Political Films Meet-Up: THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYST

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Let’s talk about movies! Join movie club member David J. for the next film in our Political Films series with "The President’s Analyst" (1967), a satirical brew of 1960’s era political conspiracy theories and inspired production design, written and directed by Theodore J. Flicker and starring James Coburn (“The Great Escape,” “Our Man Flint” and “In Like Flint”).

Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet. Some streaming and additional viewing suggestions are below.

We'll meet at Lucky Lab in SE at 4pm (map). We try to have a sign at our table (be sure to check outside just in case the weather is nice).

Grab a drink and we'll spend some time discussing the film and having a great time!

Political Film Spotlight: THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST

"The President’s Analyst" is an original work from writer / director Theodore J. Flicker. Inspired by the many outlandish conspiracies raging through America in the 60’s, mostly just under the radar of mainstream media but often endorsed and spread by organizations like the John Birchers. (Doesn't this sound familiar in 2024?) Flicker’s film positions James Coburn as the one person selected to be analyst for The President of The United States, becoming a witness to the truths behind the countless conspiracies and unfathomable international intrigues. Battling spy agencies maneuver to capture Coburn with James Bondian inspired plots, to learn the secrets he’s been entrusted to keep. He attempts to elude them by disappearing into a uniquely American counter-culture rabbit hole.

Key support in front of the camera comes from Godfrey Cambridge (“Cotton Comes To Harlem”) and Severn Darden (“Battle For The Planet Of The Apes” and “Werewolves On Wheels”) among other familiar faces from the era. And behind the screen, the music is by Lalo Schifrin (famous for his “Mission Impossible” theme), and the cinematography is courtesy of William Fraker (“Rosemary’s Baby,” “Bullitt,” “Looking For Mr. Goodbar”).

Upon release, critic Roger Ebert wrote that “The President’s Analyst fights back against the phone company and its accomplice, J. Edgar Hoover and his Electric G-Men. It is one of the funniest movies of the year, ranking with “The Graduate” and “Bedazzled” in the sharp edge of its satire.”

Current streaming sources are reported to include Amazon Prime, YouTube, Fandango and Apple TV. (Since it is a Paramount production, you might try their streaming service if you are a subscriber). It has been released in a deluxe Blu-ray edition in Australia, a standard Blu-ray from Kino Lorber here in the U.S., and also on DVD here in the U.S. from Paramount Home Video.

About Political Films

This series is based on the New Republic article, "The 100 Most Significant Political Films of All Time" published in June 2023 and is a comprehensive list of films that speak to our relationships with government, war, bureaucracy, politics and politicians, crime, propaganda, classism, and more. The list is not intended to be a collection of the 'best' films, but the most significant (although many of them are also very good). Some of these films can be a challenging watch, I'd suggest www.doesthedogdie.com for content warnings.

Tips:

1. Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, we just discuss it after we’ve seen it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
3. Typically, at the Meet-Up we'll decide on our next political film to watch! Take a look at the list linked above for options to consider for the next film.

Previous films viewed by “Political Films” Meet-up members for group discussion have included “Marat / Sade,” “On The Waterfront,” “The Great McGinty,” “Seven Days In May,” “The Candidate,” “The Act of Killing,” “The Battle Of Algiers,” “All The President’s Men,” “How To Blow Up A Pipeline,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “A Face In The Crowd,” and “Dr. Strangelove.”