Diagonaldi Very well executed

Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Roxie The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

SimonJack Gregory Peck lends an air of authenticity as Gen. Douglas MacArthur in this film. "MacArthur" covers the apex of the career of one of the most famous American wartime commanders. Gen. MacArthur, like Gen. George S. Patton, was one of the few outspoken commanders in wartime whose views and comments often clashed with those of their leaders or the President. Without exception, these outspoken generals were excellent military commanders, brilliant tacticians, very well read and knowledgeable about their enemies, and insightful about the future. This film takes us from the start of World War II to Pres. Harry S. Truman's removal of Gen. MacArthur from his command during the Korean War. It's interesting that the film doesn't come right out and say that MacArthur is being sacked. Probably many of the younger generations by the end of the 20th century wouldn't know that piece of history, if they even know much about MacArthur. As a biopic, the film's focus is more on MacArthur's military strategy and political savvy, than on his wartime command. So, it has just small segments of combat here and there. On that score, it doesn't equal the military biopic, "Patton." Still, this is a very good film about one of the great military minds and leaders of America. A broadcast reporter is on the scene for the New York ticker tape parade (April 2, 1951) given for Gen. MacArthur on his return to America. The reporter says, "I've never seen anything like it. The entire city has come out to celebrate the return of America's greatest hero. Officials estimate from 7 to 10 million people are here on hand, and that surpasses Lindberg and Eisenhower's homecomings put together."A favorite scene is in the retaking of the Philippines. MacArthur is in a jeep going to check the front lines. A corporal stops him at the front lines and says the only thing ahead is a forward patrol. MacArthur tells the driver to proceed. The corporal says, "I don't believe it. That's the first I've ever seen a commander-in-chief take the point." And, another GI near him says, "Yeah, he's the greatest general since Sergeant York."In the film, MacArthur talks to the press, and he addresses the U.S. Congress and the cadets at West Point. Here are some quotes. For more, see the Quotes section on the IMDb Web page for this film.Gen. MacArthur, "How did Shakespeare put it? A general's wife is the general's general." Gen. MacArthur, "I requested permission to bomb the Yangtze bridges to keep the Chinese out of Korea. They said, 'You might bomb the southern half of the bridges only.' In my 50 years of military service, I have never learned how to bomb half a bridge."Gen. MacArthur, "For the first time in military history, a commander has been denied the use of his military power to safeguard the lives of his soldiers and the safety of the Army. It leaves me with a sense of irrepressible… shock." Gen. MacArthur, on appeasement in Korea, "This isn't war. It's half war. It's an immoral compromise with evil." In response to a question from the press about Korea, Gen. MacArthur says, "I couldn't substitute my policy for Mr. Truman's, because Mr. Truman doesn't have a policy."Gen. MacArthur, to the U.S. Congress, "But once war has been forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very objective is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war, there can be no substitute for victory. For history teaches us, with unmistakable emphasis, that appeasement but begets new and bloodier war. Like blackmail, it lays the basis for new and increasingly greater demands until, as in blackmail, violence becomes the only alternative." Gen. MacArthur, "The magnificence and the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies description. They have chosen to risk death rather than slavery." Gen. MacArthur, "I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day… 'Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.'" Mrs. MacArthur on Dwight Eisenhower's GOP nomination for president in 1952, "What kind of president do you think he's gonna make?" Gen. MacArthur, "I think he'll make a fine president. He was the best clerk who ever served under me." Gen. MacArthur, to the West Point cadets, "Today marks my final roll call with you. I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the corps… and the corps… and the corps. I bid you farewell."

ma-cortes Nice biographic film about controversial as well as flamboyant General masterfully played by Gregory Peck and who was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s to 1940s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II , having received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign .Agreeable biopic about the famed general concerning the latter years of his long military career , it starts with his assumption of command of the Philippine army and subsequent retreat ; going on through Inchon landing , China invasion on Korea crossing over parallel 39 and his sacking by President Harry Truman . This is a pretty good film with plenty of emotion , drama , biographic elements , historical events and Peck is spellbinding in the title role . The flick describes efficiently his particular character , complexity and the controversy that surrounded him . Very fine acting by the great Gregory Peck as military chief , he even bears remarkable resemblance to Douglas MacArthur , he had some of his hair shaved off since the real General was quite bald . Peck' outstanding acting arranges to bring alive this historical role , who strode a fine line between demigod and expert battlefield commander . Originally made for TV , it has a long runtime , at 144 minutes , being cut for cinema release . The picture gets magnificent interpretations from prestigious secondaries playing Generals and historical roles such as Kenneth Tobey (Adm. William 'Bull' Halsey) , Gen. George C. Marshall (Ward Costello) , Addison Powell (Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz) , Dick O'Neill (Col. Courtney Whitney) , and Presidents as Dan O'Herlihy (Franklin D Roosevel) , Ed Flanders (Harry Truman) , and John Fujioka (Emperor Hirohito) . This is an engaging warlike drama made at the better for its historic resonance and will appeal to Gregory Peck fans.Well produced by Frank McCarthy who also financed other warfare movies such as ¨Decision before dawn¨, ¨Single-Handed¨, ¨Fireball Forward¨ and ¨Patton¨ . This solid motion picture was professionally directed by Joseph Sargent , though it holds a certain television style . Sargent is an expert on biography and specialist on historical narrations , as he proved in 'Mandela and Clerk' , 'Abraham , 'McArthur' , 'When the lions roared' which reunited to Stalin , Churchill and again Roosevelt , 'Day one' with Oppenheimer and General General Groves and 'Warm Springs' about Franklin D Roosevelt ; these films don't pack the punch that he achieved in his best movie resulting to be 'Taking of Pelham one , two , three' .And adding more biographical elements about this military hero : MacArthur was recalled to active duty in 1941 as commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East. A series of disasters followed, starting with the destruction of his air forces on 8 December 1941, and the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese. MacArthur's forces were soon compelled to withdraw to Bataan, where they held out until May 1942. In March 1942, MacArthur, his family and his staff left nearby Corregidor Island in PT boats and escaped to Australia, where MacArthur became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. And General Douglas MacArthur pronounces his famous line : "I will return" . For his defense of the Philippines, MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor. After more than two years of fighting in the Pacific, he fulfilled a promise to return to the Philippines. He officially accepted Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945, aboard the USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, and oversaw the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951. As the effective ruler of Japan, he oversaw sweeping economic, political and social changes. He led the United Nations Command in the Korean War until he was removed from command by President Harry S. Truman on 11 April 1951. He later became Chairman of the Board of Remington Rand.

Tim Kidner This is one of those rather long (2 hours) worthy but involving historical war dramas. More drama than war. Always seemingly shot through a veil of soft focus, often to such a degree as to represent a sea-mist, it does feature the excellent Gregory Peck as the eponymous MacArthur.Entertainment wise it's pretty good, obviously wordy throughout all the military planning and many discussions. To my mind, MacArthur comes across as a softer character than the impression I've got from elsewhere. That maybe down to Peck, or maybe not, his performance is in his usual measured, reassuring manner. He remains very watchable throughout, though for younger audiences, they may just find it all too slow and un-engaging.For us older lot, it's solid character-based drama from the older school of movie making, with no CGI, of course and the occasional use of actual newsreel. There are a number of large scale and undoubtedly expensive scenes (signing of the Treaty of Japan, for example). If you enjoy Gregory Peck, are interested in MacArthur and/or like war movies that cover mid WW2 to post war and beyond periods, then it's a likable and modestly enjoyable film.The DVD can be bought very cheaply secondhand, now. It offers next to nothing in the way of extras - only a theatrical trailer, though it has - dubbed? in German, French, Spanish and Italian - and English hard of hearing. Subtitles are in the above languages only. The screen ratio is a widescreen filling 1.85:1 and the score is in a good sounding stereo, but not surround.

bkoganbing Frank McCarthy who produced the Academy Award winning biographical film Patton follows it up with a strong tribute to another of America's fighting generals, Douglas MacArthur. Gregory Peck gives a strong characterization of the man, his genius as well as his egotism. With MacArthur you never knew quite where one began and the other left off and too many times they blended.The whole story of Douglas MacArthur would be a six hour film or a TV mini-series. It would cover him from his days on frontier posts with his family to his time at West Point where he still has the highest scholastic average ever achieved by a cadet. It would talk about his service in the Phillipines as a young officer, his legend building bravery on the battlefields of World War I in France. It would also have to tell about him firing on the Bonus Marchers of World War I veterans in 1932, probably putting the final kabosh on any chances President Herbert Hoover had of getting re-elected. During MacArthur's last years he and Hoover had penthouse suites at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. That must have been a subject they avoided.This film concentrates on the years 1941 to 1952 and it is told in flashback. The film opens with MacArthur addressing the student body in 1962. As he speaks the words of the famous Duty Honor Country speech, MacArthur's mind goes back to World War II and his desperate struggle against the advancing Japanese on the island of Corregidor and the fields of Bataan on Luzon. The film takes him through his struggle to win back the Phillipines, the occupation of Japan and the first 18 months culminating in his relief of command by President Truman.MacArthur as a film would not work at all if it wasn't for the portrayals of Dan O'Herlihy and Ed Flanders as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman respectively. It's the part of the film I enjoyed the best, seeing MacArthur and his relations with both these men.FDR by O'Herlihy captures the aristocratic squire and exceptionally devious man that was our 32nd President. Roosevelt was a man who got his points across with unusual subtlety and cleverness. Sometimes he liked scheming a little too much for its own sake, but he was the master politician of the last century. Note how he deals with MacArthur both as a battlefield commander and potential rival at the same time.Truman by Flanders is as people remember him, a blunt spoken man of the people who disliked MacArthur's haughtiness from the gitgo. Of course it's in the history books how Truman relieved MacArthur in 1951 for insubordination. MacArthur was insubordinate, no doubt about it.Yet I could write a whole thesis on the Truman-MacArthur relations. Along the way it need not have ever come to a crisis. I've always felt that FDR would have dealt with the whole matter in a far better way had he still been president then.MacArthur was also grandly eloquent and Gregory Peck captures some of that eloquence in some of the orations that made him as much a legend as victories on the battlefield. Listen to Peck at the Japanese surrender, at MacArthur's farewell to the nation before the joint session of Congress, and of course his speech to the cadets in 1962. Watch the newsreels and see if you don't agree.