James A. Garfield and His Assassin in ‘Death by Lightning’
Mike Makowsky spent months obtaining government permission to access key historical materials, which explains why his new Netflix limited series, Death by Lightning, opens with a detailed recreation of Charles J. Guiteau.
The recently released four-part series chronicles the intertwined stories of the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, and his assassin, Guiteau, who ended Garfield’s presidency prematurely in 1881.
Garfield’s home in Mentor is now the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, overseen by the National Park Service.
Makowsky adapted the series from Candice Millard’s acclaimed 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
Key Cast
- Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield, portraying the principled president.
- Matthew Macfadyen as Charles J. Guiteau, embodying the unstable assassin.
"Death by Lightning" tells the parallel stories of James A. Garfield and the man who assassinated him in 1881, abruptly ending his stewardship of the country.
This series offers a compelling and well-researched exploration of a pivotal moment in American history.
Author’s summary: This gripping Netflix series vividly dramatizes the lives of President James A. Garfield and his assassin, revealing a complex narrative of ambition, madness, and tragedy.
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