MacArthur (1977)
Director: Joseph Sargent.
Cast: Gregory Peck (Gen. Douglas MacArthur), Ivan Bonar (Lt. Gen. Richard K. Sutherland), Ward Costello (Gen. George C. Marshall), Nicolas Coster (Maj. Sidney Huff, MacArthur's aide), Marj Dusay (Mrs. Jean MacArthur), Ed Flanders (President Harry S. Truman), Art Fleming (The Secretary), Russell Johnson (Adm. Ernest J. King), Sandy Kenyon (Maj. Gen./Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright), Robert Mandan (Rep. Martin), Allan Miller (Col. Legrande A. Diller, MacArthur's aide), Dan O'Herlihy (President Franklin D. Roosevelt), Dick O'Neill (Col. Courtney Whitney, Intelligence Officer), Addison Powell (Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz), Tom Rosqui (Gen. Sampson).
The life of Gen. Douglas MacArthur from the invasion of the Philippines in World War II to his being fired by President Truman and retirement.
Good movie. Corregidor, Philippines, 1942. President Roosevelt remarks that MacArthur takes everything so personally. No wonder they decided to keep it from him that the Philippines would not be reinforced.
Roosevelt had to order MacArthur to leave the Philippines. He and his family leave by PT boat, leaving Wainwright behind to face the enemy.
When he arrives in Melbourne he finds out that there is no Philippines Relief Expedition. Furthermore, there is no American infantry on the Australian continent. There are 300,000 Australian troops available, but they are all green. It seems odd timing, but FDR gives MacArthur the Congressional Medal of Honor. In a speech MacArthur utters his famous words: "I shall return."
MacArthur wants to get into the war very badly. The Navy has won the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway Island. He decides to go on the offensive, not to wait for a Japanese invasion of Australia, but to fight for Australia in New Guinea. And, since he has limited resources, he decides to bypass the Japanese strong points in favor of cutting their supply lines: "Starvation is my ally."
Somewhat paranoid, MacArthur wonders why FDR wants to meet with him in Pearl Harbor. FDR quotes Eisenhower: "I spent nine long years with MacArthur, studying dramatics." The real reason for the meeting was to get the views of the armed forces as to what should be the next offensive steps in the war in the Pacific. Admiral Nimitz wants to concentrate on taking the island of Formosa. MacArthur argues that they have to make the Philippines the priority. He suggests hitting Luzon via Leyte Beach and driving on from there to Manila. FDR and the Joint Chiefs of Staff approve his plan.
MacArthur lands on Luzon. He visits with the troops and the survivors of the Bataan Death March. He is furious when he learns about the atomic bomb. Why wasn't he told earlier, he wonders.
He directs the signing of the peace treaty with Japan.
North Korea attacks South Korea. He is excited by the challenge before him.
What's good about this movie is that it clearly spells out the many offenses MacArthur committed against the policies of President Truman. He goes against Truman's policy toward Chiang Kai-Shek in China. And he speaks of appeasement and defeatism, implying that these characterize Truman's policies toward the Communists. It appears he wants to run his own foreign policy.
MacArthur pulls off a master stroke with his landing at Inchon in Korea and driving the North Koreans north back across the 38th parallel and beyond. (But he is furious with Truman for only giving him "grudging permission" for the Inchon landing.)
Truman is just as furious, but at MacArthur. Truman goes to Wake Island to meet MacArthur wondering if Caesar will arrive after him and keep the president of the United State waiting. Truman is worried about a possible Chinese intervention. He puts a lot of restrictions on the use of force in Korea near the border with China, all of which MacArthur resents. MacArthur has a confrontational approach to the war in Korea and again speaks about appeasement. The Chinese do enter the war, catching the Americans by surprise.
MacArthur is increasingly out-of-control. He actually says that he is not answerable to the President of the United States but to the Congress and the American people. He is way out of line and Truman finally fires him. Of course, MacArthur becomes a hero of the American right-wing. But, clearly, MacArthur had tread along the line between disrespect and open rebellion.
As his swan song, MacArthur uses the lines of a popular Army tune, "old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
Gregory Peck was terrific as MacArthur, the American Caesar, that mixture of brilliance, paranoia and defiance.
Patrick L. Cooney.
Historical Background:
1941 -- Douglas MacArthur put in charge of the Philippines and US forces. Most of
their manpower was drawn from the reserves and these were inadequately prepared.
early December, 1941 -- The 4th Marine regiment came over from China.
Dec 8, 1941 -- Japanese head south from Formosa airfields, and ships land on the
Philippines. The
attack force was not challenged. Beachheads were established in six different
places. On Luzon, the principal island, they drove toward Manila. The main
assault set ashore 110 miles from Manila. By Christmas they had invaded at 9
points.
1941 (by early December) -- Japanese planes bombed Manila. They also raided US air
fields. At year's end the Japanese approached the capital. Bombing continued
even though the capital had been declared an open city.
1942 (January 2) -- Manila in Japanese hands. They spread their doctrine of Asia for the
Asians.
1942 (mid-March) -- the enemy was in control of almost all of Luzon; MacArthur leaves to
go to Australia to mount an offensive at the earliest opportunity. He was made
commander of the southwest Pacific theater.
The Japanese commander Gen. Homa was particularly happy. This city would be,
four years later, the setting for his execution for war crimes.
1942 (late April) -- the last outposts were Corregidor and Manila Bay. For almost
a month they bombarded the place.
1942 (May 5) -- assault units went in. After 24 hours of fighting they gave up.
Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, the American commander, met with Gen Homa on nearby
Bataan peninsula to surrender.
Gen Homa, the beast of Bataan, visited the scene of the battle for the epic
fortress. US 4th Marine regiment had fought valiantly for Corregidor.
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