Howard B. Dratch Movies

Inspired by author Robert A. Caro's massive biography of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, the made-for-cable Path to War retraces the world-shaking events occurring between LBJ's jubilant inaugural in 1965 and his tired, dispirited decision not to seek another presidential term in 1968. At the crux of these tumultuous three years is the war in Vietnam, which forces Johnson (here played by Michael Gambon) to shunt his proposed "Great Society" to the back burner. Though famous in political circles as a wrangler and compromiser, LBJ cannot seem to do anything right in pursuing the war; nor are his chief advisors, the hawkish Robert McNamara (Alec Baldwin) and the dove-ish Clark Clifford (Donald Sutherland), able to forge a permanent policy agreement. As Clifford warns Johnson that "escalation will ruin you, and all the great good you want to do," McNamara presses for a continuation of the war lest America lose face and Vietnam fall to the Communists. The story unfolds with the inexorability of a Shakespearean tragedy, with Johnson as a modern-day Macbeth, Richard III, and King Lear rolled into one. Of interest to non-history buffs is the appearance of two original cast members of the 1969 film M*A*S*H: Donald Sutherland as Clark Clifford and Tom Skerritt as William Westmoreland. Directed by political-movie veteran John Frankenheimer, Path to War made its HBO cable network debut on May 18, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second tape of the three-tape documentary Roots of Rhythm, host Harry Belafonte leads the viewer on a tour of the blossoming of Latin music in the Cuban and Caribbean cultures. Featuring performances by some of the best known Latin performers including Tito Puente, Desi Arnaz, and Ruben Blades, this volume sets the stage for the explosion of Latin flavored music into the world of popular culture. ~ Sean Hurley, Rovi

This final installment of the three-part series provides an in-depth study of the Central Intelligence Agency's tools for destabilizing foreign governments. It gives critical attention to tactics employed by the CIA, including the planting of misinformation in foreign news sources. Questions are raised as to whether or not American corporations, in an effort to secure their foreign financial stakes, have tried to influence their government's handling of foreign affairs. The program also reviews President Richard M. Nixon's alleged involvement in approving coup attempts in South American countries. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi

This documentary on the CIA is divided into three segments. The first deals with the founding of the organization, the Bay Of Pigs debacle, labor union strikes, and the influence of the chief executive in the post World War ll era. Part two deals with political unrest in Latin America, and the third segment delves into covert activities in Chile, Angola, and other hotbeds of unrest. Interviews with 29 people in the organization leave the viewer with mixed feelings as to the inherent good, or harm, done by the CIA. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi