Blast from the Past: Gregory Peck
Joseph Sargent directed MacArthur, biopic war film, starring Gregory Peck in the eponymous role as American General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.
Grade: C+ (** out of *****)
| MacArthur | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
The tale unfolds in flashback as MacArthur visits West Point in 1962.
The film portrays MacArthur’s life from 1942, before WWII Battle of Bataan, to 1952, after he had been removed from Korean War command by President Harry Truman (Ed Flanders) for insubordination.
Parts of the film were shot at the beach near Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, and at San Diego’s main passenger rail station, known as the Santa Fe Depot.
Peck later said, “I was not terribly happy with the script, or with the production, which was mostly on the back lot of Universal. I thought they shortchanged the production.”
Greeted with mixed to negative reviews, some pointing out significant historical inaccuracies, MacArthur was only moderately popular at the box-office.
In 2003, the film was recognized by the AFI in its list of “100 Years…100 Heroes & Villains: General Douglas – Nominated Hero
Credits:
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Written by Hal Barwood
Matthew Robbins
Produced by Frank McCarthy
Cinematography Mario Tosi
Edited by George Jay Nicholson
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production ad distribution: Universal Pictures
Release date: July 15, 1977
Running time 130 minutes
Budget $9 million
Box office $16.3 million (US)
Cast
Gregory Peck as General Douglas MacArthur
Ed Flanders as President Harry S. Truman
Dan O’Herlihy as President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Ivan Bonar as Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland
Ward Costello as General George C. Marshall
Nicolas Coster as Colonel Sidney Huff
Marj Dusay as Mrs. Jean MacArthur
Art Fleming as W. Averell Harriman
Russell Johnson as Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King
Sandy Kenyon as Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright
Robert Mandan as Representative Joseph W. Martin
Allan Miller as Colonel LeGrande A. Diller
Dick O’Neill as Major General Courtney Whitney
G. D. Spradlin as Major General Robert L. Eichelberger
Addison Powell as Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Kenneth Tobey as Fleet Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey
Charles Cyphers as Brigadier General Edwin F. Harding
Garry Walberg as Lieutenant General Walton Walker
