The Fighting 69th (1940)

Although loudmouthed braggart Jerry Plunkett alienates his comrades and officers, Father Duffy, the regimental chaplain, has faith that he'll prove himself in the end.

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Norman Reilly Raine (original screen play), Fred Niblo Jr. (original screen play),

Stars:

James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, George Brent

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Cagney	...	Jerry Plunkett
Pat O'Brien	...	Father Duffy
George Brent	...	Wild Bill Donovan
Jeffrey Lynn	...	Joyce Kilmer
Alan Hale	...	Sgt. 'Big Mike' Wynn
Frank McHugh	...	Crepe Hanger Burke
Dennis Morgan	...	Lieutenant Ames
Dick Foran	...	Lt. 'Long John' Wynn
William Lundigan	...	Timmy Wynn
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Paddy Dolan
Henry O'Neill	...	The Colonel
John Litel	...	Captain Mangan
Sammy Cohen	...	Mike Murphy
Harvey Stephens	...	Major Anderson
William Hopper	...	Private Turner (as DeWolf Hopper)

Storyline

"The Fighting 69th" is a First World War regiment of mostly New York-Irish soldiers. Amongst a cocky crew, perhaps the cockiest is Jerry Plunkett, a scrappy fellow who looks out only for himself. The officers and non-coms of the regiment do their best to instill discipline in Plunkett, and the chaplain, Father Duffy, tries to make Plunkett see the greater good, all to no avail. Behind the lines or in the trenches, Plunkett acts selfishly and cowardly, eventually costing the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. A final act of cowardice leads to terrible consequences, but Plunkett sees in them a chance to redeem himself...if only he can.

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Plot Keywords:

chaplain | cowardice | faith | violence | sergeant | 

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Taglines:

Jammed With Action ! . . Loaded With Excitement ! . . . And Every Thrill-Packed Word Is True !

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew Latin Yiddish

Release Date:

27 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Father Duffy of the Fighting 69th

Filming Locations:

Providencia Ranch, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Priscilla Lane was cast as a girl back home. The part was cut before shooting.

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Goofs

Major Donovan says to Father Duffy " This isn't just another night hike...this is it". It seems to infer they are going into battle, but they were still in America.

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Quotes

Father Duffy: [praying] Almighty God, in Thine infinite mercy grant me, thy servant, the wisdom to guide my young flock through the trials of war. Oh, Father, they're so young. So young and they know so little of life and nothing at all of that terrible and bloody altar towards which they move, carrying so eagerly the bright sacrifice of their youth. Their need will be great, O Lord, and I am weak. Therefore, I beseech thee through Thy Son, Christ, our Lord, grant me the strength to keep them steadfast in the...

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Connections

Featured in Warner at War (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Old Black Joe"
(1860) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Played by the Alabama National Guard Band

User Reviews

A new appreciation of an old classic

When I first viewed "The Fighting 69th", I was probably 8 years old, around 1948 I'd say. It literally scared me out into the lobby more than once. At that age you're not ready for trench warfare that up close and personal. Being Irish, Catholic and a kinship with people named O'Brien, I have always liked this movie on many levels for a variety of reasons. I have watched this film many times over the years, including a "colorized" version, when they were in vogue. Now comes the definitive DVD copy of the film. I watched it again in all it's 42 inch LCD, near "Hi-Def", glory again recently. I was affected by it again but in an entirely different way. Basically the story is about bright, mostly full of pluck and good humor, young men who want to get this war over with and get home again. Now it could be viewed an "anti-war" movie in some ways. It also very much is like the young men,today, shedding blood in hell holes named Iraq and Afganistan. Quite a comparison. It hit home. I'm an older man and I cried and sniffled through the entire film, and I know the film! I didn't have any lobby to run out into. Bobsluckycat, in all his reviews, has tried to give you some out of the box appreciation for whatever film he reviews and this is no exception. Yes, the stars are all fine, but look to the mostly young supporting cast, many of whom would go off to WWII and come back having served proudly and heroically, and you'll see the meat of this film. William Lundigan, George Reeves, and many many others with a line or two here and there just outstanding and would go on to long acting careers post war. Gwinn "Big Boy" Williams, Frank McHugh, Dick Foran, Sammy Cohen among many of the "pros" doing superior work. Not one casting note rings false throughout. World War I does not play well in color, with the exception of John Fords' "What Price Glory" also starring Cagney, maybe. It's meant to be in black and white. Today, it's not the "rah,rah" picture it was made to be, but a stark reminder that war kills our youngest and brightest before they mature to fullness, just as today. In that light, It's one of the best war movies EVER made, period.