Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

MacArthur Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 30, 2021

Joseph Sargent's "MacArthur" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin; archival interview with the director; archival newsreels from Pathe; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

It was a time that required heroes, and Douglas MacArthur was there. With the pomp and grandeur of a Roman general, he led us to spectacular victories. He showed mercy to a conquered people, and defiance to an American President. He was proud, vain, and impossible.

The four sentences that you see above are uttered in the very beginning of the original theatrical trailer that Universal Studios cut for Joseph Sargent’s film MacArthur, and they actually offer a small yet incredibly accurate summation of the type of person the legendary general was. He was a tremendous leader, a superb tactician who could win battles before they were fought, but also a man with unbendable principles that made him a huge target politicians could not afford to ignore. His opponents feared him, but so did many of his allies, partners and friends.

Sergeant’s film recreates MacArthur’s greatest triumphs and at the same time examines his personality from a couple of different angles. It begins with MacArthur’s exit of Corregidor, the Philippines, which was quickly followed by General Jonathan M. Wainwright’s surrender. In Australia, MacArthur then draws a new strategy to regain lost positions and eventually greenlights a massive invasion of the Philippines that leads to its liberation. (Prior to it, the New Guinea Campaign, Leyte and Luzon operations are all discussed in great detail). MacArthur’s difficult communication with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Harry S. Truman is often the focus of attention as well, but it is later on, after Japan capitulates, when the politics that would alter his career become significant. By the time the Korean War begins, MacArthur is already seen as a weakened leader whose reputation can’t do much to prevent the final phase of his conflict with the political elite in Washington D.C.

Though it never feels like the film is rushing through events, it is impossible not to concede that there is a lot more that could have been shown and discussed in it. It is because MacArthur was a larger-than-life figure whose actions, orders, and speeches frequently created massive ripple effects and had lasting domestic and international consequences. For example, even though the film shows how MacArthur was approached when Japan’s new post-WWII constitution was being put together, the segment is very short and does not really provide an accurate description of his involvement. Also, when MacArthur’s efforts on the Korean Peninsula are undermined in Washington D.C., his position is essentially summarized with a couple of sentences leaving the impression that he was just eager to confront the communists head-on, all while placing a seemingly problematic emphasis on Chiang Kai-shek’s survival in Taiwan. (The truth is different. Not only were MacArthur’s efforts not problematic, but his clear strategy is arguably the biggest reason why Taiwan did not fall into communist hands).

Gregory Peck’s transformation before Sargent's camera is rather impressive, but it feels somewhat incomplete as well. It reveals primarily a military man determined to win at all costs, focused on different missions and simply moving forward. There are only a couple of extremely short sequences where the military man becomes an ordinary man who can love the woman next to him.

While a comparison between Patton and MacArthur is perhaps unavoidable, it is largely pointless because these films were very obviously made with drastically different budgets. It is not the only reason why Patton looks so much more impressive, but a substantially bigger budget was clearly why the talent that was contracted for it was significantly better.

MacArthur Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, MacArthur arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from an old master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. The biggest weakness of this master is its age because it is what affects all of the key qualities of the presentation. For example, while the original cinematography introduces various fluctuations in terms of density and delineation, there are some obvious fluctuations that have a different origin, which is the inferior quality of the master. The exact same can be said about depth and even clarity. In screencapture #22, for instance, you can see that the highlights are overblown, and in screencapture #9 you can see that there is light ringing that impacts peripheral definition. Also, the fluidity of the visuals isn't as consistent as it needs to be, so during transitions, but elsewhere as well, there can be noticeable unevenness. Rather predictably, the most obvious limitations emerge during larger panoramic shots where fine nuance usually struggle to emerge as they should. However, the overall presentation is still fairly pleasing because there are no traces of serious problematic digital corrections. (You can see how bad some old Universal masters can be if you take a look at our review of Fahrenheit 451). In fact, there are a wide range of close-ups and plenty of darker footage that can look quite good. Color balance is satisfactory, but if fully restored and properly graded the entire film will have a fresher and overall better balanced appearance. Image stability is good. A few blemishes can be seen here and there, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

MacArthur Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English Dolby Digital 2.0. The English Dolby Digital 2.0 track is available only on the UK Home Video Version. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed only the longer U.S. Theatrical Cut of the film with the LPCM 1.0 track. Clarity is good and the dialog was very easy to follow. However, in the third quarter of the film there is some very obvious unevenness that affects the overall balance for quite a while. It happens during casual exchanges and the action footage. I assume that it is on the current master, and I am convinced that a future 4K restoration of the film will address the issue. The rest is fine. There are no technical anomalies to report in our review.

MacArthur Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for MacArthur. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Radio Spots - four vintage ratio spots for MacArthur. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for MacArthur.

• Pathe Newsreels - presented here are six very interesting archival newsreels highlighting key events from General Douglas MacArthur's life and career in the Army, including his famous speech in Congress. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).
  
  1. A Tribute to MacArthur (1942)
  2. MacArthur in Australia (1942)
  3. MacArthur Returns to the Philippines (1944)
  4. MacArthur Steps Down (1951)
  5. MacArthur Addresses Congress (1951)
  6. MacArthur Honored in 75th Birthday (1955)

• Joseph Sargent: General Disposition - in this archival video interview, director Joseph Sargent quickly addresses Gregory Peck's working methods and his transformation as Douglas MacArthur. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, film historians Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin deconstruct MacArthur and address life and legacy of the real Douglas MacArthur, the film's visuals style and tone, the careers of some of the people that made the film, key historic events, the connection between MacArthur and Patton, etc.

• Booklet - limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Robert Matzen, archival articles on the film and the events that inspired it, an overview of critical responses, and film credits.

MacArthur Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While I enjoy Joseph Sargent's film quite a bit, I would say that anyone that is genuinely interested in learning who Douglas MacArthur was and why he was so popular at home and abroad will have to read a few books. The film does a mostly decent job of recreating the General's greatest triumphs and rightfully explores his complex personality from a couple of different angles, but it does not offer a complete picture of his life and legacy. Is this actually possible? Probably not, which is why MacArthur will likely remain the last film to attempt to do so with the proper authority and respect. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' release is sourced from an old but serviceable master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. RECOMMENDED.