The Korean War

Perfectly timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, this outstanding four volume series on one of the least examined yet most brutal "conflicts" in American military history opens with the post-WWII division of Korea after its liberation from Japan. Presenting a detailed comprehensive look at the events surrounding and leading up to the invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950, which caught the United States asleep on its feet and totally unprepared for battle, the three-hour plus production goes on to explore initial military strategies, the resulting triumphs and defeats, and the political impact on the American homefront, including Senator Joe McCarthy's notorious "red scare" campaign and the controversial firing of military icon General Douglas MacArthur. The film ends with the armistice signed three years later in July 1953, providing a shaky and tenuous peace at the cost of over two million military and civilian lives. While most of us base our impressions of the war on various M.A.S.H. episodes, this series brings the tragic battles of Korea into stark reality through the powerful use of newsreel and military archival footage, as well as gripping interviews with historians, scholars and retired military personnel, who provide valuable first hand accounts. An excellent overview of what many have come to call "The Forgotten War," this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)