The Missiles of October
by Anthony Page
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Howard Da Silva, James Hong, Martin Sheen, Ralph Bellamy, William DevaneDirector: Anthony Page
Brand: MPI
Editor: Jerry Greene
Producer: Herbert Brodkin
Producer: Irv Wilson
Producer: Robert Berger
Writer: Robert F. Kennedy
Writer: Stanley R. Greenberg
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 150 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-06-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Mpi Home Video
Movie Reviews of The Missiles of October
Movie Review: Wonderful docudrama but the video tape master was magnetized and needs a proper restoration
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this when originally broadcast and back then video was considered (by me anyhow) a cheap way to do a dramatization. Not making it on film right in the middle of the made for TV movie and movie of the week phenomena seems strange but I think they were trying to recreate the "live" feeling of early TV (like 15 years earlier or "The Golden Age?") but it really is more like a soap. Lets make no mistake, I am grateful this is available and it is too bad that other video taped dramatizations are not available. Richard Chamberlain's "Hamlet" would be a wonderful release.
The technical problem is that the video master has a color problem. I think the video tape was exposed to some high power spurious magnetic source because I noticed the tint being greener at the bottom of the picture and more magenta at the top. This created an odd effect where skin tones were inconsistent. It was a bit of a distraction at first but, as I saw this on a Black and White TV in the first place, you can correct it by turning the color down if you want to. (I didn't!) It is not noticeable all the way through the video but I suggest buying it used if this would bother you but then again you will be missing an excellent drama.
You can forgive it all because the money was spent on the actors acting and the acting in this is a true treat. William Devane as JFK and a very young Martin Sheen as RFK (someone who I had only seen on the old Catholic TV Show "Crossroads") are worth the price of admission. The very young Michael "Barton Fink" Lerner as Salinger is another treat and the veteran character actor Howard De Silva, although not quite physically like Nikita Khrushchev, was also very believable. The very recognizable character Nehemiah Persoff as Gromyko, Kenneth Tobey as the Admiral in charge of the blockade, the authoritative Andrew Duggan as General Marshall, and a young Dana Eclair of later MacGyver fame as McNamara are but a few of the actors who fill out this cast. I even recognized B movie king Arthur Franz and it was nice to see Peter Donat who had a great part as the show producer in the film "The Hindenburg".
With all this talent this is a must have and a must see and I do recommend it but only four stars because of the technical flaw. There were so many stars/actors in this I have watched it twice since I got it for XMAS! A great if flawed value.
Good watching!
Summary of The Missiles of October
This recreation of the events leading up to the cuban missile crisis begins with kennedys discovery of soviet missiles in cuba & follows his difficult decision-making process. Commentary by william devane ralph bellamy martin sheen & howard da silva. Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 06/26/2001 Run time: 150 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Anthony PageWithout becoming didactic, The Missiles of October does an outstanding job of presenting many points of view on the Cuban missile crisis. The film humanizes Kennedy's near impossible task of avoiding war without compromising national security. The earnestness of this 1974 made-for-television dramatization may briefly remind one of social studies class--indeed it is at times difficult to maintain consciousness while the extensive cast of characters is being introduced at the opening. Not to worry, though--soon the power plays begin and The Missiles of October becomes completely gripping. Actual news footage is spliced in with the action, nicely serving as exposition and driving home just how very close the world came to nuclear war. A crew of excellent character actors flesh out the story and reveal the psychological games behind the language of diplomacy. William Devane takes on the difficult task of playing John F. Kennedy. While he doesn't quite capture Kennedy's charisma, he does occupy the role comfortably and effectively conveys the president's deep worry and determination to avoid war. Martin Sheen plays an engaging Robert Kennedy and Michael Lerner, oddly enough, manages to make Pierre Salinger absolutely fascinating. --Ali Davis
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