Many TV critics have treated Ken Burns' 17-hour PBS documentary "The War" like a sacred cow since it premiered Sept. 23, heralding the production as the definitive message about World War II. Sorry, folks, but there's plenty of subtle revisionist content couched in all that black and white footage. The effect is cumulative. The Burns' version of World War II ultimately suggests that the conflict was not our finest shining hour, but rather that America was a bully, and the war itself ill-planned. Why, it was probably our fault, too.
Consider the melancholy tone and style of the series.
The series bears the standard PBS stamp: A mournful announcer and lots of cello music to accompany combat film footage shot by cameramen who were much braver 60 years ago than Mr. Burns is today. He couldn't keep his agenda out of things, not even World War II. Every episode seems to linger on death, destruction, death, injury, death, loss, death — with the genuine political upheaval and global turmoil as a secondary feature. The Burns message? War is bad, bad, bad. This war was a TRAGEDY. These battles had no rhyme or reason. Just look at this dead kid in uniform. Oh, and look at him again. And again.
Mr. Burns dwells on melancholy defeat in this so-called documentary. While the film footage, archival photos and occasional swing music may be stirring in the series, the war has been painted as a horrific showcase rife with thoughtless aggressors and unnecessary violence. But wait one star-spangled minute. World War II of course had its flaws and horror. But it was also a shining example of American morality, can-do spirit, generosity and resilience — at home and abroad. It deserves an unabashed "hurrah," not a wincing probe.
The incredible generation who fought that war chose to keep their mouths shut about their horrors and their loss. They did not wallow in what happen to them, and it is not up to someone like Mr. Burns to come along — with taxpayers' money — and recast the experience solely as a consummate national tragedy, trimmed with contemporary "blame America first." Others are peeved, though. The filmmaker has come under vigorous fire from Latino and American Indian groups for overlooking ethnic contributions to the war. PBS itself has been cited by the Los Angeles Times for inflating their audience numbers, claiming 18 million viewers when the number was actually 8 million.
As for me? I think I'll watch "The Fighting Seabees" or "Men at Sea" for now, and hope that Mr. Burns does not take on any more projects for a while.
-- Jennifer Harper, media reporter, The Washington Times
