Executive Action

PG

1973

1 hr. 31 min.

Drama

List

60%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1963, with President John F. Kennedy growing more liberal and humanitarian in his policies, a shadowy cabal of Texas oil magnates, hardline conservatives, intelligence agents and rogue operatives meet to discuss possible action. The swaggering Foster (Robert Ryan) wants JFK dead, but the mysterious and powerful Ferguson (Will Geer) rebuffs the idea. Still, Farrington (Burt Lancaster) carries out a military training operation in preparation for an assassination while he waits for a decision.

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Steve D

Conspiracy nonsense that ropes in odd amounts of talent.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

Full Review

michael d

Well done sleeper film on the JFK assassination. Made a long time before Oliver Stone and a lot cheaper. Great actors, director, and screenplay.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/22

Full Review

delysid d

deep state conspiracy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/14/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Whether or not you believe Oswald was a lone nut working alone, or believe that some things were just too coincidental to be anything but the by-product of a wider conspiracy, this story is well-written by former blacklisted writer, Dalton Trumbo, and is as plausible an explanation of all the unanswered questions about the JFK assassination as was the joke of an investigation called the Warren Report or the ridiculous "magic bullet" theory that Sen. Spector had the audacity to propose and stick with, Eminently watchable crime drama, even if not Burt Lancaster or Robert Ryan's best acting work

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Granddaddy of all Kennedy assassination conspiracy films. Regardless of your opinions on the conspiracy theory, it is clear that this film seeks to include in the conspiracy an explanation for every misstep, coincidence, unusual circumstance or other happenstance that surrounded the assignation at the time. As such, it presents a conspiracy that was so convoluted and reliant on luck, as to make it completely implausible. Still, the movie is well made, with quality acting and cinematography that puts you in the heart of the conspiracy and assassination.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

ashley h

Executive Action is a decent film. It is about the conspiracy theories of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Burt Lancaster and Robert Ryan give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. David Miller did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and mystery.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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David Miller

Director

Burt Lancaster

Farrington

Robert Ryan

Foster

Will Geer

Ferguson

Gilbert Green

Paulitz

John Anderson

Halliday

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

So graceless it's beyond using even as a demonstration of ineptitude.

Sep 15, 2023

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

This is essentially a dramatized rewrite of all those old assassination conspiracy books.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an erratic yet fairly watchable bit of 1970s conspiracy filmmaking.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 2, 2020

Full Review

Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

By and large, this is an engrossing picture.

Dec 31, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The film, a worthwhile watch, was ignored by both the public and media.

Rated: B+

Feb 22, 2015

Full Review

Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

Corajoso para sua poca, traz um roteiro incomodamente plausvel (e extremamente bem pesquisado) de Dalton Trumbo e uma montagem didtica e tensa.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 2, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1963, with President John F. Kennedy growing more liberal and humanitarian in his policies, a shadowy cabal of Texas oil magnates, hardline conservatives, intelligence agents and rogue operatives meet to discuss possible action. The swaggering Foster (Robert Ryan) wants JFK dead, but the mysterious and powerful Ferguson (Will Geer) rebuffs the idea. Still, Farrington (Burt Lancaster) carries out a military training operation in preparation for an assassination while he waits for a decision.

Director: David Miller
Screenwriter: Dalton Trumbo
Production Co: National General, Turner Entertainment, Warner Home Video
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009

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