On Screen: “Death by Lightning”
Death by Lightning
If you’re intrigued by fanaticism and the corruption of political power, binge the new Netflix miniseries “Death by Lightning,” revolving around the assassination of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States.
This historical drama begins in 1969 at the Army Medical Museum where a cleaning crew discovers a jar containing the brain of Charles J. Guiteau who crossed paths with then-Ohio Congressman James Garfield back in 1880.
Both attended the Republican National Convention in Chicago, where preacher-lawyer-Civil War hero Garfield (Michael Shannon) delivered a rousing endorsement speech for a colleague.
Garfield’s oratory so impressed the crowd that he — somewhat reluctantly — became the presidential nominee, forcing him into an uneasy alliance with boorish Chester A. Arthur (Nick Offerman) his vice presidential running mate, and sleazy New York Senator Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham).
Progressive, compassionate, highly principled Garfield was determined to stand up for civil service reform and the rights of formerly enslaved Black Americans and immigrants.
Watching with rapt attention was maniacal Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), who became obsessed with Garfield, working diligently to get him elected.
Traumatized as a child, Guiteau spent time as a veritable eunuch in a ‘free love’ cult before fixating on Garfield, whom he stalked, desperately begging for a job in his administration. When his request was refused, deluded Guiteau shot Garfield in the back at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station on July 2, 1881. Garfield survived but then suffered for 80 days because of inept medical care.
“This assassination changed the substance and character of the United States of America,” notes Shannon. “Had Garfield been able to serve out his term, or had a second term, we could be living in an entirely different present. Based on what he started, what his vision was, his dream for the country, perhaps it would be less divided.”
Created by Mike Makowsky (“Bad Education”), produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (“Game of Thrones”) and directed by Matt Ross, it’s based on Candace Millard’s 2011 bestseller “Destiny of the Republic.”
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Death by Lightning” is a remarkably relevant 7 — with all four episodes now streaming on Netflix.
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.