Hitler Had A Softer Side, Stalin Was Misunderstood? Yes, According to Oliver Stone - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-11-2010, 12:42 AM

TCA -- Director Oliver Stone's upcoming Showtime documentary miniseries "Secret History of America" promises to put mass murderers such as Stalin and Hitler "in context."

"Stalin, Hitler, Mao, McCarthy -- these people have been vilified pretty thoroughly by history," Stone told reporters at the Television Critics Association's semi-annual press tour in Pasadena.

"Stalin has a complete other story," Stone said. "Not to paint him as a hero, but to tell a more factual representation. He fought the German war machine more than any single person. We can't judge people as only 'bad' or 'good.' Hitler is an easy scapegoat throughout history and its been used cheaply. He's the product of a series of actions. It's cause and effect ... People in America don't know the connection between WWI and WWII ... I've been able to walk in Stalin's shoes and Hitler's shoes to understand their point of view. We're going to educate our minds and liberalize them and broaden them. We want to move beyond opinions ... Go into the funding of the Nazi party. How many American corporations were involved, from GM through IBM. Hitler is just a man who could have easily been assassinated."

The controversial director's 10-part documentary series for Showtime promises to focus on events that "at the time went under-reported, but crucially shaped America's unique and complex history of the last 60 years." Subjects in "History" include President Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan and the origins of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

"You cannot approach history unless you have empathy for the person you may hate," Stone said during the show's trailer, which promised to put historical villains "in context." "I don't want to put out conventional History Channel product where it's easy to like it."

"He's not saying we're going to come out with a more positive view of Hitler," emphasized professor Peter Kuznick, the lead writer on the project. "But we're going to describe him as a historical phenomenon and not just somebody who appeared out of nowhere."

Stone said that conservative pundits will dislike the show.

"Obviously, Rush Limbaugh is not going to like this history and, as usual, we're going to get those kind of ignorant attacks," said Stone, who also also compared the experience of sympathizing with war criminals to making his "W" movie about George W. Bush. "I'm trying to understand somebody I thoroughly despised."

Stone also warned that the same military industrial complex forces that he's explored in movies such as "JFK" and in "Secret History," are now corrupting Barack Obama.

"You can understand why Obama is following in Bush's footsteps in Afghanistan," Stone said."Obama is very much trapped, we believe, in that system. And so that's what we're going to try and show you -- the way it works."

The project will also show lesser-known positive aspects of American history and unsung heroes. Stone eventually hopes to send "Secret History" to schools as a teaching curriculum.

"It would be a very different counterweight to what they're learning," Stone said. "Nobody is going to force it down anybody's throat."

A critic also asked Stone "the Sarah Palin question" of what he likes to read.

"My father was a voracious New York Times reader," he said. "We consider that in The Middle. Sarah Palin would disagree."

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/olive...y-america.html

Zoneboy · 01-11-2010, 12:46 AM

Oliver Stone is a perfect name for him, He obviously has rocks in his head.

Marvo301 · 01-11-2010, 12:51 AM

Sounds to me like History mixed with a healthy dose of conspiracy theory a touch of parnoia thrown in for good measure. Another words, typical Oliver Stone fare.

catlover79 · 01-11-2010, 01:00 AM

Oliver Stone is behind this? Gee, what a surprise.

Marvo301 · 01-11-2010, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Oliver Stone is behind this? Gee, what a surprise.

And don't be surprised if Mr. Stone tries to tell you that Hitler liked teddy bears and romantic walks on the beach. (not that there's a lot of beaches in Germany but that wouldn't stop Oliver Stone)

catlover79 · 01-11-2010, 01:14 AM

I'm surprised he and Michael Moore haven't teamed up for some grandiose project.

Marvo301 · 01-11-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I'm surprised he and Michael Moore haven't teamed up for some grandiose project.

Now that would be scary!

catlover79 · 01-11-2010, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Now that would be scary!

I know. Enough to make folks run screaming for the hills!

70s show watcher · 01-11-2010, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I know. Enough to make folks run screaming for the hills!

im packing right now in case that happens i cant stand ether of them

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-11-2010, 03:58 AM

Harry Truman once compared Stalin to a "Midwestern (political) party boss"...and with good reason. Joe Stalin was a ruthless, cunning, power-mad individual who never let friendship or personal relations get in the way of ruling Russia with an iron fist. He had no friends..and for good reason: if he found out that someone in the Party (especially those "close" to him) was "double-crossing" him, or "knew too much", they were purged...and almost always in secret. How many more millions of people would have perished if he hadn't had that stroke in 1953...

Hitler, for all his supposed "tenderness", was a borderline psychotic who held a personal grudge against Jews...and six million of them perished [along with millions of other non-Aryan victims] in Europe before he took himself out in April of '45.

Oliver Stone might be correct about certain points of history....but not about Hitler or Stalin.

MickeyMac · 01-11-2010, 08:58 AM

At one time I admired Stone's work because he actually made good films (if you dont believe me watch both Platoon and Wall Street). This is just plain silly. This is something I will be sure not to watch.

MrCleveland · 01-11-2010, 02:30 PM

Oliver Stone is the Wikipedia Director, he can't get his damn facts straight!

01-11-2010, 12:42 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Hitler Had A Softer Side, Stalin Was Misunderstood? Yes, According to Oliver Stone TCA -- Director Oliver Stone's upcoming Showtime documentary miniseries "Secret History of America" promises to put mass murderers such as Stalin and Hitler "in context." "Stalin, Hitler, Mao, McCarthy -- these people have been vilified pretty thoroughly by history," Stone told reporters at the Television Critics Association's semi-annual press tour in Pasadena. "Stalin has a complete other story," Stone said. "Not to paint him as a hero, but to tell a more factual representation. He fought the German war machine more than any single person. We can't judge people as only 'bad' or 'good.' Hitler is an easy scapegoat throughout history and its been used cheaply. He's the product of a series of actions. It's cause and effect ... People in America don't know the connection between WWI and WWII ... I've been able to walk in Stalin's shoes and Hitler's shoes to understand their point of view. We're going to educate our minds and liberalize them and broaden them. We want to move beyond opinions ... Go into the funding of the Nazi party. How many American corporations were involved, from GM through IBM. Hitler is just a man who could have easily been assassinated." The controversial director's 10-part documentary series for Showtime promises to focus on events that "at the time went under-reported, but crucially shaped America's unique and complex history of the last 60 years." Subjects in "History" include President Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan and the origins of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. "You cannot approach history unless you have empathy for the person you may hate," Stone said during the show's trailer, which promised to put historical villains "in context." "I don't want to put out conventional History Channel product where it's easy to like it." "He's not saying we're going to come out with a more positive view of Hitler," emphasized professor Peter Kuznick, the lead writer on the project. "But we're going to describe him as a historical phenomenon and not just somebody who appeared out of nowhere." Stone said that conservative pundits will dislike the show. "Obviously, Rush Limbaugh is not going to like this history and, as usual, we're going to get those kind of ignorant attacks," said Stone, who also also compared the experience of sympathizing with war criminals to making his "W" movie about George W. Bush. "I'm trying to understand somebody I thoroughly despised." Stone also warned that the same military industrial complex forces that he's explored in movies such as "JFK" and in "Secret History," are now corrupting Barack Obama. "You can understand why Obama is following in Bush's footsteps in Afghanistan," Stone said."Obama is very much trapped, we believe, in that system. And so that's what we're going to try and show you -- the way it works." The project will also show lesser-known positive aspects of American history and unsung heroes. Stone eventually hopes to send "Secret History" to schools as a teaching curriculum. "It would be a very different counterweight to what they're learning," Stone said. "Nobody is going to force it down anybody's throat." A critic also asked Stone "the Sarah Palin question" of what he likes to read. "My father was a voracious New York Times reader," he said. "We consider that in The Middle. Sarah Palin would disagree." http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/olive...y-america.html
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01-11-2010, 12:46 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,434	Oliver Stone is a perfect name for him, He obviously has rocks in his head.
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01-11-2010, 12:51 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Sounds to me like History mixed with a healthy dose of conspiracy theory a touch of parnoia thrown in for good measure. Another words, typical Oliver Stone fare.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-11-2010, 01:00 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Oliver Stone is behind this? Gee, what a surprise.
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01-11-2010, 02:30 PM	#12
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,232	Oliver Stone is the Wikipedia Director, he can't get his damn facts straight!
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01-11-2010, 01:14 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I'm surprised he and Michael Moore haven't teamed up for some grandiose project.

01-11-2010, 03:58 AM	#10
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Harry Truman once compared Stalin to a "Midwestern (political) party boss"...and with good reason. Joe Stalin was a ruthless, cunning, power-mad individual who never let friendship or personal relations get in the way of ruling Russia with an iron fist. He had no friends..and for good reason: if he found out that someone in the Party (especially those "close" to him) was "double-crossing" him, or "knew too much", they were purged...and almost always in secret. How many more millions of people would have perished if he hadn't had that stroke in 1953... Hitler, for all his supposed "tenderness", was a borderline psychotic who held a personal grudge against Jews...and six million of them perished [along with millions of other non-Aryan victims] in Europe before he took himself out in April of '45. Oliver Stone might be correct about certain points of history....but not about Hitler or Stalin.

01-11-2010, 08:58 AM	#11
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	At one time I admired Stone's work because he actually made good films (if you dont believe me watch both Platoon and Wall Street). This is just plain silly. This is something I will be sure not to watch.