Oliver Stone's Secret History of America: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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Oliver Stone's Secret History of America

Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Season Premiere Date: November 12, 2012

Starring: Oliver Stone

Summary: Directed and narrated by Oliver Stone, the filmmaker behind "JFK," "Nixon," and "W," examines the history of the United States beginning with World War II.

Genre(s): Movie/Mini-Series, News/Documentary

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Bush & Obama - Age of Terror
Air Date: January 13, 2013
tbd
S1:E9. Bush and Clinton: Squandered Peace-New World Order
Air Date: January 6, 2013
tbd
S1:E8. Reagan, Gorbachev & Third World - Rise of the Right
Air Date: December 30, 2012

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Matt Zoller Seitz

Nov 12, 2012

Four years in the making and ten hours long, it's a remarkable, if dense and often difficult program--at once the most stylistically stripped-down thing Stone has done and (somehow) the most Oliver Stone-y. Read full review

Verne Gay

Nov 12, 2012

It's all weirdly engrossing. Read full review

Ellen Gray

Nov 12, 2012

I was far from convinced, but was left curious to know more about [Franklin D. Roosevelt vice president Henry] Wallace, which is maybe as much as anyone can expect from a TV show like this. Read full review

David Wiegand

Nov 12, 2012

Ably abetted by the superb editing work by Alex Marquez, Untold Story shows how the nation's international policies were shaped, refracted and, at times, undermined by internal politics. That said, Stone's predictably narrow intensity sometimes works against him, frequently throwing the overall balance of each film off by leaving us with unanswered questions on some topics, and, in a way, too much information on others. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Nov 12, 2012

As a whole, the project cries out for the voices of third-party historians--or at least some voice, beyond the grainy newsreel footage and dramatic readings by actors, other than Stone's. Read full review

Mary McNamara

Nov 12, 2012

Narrated by Stone with no other voices (save actors filling in for various world leaders), Untold History is a hodgepodge of terrific if often disturbing historical footage and bizarre theatrical asides (including, at one point, the dictionary definition of "empathy" spelled out on the screen) that are almost overwhelmed by its invasive soundtrack. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Nov 12, 2012

It is relentless and ultimately meretricious in skewing history to its conceit that the United States is a murderous war machine destroying everything in its path to empire. Read full review

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User Score

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User Reviews

SqueezyCheesy

Jan 14, 2014

A very personal reflection of the achievements, opportunities (both seized and squandered) and failings of the USA in the last 100 years.

Stone clearly has his own favourites and enemies, and will be villified by the right for not being a patriot, but I thought this was a provocative,A very personal reflection of the achievements, opportunities (both seized and squandered) and failings of the USA in the last 100 years.

Stone clearly has his own favourites and enemies, and will be villified by the right for not being a patriot, but I thought this was a provocative, thoughtful and ultimately satisfying history of Uncle Sam. Stone flits between archive footage, Hollywood rewritings and old interviews to get his message across.

Compulsive viewing, don't ever expect to see it on Fox News though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moondog

Jan 3, 2013

Excellent show - educational - always good to get a different perspective on received history.
Whether or not you agree with his sentiment, his facts are undeniable and that's the education.
If only every country had someone doing this on their history.
Well done Oliver

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

firebird

Dec 23, 2012

Oliver Stone is just about as much a "leftist" as Henry Wallace was a Communist! If anything he is a great patriot, who underwent a huge effort to tell us his insights about the greatest story of all; the history of mankind. Yes the president of the US at the time (Truman) was nothing but aOliver Stone is just about as much a "leftist" as Henry Wallace was a Communist! If anything he is a great patriot, who underwent a huge effort to tell us his insights about the greatest story of all; the history of mankind. Yes the president of the US at the time (Truman) was nothing but a schoolyard bully. And yes, many of the enemies the US have nowadays, the US simply produced themselves. It is crucial that we start to understand, why there are such vast parts of the world who hate the US. So I'd personally rather start looking the truth in the eye, even if it hurts, than to go on, like nothing is happening and if, it is still for sure all the others' fault! 'Cos we are the good ones, hooray! So the other ones HAVE to be the bad ones! Hooaaahh!! I say the russians love their children too, and we should never forget that we are one big mankind! And it is just about time that we admit the erroneous ways of out past, just like other did before us, dor the truth shall set us free! Thank you, Mister Stone for producing this document of epic political and humanitarian significance, and for putting your head, your heart and your energy into this great piece of historical and philosophical work!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

movieboy

Nov 16, 2012

Knowing Stone's interest in illuminating some dark shadows in our past I eagerly wait future episodes. Must admit I thought there would be more skeletons revealed in the first show but I was intrigued throughout.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

PoliSci0621

Jan 10, 2013

Stumbling into the series I was skeptical at first since Oliver Stone is a liberal filmmaker, however, in this series there is very little bias. One thing the series does well is incorporating the film clips from speeches, films, and other historically important event. However, the showStumbling into the series I was skeptical at first since Oliver Stone is a liberal filmmaker, however, in this series there is very little bias. One thing the series does well is incorporating the film clips from speeches, films, and other historically important event. However, the show contains many issues in relation to it's production which includes the fact that episodes runs a little bit too long resulting in some parts being very repetitive and stale. Overall, the audience will learn a few interesting and important key historical facts from the series and that's about it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FriedConsole

Jan 11, 2013

This is like they recorded Oliver Stone doing a Youtube comments section style rant and then added video clips to it later. It just rambles alluding to conspiracies but never following up on them that would actually make it entertaining. Very dis-jointed and jumps around all over theThis is like they recorded Oliver Stone doing a Youtube comments section style rant and then added video clips to it later. It just rambles alluding to conspiracies but never following up on them that would actually make it entertaining. Very dis-jointed and jumps around all over the place it makes your head spin. He moves so fast that it doesn't give you enough time to reflect on how dumb it is. I am left of center and this stuff is for far left wing conspiracy nuts. The history of the world is so simple and black and white in Oliver Stone's view that I kinda wish it was all true. If only it was just rich industrialists and Republicans that causes all the wars we could stop all wars pretty easily.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

dirtytrainers

Nov 14, 2012

Terrible, without doubt a lie...Where is the story of industrialists? Prescott Bush & Hitler? Wall Street? English Lords? They all supported fascism...Where is that story...Oliver Stone has either lied or been threatened...If anyone has a problem with what i wrote take it up with me and ITerrible, without doubt a lie...Where is the story of industrialists? Prescott Bush & Hitler? Wall Street? English Lords? They all supported fascism...Where is that story...Oliver Stone has either lied or been threatened...If anyone has a problem with what i wrote take it up with me and I will happily provide historical evidence - Oliver Stone is a lying scum bag degenerate fool… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

51

Series Overview
Season 1

51
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 12, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E10. Bush & Obama - Age of Terror
  Air Date: January 13, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. Bush and Clinton: Squandered Peace-New World Order
  Air Date: January 6, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. Reagan, Gorbachev & Third World - Rise of the Right
  Air Date: December 30, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E7. Johnson, Nixon & Vietnam: Reversal of Fortune
  Air Date: December 23, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E6. JFK: To the Brink
  Air Date: December 16, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. The '50s: Eisenhower, the Bomb & the Third World
  Air Date: December 9, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Cold War: Truman, Wallace, Stalin, Churchill & the Bomb
  Air Date: December 2, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Bomb
  Air Date: November 25, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. Roosevelt, Truman and Wallace
  Air Date: November 18, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. World War II
  Air Date: November 12, 2012