ARGO (Rated R)

Based on real events, “Argo” is a dramatic thriller that chronicles the life-or-death covert rescue operation of six Americans trapped in Tehran after the fall of the Shah.

On Nov. 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution that installed Ayatollah Khomeini in power grew intense, militants stormed the U.S. Embassy, taking 52 Americans hostage. Wow, talk about shades of recent terrorist activity against Americans in Libya; this movie is topical.

Those old enough to be familiar with the Jimmy Carter years will certainly remember this day of infamy, and the long, slow ordeal that ensued for well over a year afterwards.

What people are most likely to recollect, aside from the horror of an ongoing hostage saga, is the failed rescue attempt made by Army helicopters that crashed in the Iranian desert.

Much less well-known is how six Americans at the Embassy managed, in the midst of turmoil and chaos, to slip away and eventually find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).

The presence of the Americans at the Canadian official diplomatic residence posed great danger for the guests as well as the host government. The insane militants, if not the brutal Iranian regime, would likely execute all of them as spies.

From the very moment the U.S. compound is under assault, the tension is palpable and frightening. Embassy staff scurries to shred sensitive documents, even as they are petrified for their own safety.

Back home in Washington, CIA officials ponder how to save the stranded six house guests. Enter CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), an expert at extricating sensitive people from the world’s hot spots, including Iran.

Needing approval from his direct superior, Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston), Mendez starts kicking around ideas for extraction, quickly dismissing impractical schemes like having everyone ride a bike 400 miles to the border.

Having worked with Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman) on other CIA missions, Mendez hits upon the idea of fabricating the cover story of a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a tacky sci-fi film.

To make the idea work, Mendez recruits veteran producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to produce a fake movie that Siegel claims will have “to be a fake hit.”

Though the Siegel character is a composite of several Hollywood producers and moguls, Arkin brings to the role an outrageously funny perspective on the art of staging the cheesiest conceivable film.

The ruse won’t fly unless Mendez and his Hollywood buddies create a believable backstory for the bogus film production. They find a script for a film with the titular name of “Argo” and put together a production team.

The producers go so far as to design posters, stage table readings, take out ads in the trade papers and hold a big press conference to launch the film production.

Armed with a new identity as a Canadian film producer, Mendez obtains a visa and flies into Tehran to join his “film crew” – the six Americans in hiding.

With little time to enact his plan, Mendez has to coach the Americans in the art of impersonating key personnel of a film crew convincingly enough to get past the Revolutionary Guards handling security at the airport.

Working with the American government workers is not an easy task. They are naturally dubious about a mission that sounds too fanciful and off-the-wall. One or two are almost hostile about the rescue attempt, even after the Canadian government gives them official passports.

“Argo” also deftly recreates the tension and simmering hostilities that infuse the ongoing street demonstrations by crazed militants. The fear of exposure at any moment is a tangible reality for all concerned.

When things get too stressful and tense in Iran, the film wisely cuts away to scenes in Washington and Hollywood, where the frantic activity of secret agents and film moguls brings much needed comic relief.

You have to hand it to Ben Affleck for doing great work in his dual role of focal actor in the grand scheme and directing the entire piece of solid work.

Since “Argo” is a Hollywood production, some liberties are taken with the actual story, but it’s all for the benefit of heightened suspense.

One of the great fabrications is the apprehensive scene at the airport just before boarding, followed by the Iranian guards’ frantic last ditch effort to catch the Americans on the tarmac.

“Argo” is an exciting action thriller that maintains a keen element of surprise even though we know the outcome. This is a real hit based on real events.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

It may sound like a broken record, but I really enjoy the evident trend of releasing classic TV series, some long forgotten, on DVD for new and old generations to enjoy.

“Mr. Lucky,” starring the dashing John Vivyan as a suave professional gambler, lasted one season more than 50 years ago, but was a hit show nonetheless.

Blake Edwards created the show, which featured the excellent music of composer Henry Mancini. Edwards and Mancini collaborated on a number of films.

In the stylish adventure-crime series “Mr. Lucky,” Vivyan’s Mr. Lucky was teamed with his good friend Andamo (Ross Martin) running a successful casino in Andamo’s homeland of Chobolbo.

After a brush with the country’s corrupt dictator, they lose everything when Andamo is discovered running guns to the rebels in Mr. Lucky’s yacht, Fortuna.

Their fortunes take a turn for the better when Lucky wins enough money gambling to buy another yacht, which he christens Fortuna II.

Lucky and Andamo turn the yacht into a floating casino, and then an upscale restaurant, anchored in international waters off the American coast.

“Mr. Lucky: The Complete Series” finds plenty of adventure for the duo when the yacht brings them into contact with numerous criminals and people hiding from criminals.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.