Dynamite Doug
4.9/5
Critic Rating
For 50 years, Douglas Latchford was the world’s premier expert on Cambodian art, supplying priceless statues to Western museums and rich collectors. But his fame masked a dirty secret. Douglas had colluded with the Khmer Rouge, a genocidal regime, to loot Cambodia’s entire cultural heritage. As the country descended into bloodshed, Douglas stole almost everything. A network of art world cronies were on hand to help him sell these blood statues, including a senior curator at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. When a band of art sleuths get on their case, Douglas and his co-conspirators mount a rearguard acti...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Patricia Nicol • The Times UK • Jun 18, 2023
"...superb — and very different...Presented by Ellen Wong, whose parents fled genocide in Cambodia for Canada, this is a riveting, classy listen with roots in history but searing relevance for today. …"
Score: 4.5
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Mar 18, 2023
"The fast-paced, detailed nature of Dynamite Doug means it's not one to half-listen to: this show commands your full attention, and those that give it will be duly rewarded."
Score: 5
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Mar 11, 2023
"This series moves far quicker ...because there’s a lot to get through, and Wong’s presentation keeps us moving along..."
Score: 5
Stephen O. • Podcast Delivery • Mar 6, 2023
"Host Ellen Wong does a stellar job setting the stage and the stakes of the incredible true story without giving you a full-on history lesson. There’s good reason for this– learning about the Cambodian Genocide is no quick lesson and the atrocities, war crimes, and cultural devastation stay with you once you take their details in. Six episodes gracefully weave a captivating narrative and some wild secret recordings of Latchford and his network of criminals are peppered in along with some interviews."
