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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: HBO Video
Salesrank: 8513
Released: March 25, 2003 |
| Our Price: $4.00 |
| Used Price: $3.16 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
PATH TO WAR tells the inside story of how "the best and the brightest" advisors in the Johnson administration, including Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and special advisor Clark Clifford, counsel the President in the decisions that will lead to America's deeper and deeper engagement in Vietnam. Torn between those who recommend increased bombing to win, and those who advise a path be found to peace, Johnson watches as his presidency and his nation are torn apart by the deaths of young Americans overseas and the protests of those who remain.
Description of Path to War:
The quagmire that was the Vietnam War comes to vivid life in this HBO film--not in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but in the offices of the White House, where a disastrous U.S. policy was forged. From Lyndon Johnson's landslide 1964 victory to his weary withdrawal from the 1968 race, Path to War charts the disappearance of LBJ's "Great Society" domestic dreams into the bramble patch of war. The bungled decisions are forcefully directed by John Frankenheimer, whose expertise at political intrigue shines in his final film. Donald Sutherland and Alec Baldwin do some of their best work in years (as Clark Clifford and Robert McNamara), although the great actor Michael Gambon, while impressive, doesn't quite capture the honey lilt of LBJ's beguiling style. Among the many superb scenes: Johnson intimidating an outmatched George Wallace (an unbilled Gary Sinise, re-creating a role from another Frankenheimer HBO film) on civil rights. --Robert Horton
Path to War Reviews:
Sleepwalking into a War 
2009-10-20 - I think this mini series shows that Johnson Administration, the U.S.A and her allies e.g. Australia had the best intentions when they went to war in Vietnam, but things rapidly got out of control and you can't fight an insurgency from 30,000 feet. I think the United States thought the Vietnam War would be over in six months and that if you dropped enough bombs, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese would give up. This mini series show what a slippery slope the Vietnam War was and how it quickly became a quagmire.
"If this is a defeat, I would hate to see a victory." 
2009-08-10 - This is a really well made film on a critical time in American history. This was the time that a lot of the greatness fostered by overcoming the Great Depression and winning World War II were squandered. Lyndon B. Johnson could have been a great President but fell short because of Vietnam and his decisions about it. What he did for Civil Rights in America in 1964-1965 was truly outstanding. This is depicted very nicely in the beginning of 'Path to War'. But then inch by inch he was drawn into the morass of Vietnam and everything that he had worked for his whole political life was pretty much destroyed.
Michael Gambon brings the disappointing Lyndon Johnson back to life. Though Gambon struggled a bit with the accent I thought he was quite good. It's pretty gut-wrenching stuff to see him signing paper after paper sending condolences to families of loved ones who were killed by his decisions. Also a telling scene is when LBJ looks at a newspaper political cartoon that has LBJ looking into a mirror and seeing the reflection of Barry Goldwater with the caption-"Who is the biggest hawk now?" Gambon is also good at LBJ's earthier side and makes his character come to life. Alec Baldwin is pretty smug as Bob McNamara but captures the character well. 'Put the troops in' he says in a statement he will one day come to regret. The numbers game that McNamara played is well depicted. Donald Sutherland is outstanding as Clark Clifford and deserved the awards he received. He captures the slipperiness of Clifford well. One minute sensibly arguing that the United States has no business in Vietnam the next minute accepting being Secretary of Defense and saying that the United States has to see the situation through. Also, watch for a cameo of Gary Sinise as George Wallace reprising his previous work for director Frankenheimer.
The DVD has good picture and sound plus some really good text material on LBJ and the tragic war in Vietnam. The DVD does this HBO movie proud. This is just a really fine film on a very important part of 20th Century American history.
Highly recommended!
A Must See
2009-03-26 - This is one of the best movies I have ever watched as it covers the stormy presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson and how the U.S. escalated into the Vietnam War. Great acting, especially by Alec Baldwin who portrays Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, great attention to detail, nice blending of actual footage from that era. If you like history this is for you - wether you are a democrat or republican this is worth your time - you will probably watch it more than once.
redeemed
2009-03-06 - Although I didn't think so at the time, Lyndon Johnson is truly a
tragic figure who went against his own, beloved South to pass the
Civil Rights Act. Kennedy wrote it and of course he couldn't help
that he was assassinated before it was passed. But President Johnson
had the motivation and the guts to get it enacted even though he knew
it meant the end of the Democratic South.
He's only remembered for Vietnam though and in the end it killed him
not long after he left office. Couldn't help but think of his contribution when Barack Obama was elected. Everyone talked about Lincoln, Kennedy and King, but Johnson had a hand in it too.
The actors who play Lyndon and Lady Bird (also under-rated) are wonderful.
At one point, they ruefully discuss the hard acts they have had to follow.
A movie worth watching--to review and remember.
3.5 stars out of 4
2009-01-08 - The Bottom Line:
An exceptional, if long, TV movie that has the good sense to portray the Johnson administration as a tragedy, Path to War is fascinating both as a piece of history and a piece of filmmaking.
