MacArthur (1977)

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writers:

Hal Barwood (written by) &
Matthew Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

July 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Daring, Defiant, Brilliant, Stubborn, Gallant, Glory-Hungry, Cold, Compassionate, Idolized, Despised, War-Lover, War-Hater, Supreme Commander, Supreme Egotist, Husband, Father. MacArthur.

Plot:

The story of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander during World War II and United Nations Commander for the Korean War...

Plot Keywords:

Korean War | General | President | WWII | Douglas Macarthur

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Ivan Bonar	...	Lt. Gen. Richard K. Sutherland
Ward Costello	...	Gen. George C. Marshall
Nicolas Coster	...	Colonel 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 (as Russell D. Johnson)
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

Also Known As:

MacArthur, the Rebel General (UK)

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:16 | UK:PG | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alverno Villa, Sierra Madre, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

At the start of filming, Gregory Peck disliked Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After filming he changed his mind, understanding the challenges MacArthur had faced.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the movie, Peck's MacArthur character announces that he has be awarded the "Congressional" Medal of Honor. The title of the award is only "Medal of Honor" and it is a common mistake to include the term "Congressional". Since MacArthur's father had received the award and Gen. MacArthur was very aware of medals and awards and a stickler for details, it is not likely that the real MacArthur would have made this mistake.

Quotes:

President Sergio Osmena: You see, General, my people are going to laugh if I fell in deep water. I cannot swim!
General Douglas MacArthur: That's not so bad, Mr. President. Everyone's about to see that I can't walk on water.

Movie Connections:

Features Winchester '73 (1950)

Great, well done story of the controversial American General , superbly played by Gregory Peck.

No matter what you have to say about MacArthur, critical or otherwise, he shaped events in the Pacific theater of World War II to give him a part of history in the twentieth century. In this well done production with Gregory Peck in the leading role, he gives a candid performance of the flamboyant and publicity seeking authoritative General who turned earlier defeat into ultimate victory. His great speech on arrival from the Phillipines, by train at Spencer Street Station in Melbourne Australia in March 1942 incorporating those famous words - " I came through and I shall return" - was an inspiration to many Australians during their darkest hour.

From the time of his arrival in our country he quickly abandoned the idea of defending any mainland invasion by the Japanese and decided on an offensive in New Guinea as a counter attack. Peck is perfect in the role of the self minded MacArthur doggedly pursuing the Japanese back to their homeland while arguing with his own superiors, including U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt over his earlier promise to liberate the Phillipines, which was planned to be bypassed. After the Japanese surrender, MacArthur becomes virtual ruler of Japan modifying old customs and instituting sweeping land reforms. His authority remained absolute until the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, when he clashed with new U.S. President Harry Truman over his successful campaign against the North Koreans and his intention to take on their Communist Chinese backers. Truman, wanting to avoid another world conflict, relieves MacArthur of his command and he is recalled home. Peck is magnificent with his captivating speech before a band of West Point recruits where he details his life and closes the movie with that famous caption " Old soldiers never die - they just fade away". This movie is a must for the younger generation of this world, to know that today's freedom was the result of the sacrifices made by their forbears.

To add a final footnote my mother worked at Archerfield aerodrome in Brisbane in 1942 with her sister where they were employed as aircraft riveter's being responsible for the repair of the fuselage of damaged U.S. Aircraft used during the defense of our country during World War 2. She told me well before her death in March 2004 how she took her limited time off from work to travel to central Brisbane just to watch General MacArthur walk down Queen Street from his home base at Lennons Hotel to the AMP building in Edward Street where he had his headquarters.

She said what a fine figure he cut, tall and handsome, and full of confidence in his goal of supreme victory. Her expectations in the faith of this great American General were ultimately justified. We are a free country today for the contribution of his great military expertise in the time of our greatest need.