thedrifter
03-30-09, 07:53 AM
Barrow documentary misses chance to tell story
By GEORGE MORRIS
Advocate staff writer
Published: Mar 30, 2009
It is good that Louisiana Public Broadcasting is telling the story of Robert Barrow, the West Feliciana Parish native who became the 27th commandant of the Marine Corps. It is unfortunate that LPB’s telling is more home movie than documentary.
“Gen. Robert H. Barrow: A Legacy of Leadership” will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. It might more accurately be titled “Barrow: A Family Album.” Narrated by the general’s son, retired Marine Lt. Col. Robert H. Barrow Jr., about half of the 30-minute program is spent telling of the Barrow family’s history in Louisiana and about his love of his parish and Rosale Plantation, the family homestead, where he spent most of his retirement years until his death in 2008.
That leaves just 15 minutes to tell about a remarkable life and career — a leader who fought the Japanese in China, the Chinese in North Korea and the North Vietnamese in South Vietnam before ultimately rising to command and bring change to the Marine Corps itself. It needs more.
Specifically, it needs more voices. The vast majority of the story is told either by the son’s narration or taped public comments from Gen. Barrow himself. What’s missing is commentary from anyone outside the family or family friends. Are there no Marines or governmental officials who could have given some thoughts or anecdotes? No one whom Barrow led in the epic battle out of Chosin? No one from the Vietnam era? No military historians to give perspective to Barrow’s career?
The LPB news release notes that Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) credits Barrow’s strong command with saving the Marine Corps after the Vietnam War. It would have been nice to hear Webb say that himself, and why he feels that way. Instead, there is a narration of all of his military postings with notations about whether the family was able to be with him or not — information that means little to anyone not named Barrow.
“A Legacy of Leadership” is not entirely without merit, but it would be far more interesting to a wider audience if it focused less on Barrow’s family and more on the man himself.
Ellie
By GEORGE MORRIS
Advocate staff writer
Published: Mar 30, 2009
It is good that Louisiana Public Broadcasting is telling the story of Robert Barrow, the West Feliciana Parish native who became the 27th commandant of the Marine Corps. It is unfortunate that LPB’s telling is more home movie than documentary.
“Gen. Robert H. Barrow: A Legacy of Leadership” will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. It might more accurately be titled “Barrow: A Family Album.” Narrated by the general’s son, retired Marine Lt. Col. Robert H. Barrow Jr., about half of the 30-minute program is spent telling of the Barrow family’s history in Louisiana and about his love of his parish and Rosale Plantation, the family homestead, where he spent most of his retirement years until his death in 2008.
That leaves just 15 minutes to tell about a remarkable life and career — a leader who fought the Japanese in China, the Chinese in North Korea and the North Vietnamese in South Vietnam before ultimately rising to command and bring change to the Marine Corps itself. It needs more.
Specifically, it needs more voices. The vast majority of the story is told either by the son’s narration or taped public comments from Gen. Barrow himself. What’s missing is commentary from anyone outside the family or family friends. Are there no Marines or governmental officials who could have given some thoughts or anecdotes? No one whom Barrow led in the epic battle out of Chosin? No one from the Vietnam era? No military historians to give perspective to Barrow’s career?
The LPB news release notes that Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) credits Barrow’s strong command with saving the Marine Corps after the Vietnam War. It would have been nice to hear Webb say that himself, and why he feels that way. Instead, there is a narration of all of his military postings with notations about whether the family was able to be with him or not — information that means little to anyone not named Barrow.
“A Legacy of Leadership” is not entirely without merit, but it would be far more interesting to a wider audience if it focused less on Barrow’s family and more on the man himself.
Ellie