American Experience: The Massie Affair

( 4 )

Overview

In 1931, Hawaii had not yet been granted statehood, but the presence of the United States was already strong, with the islands becoming a major tourist destination and the American military taking advantage of its strategic location. Late in the summer that year, news of a shocking crime swept the islands -- Thalia Fortescue Massie, whose husband was a lieutenant in the Navy, claimed that she had been raped by a gang of five Asian men while traveling from Waikiki to Honolulu. Two Pacific islanders were arrested, ...
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Overview

In 1931, Hawaii had not yet been granted statehood, but the presence of the United States was already strong, with the islands becoming a major tourist destination and the American military taking advantage of its strategic location. Late in the summer that year, news of a shocking crime swept the islands -- Thalia Fortescue Massie, whose husband was a lieutenant in the Navy, claimed that she had been raped by a gang of five Asian men while traveling from Waikiki to Honolulu. Two Pacific islanders were arrested, along with two men of Japanese descent and one of Chinese heritage; while evidence presented at their trial clearly proved the men could not have committed the crime, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and when they were arrested on bail pending a new trial, the men were attacked and brutally beaten by American servicemen. Soon afterward, Grace Hubbard Fortescue, Thalia's mother, arrived in Hawaii to protest the jury's inability to reach a guilty verdict; later, one of the accused men was found dead in her car in what many believed was a revenge killing. The American Experience: The Massie Affair is a documentary that examines the facts behind this series of crimes, and explores the tragic legacy it has left on the people of Hawaii. Produced for PBS, The American Experience: The Massie Affair was first aired on April 18, 2005.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; [None specified]
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/19/2005
  • UPC: 841887005258
  • Original Release: 2005

    • Rating:

  • Source: Pbs (Direct)
  • Region Code: 1
  • Time: 60:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 57,818

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Blair Brown Voice Only
Siobhan C. Edmondson Thalia Massie
Technical Credits
Mark Zwonitzer Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Michael Chin Cinematographer
Brian Keane Score Composer
Akeime Mitterlehner Production Designer
Yuka Nishino Production Manager
Bruce Shaw Editor
Lydia Tanji Costumes/Costume Designer
Jamila Wignot Associate Producer
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Play Movie
   Scene Selections
      Introduction
      Two Sides of Hawai'i
      A Fateful Night
      The Frame-Up
      White Prestige
      A Damaging Report
      The "Honor Killing"
      A Sensational Trial
      Verdict and Outrage
      Aftermath
      Credits
   PBS Online
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

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(4)

4 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Sad Part of History

    This was so very interesting but sad. To think this could happen, supported by the United States Navy, and condoned by our elected government officials is truly disturbing. This film was well put together, informative and thorough. I had never heard of this story prior to seeing it for myself but I am glad I did. This is certainly one of those awful parts of American history that we need to know about in order to keep it from ever happening again. Shame on us for participating in such an unlawful act but congratulations to the Hawaiian people for their strength and grace in a time of tremendous loss of not only a young mans life but their dignity as a people in their own homeland. They should be so proud.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Karma, baby!

    I was so surprised to see such an accurate portrayal of the "Massie" case and of life in Hawaii, circa 1893-1931. It seems so shocking to us now, that five young "ethnic" men could have their civil rights demolished by the press, by the criminal justice system, and by the politicians in office--while three privileged "whites" could literally get away with murder. I was not shocked to hear about how Thalia Massie and her husband fared years afterward. As for Mrs. Fortescue, she lived the high life at the end of her earthly existence, after years of faking wealth. But who knows what happened after that?

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Masterpiece of Associate Production.

    To many The Massie Affair signals the rebirth of associate production in America. Viewed by film scholars as a lost art, this film captures our imagination with its intricately woven associate producing narrative. For this reason alone, this work will stand in the pantheon of film, to be examined and rexamined by critics and scholars alike. A breakthrough cinematic experience.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 6, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews