MacArthur (1999 film)

MacArthur is a 1999 two-part television documentary film about Douglas MacArthur, a United States General of the Army. Produced by PBS for The American Experience (now simply American Experience) documentary program, it recounts the significant events and controversies in MacArthur's life, from childhood to his death in 1964. Written and produced by Austin Hoyt, directed by Hoyt and Sarah Holt, and narrated by David Ogden Stiers, the film first aired on PBS in two parts on May 17 and 18, 1999.

MacArthur
GenreDocumentary
Written byAustin Hoyt[1]
Directed by
  • Austin Hoyt
  • Sarah Holt[1]
Narrated byDavid Ogden Stiers[1]
Music byMichael Bacon[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
  • Austin Hoyt[1]
  • Sarah Holt (coproducer)[1]
CinematographyTerry Hopkins[1]
Editors
  • Bernice K. Schneider[1]
  • Sarah Holt[1]
Running time240 minutes[2]
Production companyWGBH Educational Foundation[1]
DistributorPublic Broadcasting Service
Release
Original networkPBS
Original release
  • May 17, 1999 (1999-05-17)

Interviewees

Critical response

Walter Goodman of The New York Times gave MacArthur a positive review, stating that "Although far from uncritical, Austin Hoyt's carefully balanced approach does justice to MacArthur's tactical abilities even as it takes account of a political obtuseness that at times verged on megalomania."[3] Shannon Jones of World Socialist Web Site also gave an overall positive review, although with reservations, stating that "To the producers' credit the program attempts to deal with the subject in a serious way. [...] However, as one expects with American television, the commentary, while often informative, does not probe too deeply the political issues raised by Douglas MacArthur's career, nor does the production seriously challenge the image of the general as a 'hero'".[4]

Home media

MacArthur was first released on VHS by PBS on May 11, 1999, a few days before its television broadcast.[5] PBS would later release the film on DVD by February 10, 2004.[2]

References
  1. "MacArthur - Credits". PBS. WGBH Educational Foundation. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. "American Experience - MacArthur". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  3. Goodman, Walter (May 17, 1999). "TELEVISION REVIEW; The General at the Center of the Stage". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. 6. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. Jones, Shannon (May 27, 1999). "Documentary on Douglas MacArthur raises issues of contemporary importance". World Socialist Web Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. "The American Experience: MacArthur [VHS]". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
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