PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

PROJECT XX: THAT WAR IN KOREA (TV)

Summary

One in this series of irregularly scheduled documentaries. This program focuses on the Korean War, ten years after the conclusion of the U.N. "police action." Highlights of this program include the following: U.S. soldiers in occupied Tokyo in 1950; after World War II, the Korean peninsula is divided along the 38th parallel into communist North and capitalist South Korea; on June 25, 1950, North Korean communists attack the Republic of South Korea; without a declaration of war, the U.S. supports South Korea with air and sea forces; on June 30, 1950, U.S. troops land in Korea; by Aug. 1950, the Republic of South Korea holds only the harbor of Pusan, and the U.N. sends in troops; troops under Gen. Walton Walker and Gen. William Dean hold Pusan; Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in command of U.N. troops, plans the strategy for a marine assault on the port of Inchon on Sept. 15, 1950; and the U.S. Marines move inland to take Seoul.

The U.S. 8th Army crosses the 38th parallel into North Korea as far as Manchuria, and G.I.'s begin to think the war will be over soon; 300,000 Communist Chinese troops suddenly come to North Korea's defense and the war escalates; North Korean refugees head South; U.S. Marines retreat over the course of a cold winter; U.S. planes drop food and supplies to the retreating army, and drop napalm on the enemy; U.S. Marines reach the Sea of Japan for evacuation; in air battles, U.S. jets destroy Soviet MiG fighters at a rate of 14 to 1; President Harry Truman and Gen. Douglas MacArthur meet at Wake Island to discuss war policy; Rep. Joseph W. Martin (R-Mass.) makes public MacArthur's letter endorsing military action against mainland China, which is contrary to Truman's policy; in an address to the American people on April 11, 1951, Truman relieves MacArthur of his duties; MacArthur addresses a joint meeting of Congress, declaring that "old soldiers never die, they just fade away"; the "MacArthur Day" parade in New York City; life in the U.S. during the Cold War, including the case of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and the witchhunts of Sen. Joseph McCarthy; the U.N. Forces under Gen. Matthew Ridgway cross the 38th parallel again and halt at a request for ceasefire talks; in July 1951, Vice Admiral Charles Turner Joy and a U.N. truce team arrive at Kaesong; the war grinds to a stalemate and talks drag on; prisoners of war on both sides; President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Korea; Gen. William Harrison signs the truce on behalf of the U.N. on July 27, 1953; the return of wounded American P.O.W.'s, including Gen. William Dean; American soldiers speak of torture; and defectors to North Korea. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: November 20, 1963 7:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:17:02
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T81:0410
  • GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Communism - 1950; Korean War - 1950; United Nations
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1954-1971
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Donald B. Hyatt … Producer, Director
  • Robert L. Garthwaite … Associate Producer
  • Richard Hanser … Writer
  • Robert Russell Bennett … Music by
  • Richard Boone … Narrator
  • Alben W. Barkley
  • William Dean
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • William Harrison
  • Charles Turner Joy
  • Douglas MacArthur
  • Joseph W. Martin, Jr.
  • Joseph R. McCarthy
  • Sam Rayburn
  • Matthew Ridgway
  • Ethel Rosenberg
  • Julius Rosenberg
  • Harry S. Truman
  • Walton Walker