LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Edison Witt The first must-see film of the year.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

dglink General Douglas MacArthur was a controversial figure in his time, and this 1977 film biography relates the basic events of his public life, which includes open conflicts with two U.S. presidents. Book-ended by a speech to West Pointe cadets, the film flashes back to MacArthur's most famous exploits, which include his defense of Corregidor and subsequent flight to Australia, his decision to defend that country in New Guinea, and the fulfillment of his promise to return and liberate the Philippines. Unfortunately, unlike the earlier movie biography of George S. Patton, "MacArthur" lacks fire in its title performance and creativity in its pedestrian direction. The film resembles a history lesson and utilizes newsreels and extensive expository dialog. Despite combat sequences, the pace is often sluggish, and slows further during the second half, which covers events following World War II. The jump cuts between combat and non-combat scenes seem arbitrary and made to enliven the film and keep viewer attention from lagging.While Gregory Peck is solid and convincing as the five-star general and bears a strong resemblance to the historical MacArthur, the focus is on the public MacArthur and little is revealed about the man himself. Although Peck hints at emotion during his visit to Death March survivors and a tender reunion with his Filipino driver, he has few opportunities show the human being behind the five stars. Although his wife and son hover in the background, little interaction is shown, and Marj Dusay as his wife has a thankless role that is little more than wall paper. The conflicts with Franklin Roosevelt, played by Dan O'Herlihy, and Harry Truman are detailed; Ed Flanders as the no-nonsense Truman is especially fine, and the actor bears a strong resemblance to the president. While the rest of the cast is professional, none stand out."MacArthur" is an unfortunate lost opportunity, because the general was a fascinating historical character who deserved an on-screen treatment on par with George C. Scott's "Patton." Peck was excellent casting, and he had the acting chops to rise to Scott's level, but the script by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins did not provide him the opportunity. "MacArthur" is a competent and creditable film that serves to introduce film-goers to a heroic giant of the Pacific Theater during World War II, who remains a hero in the Philippines, a country he evidently loved and that he liberated from the Japanese. However, those intrigued by the historical MacArthur will have to dig beyond this broad-brush portrait to discover the man who kept his promise to return and free the Philippines, defied a U.S. president, and nearly became president himself.

vincentlynch-moonoi If you were to ask me who was the better actor -- Gregory Peck or George C. Scott -- I would answer without pause, Gregory Peck. Scott was a fine actor, but he did not have the breath of roles that Peck did. Romance, Westerns, suspense, light comedy, drama, and more. I can't think of a time that Gregory Peck let an audience down, except perhaps with this film. But think back of George C. Scott and his thrilling performance as Patton! No such brilliance here.The cinematography is drab, dull, and monotonous. Even worse is the makeup; in fact, it should have won an Academy Award for the worst makeup in any major in American cinema history. Much of the script plods along. The only real excitement here is the rivalry between MacArthur and president Harry Truman.And the cast is pretty dull, too. Gregory Peck is a reasonable actor to play MacArthur. Ed Flanders...good, but not a powerhouse...plays Harry Truman. Dan O'Herlihy...also good, but no powerhouse...is good as President Franklin D. Roosevelt. But that's all the notable cast.Because I like history and am older, I am somewhat familiar with the MacArthur story (and by the way, this film does not delineate MacArthur's early years at all), but if I was not familiar with it, and I watched this film, I would wonder what all the fuss was about.Not recommended unless, perhaps, you are a military man yourself.

sggar00 Name just says it all. I watched this movie with my dad when it came out and having served in Korea he had great admiration for the man. The disappointing thing about this film is that it only concentrates on a short period of the man's life - interestingly enough the man's entire life would have made such an epic bio-pic that it is staggering to imagine the cost for production.Some posters elude to the flawed characteristics about the man, which are cheap shots. The theme of the movie "Duty, Honor, Country" are not just mere words blathered from the lips of a high-brassed officer - it is the deep declaration of one man's total devotion to his country.Ironically Peck being the liberal that he was garnered a better understanding of the man. He does a great job showing the fearless general tempered with the humane side of the man.

Nazi_Fighter_David The film transported everyone back to October 20, 1944 where we seemed to be part of the great Philippine 'I Shall Return' landing scene… It was on that Leyte shore where General MacArthur reaped his fame… Above all, Gregory Peck triumphed in his portrayal of the great general… It is the stride, the set of the shoulders, the intensity… It's what both men have had in common: intensity, total absorption, devotion… With MacArthur it was for the military… With Peck it was for the challenge of acting… An Academy Award winner for "To Kill a Mockinbird", an Oscar nominee for "Keys to the Kingdom", "The Yearling", "Gentleman's Agreement", and "Twelve O'Clock High"—he has played everything from an apparently homicidal amnesiac to a crusading journalist; from a troubled gunfighter to an obsessed attorney; from biblical David to Captain Horatio Hornblower… He has brought to them all his own unique insight, his character, his sincerity, warmth and love, and especially, his humor… There is a scene where 'MacArthur' stands on deck with the 'President of the Philippines.' We can hear the dialogue: "General, I hope the water isn't too deep," says the 'President,' "because my people will find out I can't swim." Then come Peck's sonorous voice: "And my people are going to find that I can't walk on water!" As "MacArthur," Peck once again justified his reputation as a giant in the film industry… Through him we felt MacArthur's emotions: we knew his anger, his happiness and we understood the relationship with his whole family