in 1964 saw the release of a lesser yet enjoyable and interesting film entitled Kisses for My President. In the film, Leslie McCloud (Polly Bergen) makes history when she is elected the first female President of the United States, while her husband Thad McCloud (Fred MacMurray) is less enthusiastic as the first first man. Eli Wallach, Arlene Dahl, Edward Andrews, and John Banner (later Sgt. Shultz of Hogans Heroes) round out the cast. This was before Hillary, Sarah Palin, Elizabeth Dole, Geraldine Ferraro, or even Shirley Chisolm (but released the same year Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major partys convention). A little ahead of its time and perhaps a little ill timed in its release especially when it was going up against the above-mentioned presidential blockbusters that year. Often shown on TCM.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 17:06:13 +0000
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