Sergeant York (1941)

A marksman is drafted in World War I and ends up becoming one of the most celebrated war heroes.

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writers:

Abem Finkel (original screen play), Harry Chandlee (original screen play)

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Cooper	...	Alvin C. York
Walter Brennan	...	Pastor Rosier Pile
Joan Leslie	...	Gracie Williams
George Tobias	...	'Pusher' Ross
Stanley Ridges	...	Maj. Buxton
Margaret Wycherly	...	Mother York
Ward Bond	...	Ike Botkin
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Buck Lipscomb
June Lockhart	...	Rosie York
Dickie Moore	...	George York
Clem Bevans	...	Zeke
Howard Da Silva	...	Lem (as Howard da Silva)
Charles Trowbridge	...	Cordell Hull
Harvey Stephens	...	Capt. Danforth
David Bruce	...	Bert Thomas

Storyline

Somewhat fictionalized account of the life and war service of Alvin York, who went from humble beginnings to being one of the most celebrated American servicemen to fight in World War I. As depicted in the film, Alvin turned to religion when he was struck by lightning during one of his drunken outings. Alvin took his newfound religion seriously claiming to be a conscientious objector when receiving his draft notice. When that was refused, he joined the infantry where he served with valor, capturing a large number of Germans and saving the lives of many of his men who were under heavy fire.

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. soldier | world war one soldier | western front | hillbilly | infantry | 

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Taglines:

Missiles! Jets! Tanks!... It's Still The Guy With Guts And A Gun Who Wins The War!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the daily production reports included in the film's file at USC, Vincent Sherman directed some scenes while Howard Hawks went to a racetrack.

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Goofs

As Corporal York (Gary Cooper) and other Americans are in the trench prior to the attack in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, they are taught by two distinctively British soldiers about the sounds of incoming artillery shells. The British Army did not take part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of September-November 1918.

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Quotes

Drummer: [remarking on the area's isolation] What I'd like to know is, how do you fellows get into this valley?
Zeke: We was born here!

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Crazy Credits

"We are proud to present this picture, and are grateful to the heroic figures, still living, who have generously consented to be portrayed in its story.

To their faith and ours, that a day will come when man will live in peace on earth, this picture is humbly dedicated.

High in the heart of the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee, lies the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, and here in the spring of the year 1916..."

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Connections

Referenced in Smoke (1971)

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Soundtracks

In the Sweet Bye and Bye
(1868) (uncredited)
Music by J.P. Webster
Lyrics by S. Fillmore Bennett
Sung by the folks in the church during the rainstorm

User Reviews

Hooray for Gary Cooper.

The worst war movies were made during the war, but the best ones too. This seems to be a paradoxity but if we think a little bit about this statement we find that this is obvious. If we compare the bad war films with the good ones we find only one difference, but this difference is fundamental: the matter of the actors. And Gary Cooper is a great actor. His personality guarantees the standard high quality all over the movie. He plays a farmer from Tennessee who wants to guarantee a comfortable life for himself and his love (beautiful: Joan Leslie) but the United States declares war to Germany and he has to enlist to the army. The first half of the movie is full of eye-popping black-and-white sceneries and great, laughable characters and situations. I love the character of George York (Alvin York's younger brother, played by Dickie Gibson) the most. That scene is so cool where he finds Alvin at the bar, which is settled on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky, and forces his brother to go home. He has a big gun in his hands for safety sake. These people are simple farmers, they live in peace and harmony, don't care much about the rest of the world (they don't even heard about the World War), they live by the rules of the Bible.

There is a great battle scene at the second half of the movie. Alvin realizes that the war is similar to the turkey hunting, kills lot of German soldiers and becomes a national hero and the most decorated American soldier of the WWI. This film is great because it's lack of unnecessary patriotism and heroism. It's about the duty we have to fulfill because there are situations in life when our personal happiness is less important than the freedom of others. Alvin C. York realizes this and goes to a war against a country which he has never heard of and protects people whom he has never met. That's why he is a great man. And when he fulfilled his duty he goes home to the well-earned peace and comfort. And when Gary Cooper fulfilled his duty and gave a superb performance as Alvin York, he got the well-earned Academy Award for the Best Actor.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

27 September 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Amazing Life of Sergeant York

Filming Locations:

Burro Flats, Simi Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,400,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$16,361,885

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,364,924

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1