In a message dated 9/6/2003 12:13:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time, AMPSOne@aol.com writes:
The Islen character is based on Senator Joe McCarthy, always a punching bag for liberal Hollywood writers in the 1950s and 1960s. But the ironic thing about the movie is that their McCarthy character is going to be a Communist stooge once elected. Go figure.
About the only other thing the movie did was introduce actor Keigh Deigh (sp) to the audience as a diehard "Commie" villian, and from that he went on to a long continuing role as a Red Chinese spy in the TV series "Hawaii 5-0".
I think the description on the info button talked about its likeness to Nixon. It appeared on Encore if I hadn't said already... Anyway, I don't think Senator Joe McCarthy was a good guy, was he? I haven't actually read any of his political statements...