The Fighting 69th (1940)

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

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

Release Date:

27 January 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Chaplain | Cowardice | Faith | Violence | Sergeant

Cast

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)
Tom Dugan	...	Private McManus
Frank Wilcox	...	Lieutenant Norman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herbert Anderson	...	Pvt. Casey (uncredited)
John Arledge	...	Second Alabama Man (uncredited)
Trevor Bardette	...	First Alabama Man (uncredited)
Jack Boyle Jr.	...	Chuck (uncredited)
Richard Clayton	...	Tierney (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Jimmy (uncredited)
Tom Coleman	...	Wounded Soldier in Parade Car (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan	...	Doctor Giving Inoculations (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Eddie Dew	...	Regan (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Medical Captain (uncredited)
Edgar Edwards	...	Engineer Officer (uncredited)
Frank Faylen	...	Engineer Sergeant at Cave-In (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
Jerry Fletcher	...	Telephonist (uncredited)
Arno Frey	...	German Officer (uncredited)
Edmund Glover	...	Fourth Alabama Man (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Soldier Watching Fight (uncredited)
John Harron	...	Carrol (uncredited)
J. Anthony Hughes	...	Healey (uncredited)
Layne Ireland	...	Hefferman (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	New Recruit (uncredited)
George Kilgen	...	Ryan (uncredited)
Jacques Lory	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Doctor Checking Eyes (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Capt. Bootz (uncredited)
Frank Melton	...	Third Alabama Man (uncredited)
Elmo Murray	...	O'Brien (uncredited)
Byron Nelson	...	Soldier (uncredited)
George O'Hanlon	...	Eddie Kearney (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	...	Major (uncredited)
George Reeves	...	Jack O'Keefe (uncredited)
John Ridgely	...	Moran (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Roland Varno	...	German Officer (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan	...	Doctor Giving Physicals (uncredited)

Directed by
William Keighley

Writing credits
Norman Reilly Raine		(original screen play) &
Fred Niblo Jr.		(original screen play) and
Dean Riesner		(original screen play) (as Dean Franklin)

Produced by
Louis F. Edelman	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
Tony Gaudio		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Owen Marks		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack L. Warner	....	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Heath	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Lang	....	sound

Special Effects by
Byron Haskin	....	special effects
Rex Wimpy	....	special effects

Stunts
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buster Wiles	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
John T. Prout	....	technical advisor (as Capt. John T. Prout)
Mark White	....	technical advisor
George Boothby	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.) (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1940) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
• Warner Bros. (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Television (2004) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1950) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (194?) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1949) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (200?) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Japan) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vidéo (2001) (France) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vidéo (2007) (France) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min | Finland:84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | Latin | Yiddish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #5756) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-15 (new rating: 2001) | Australia:G (TV rating) | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

William Gargan was originally cast as John Wynn.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After the skirmish in the woods, an "unconscious" German prisoner obligingly stands on his feet prior to being carried back to the American lines.

Quotes:

Terence 'Crepe-Hanger' Burke:Believe me, in the next war there's gonna be three guys missing - me and the two guys that's chasin' me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "American Masters: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (#22.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Wearing of the Green

Great war movie and superb cast

This World War 1 movie was based on fact which means some of it was Hollywoodized. Done in the old fashioned Hollywwod style with some corny dialogue but overall it packs a great punch due largely in part to one of Jimmy Cagneys greatest roles. He gets you to hate him and love him at the same time. Pat Obrien is perfect as the priest and although a little syrupy and sappy the duo manages to bring a tear to the eye.There are some other great roles including Alan Hale senior. You may remember his son as the skipper on Gilligans Island. There is also a true reference to the famous poet Joyce Kilmer who died in World war 1.You'll like this movie even if you don't like war movies and you'll love it if you do! Get the popcorn and sit back and enjoy!!!!!!!!