Yanks (1979)

Joining WWII, USA ships soldiers to UK. Matt and John arrive in 1942. Each see a local woman - married or to be engaged with soldiers serving faraway.

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writers:

Colin Welland (story), Colin Welland (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Gere, Lisa Eichhorn, Vanessa Redgrave

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Gere	...	Matt Dyson
Lisa Eichhorn	...	Jean Moreton
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Helen
William Devane	...	John
Chick Vennera	...	Danny Ruffelo
Wendy Morgan	...	Mollie
Rachel Roberts	...	Mrs. Clarrie Moreton
Tony Melody	...	Mr. Jim Moreton
Martin Smith	...	Geoff
Philip Wileman	...	Billy (as Philip Whileman)
Derek Thompson	...	Ken
Simon Harrison	...	Tim
Joan Hickson	...	Mrs. Moody
Arlen Dean Snyder	...	Henry
Annie Ross	...	Red Cross Lady

Storyline

During WWII, the United States set up army bases in Great Britain as part of the war effort. Against their proper sensibilities, many of the Brits don't much like the brash Yanks, especially when it comes to the G.I.s making advances on the lonely British girls, some whose boyfriends are also away for the war. One Yank/Brit relationship that develops is between married John, an Army Captain, and the aristocratic Helen, whose naval husband is away at war. Helen does whatever she needs to support the war effort. Helen loves her husband, but Helen and John are looking for some comfort during the difficult times. Another relationship develops between one of John's charges, Matt, a talented mess hall cook, and Jean. Jean is apprehensive at first about even seeing Matt, who is persistent in his pursuit of her. Jean is in a committed relationship with the kind Ken, her childhood sweetheart who is also away at war. But Jean is attracted to the respect with which Matt treats her. Despite Ken ...

---

Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | train station | soldier | sex scene | premarital sex | 

---

Taglines:

Love during wartime.

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

US actress Lisa Eichhorn, who studied in Oxford and trained in London, got her lead role after deceiving John Schlesinger about her nationality: "I've never lied about anything like that. I said I was British, and there was a pause, and then I said, well, half British... my mother was an American or some such thing, so that if he detected a tiny American accent there would be an explanation for it."

---

Goofs

Richard Gere is supposed to have been not in combat, yet he is wearing a European-African-Middle Campaign Medal ribbon.

---

Quotes

Mollie: Excuse me, please. I'm pregnant!
Woman on train platform: So's half the bloody town, love!

---

Crazy Credits

The names in the opening credits are divided into two categories: The Americans and The British.

---

Connections

References Song of the Islands (1942)

---

Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
(uncredited)
Traditional tune, lyrics by Robert Burns
Heard at the New Year's Eve dance

User Reviews

Beautifully done, overwhelmingly moving mix of romance and social history

This movie presented the American actress Lisa Eichhorn to the world - and if for only that, we can be so terribly grateful to John Schlesinger. (I'm grateful to him for other reasons too: for Darling, for A Kind of Loving, for Far From the Madding Crowd, for Midnight Cowboy and many others).

Eichhorn's beauty, sensitivity, intelligence, warmth, reserve mixed with eager longing, her very movement, beguile and entrance. She is truly remarkable - and this performance (as well as those in The Europeans, King of the Hill and Cutter's Way) deserved an Oscar. I would certainly place her with Meryl Streep, Glen Close, Jessica Lange, Ellen Burstyn, Anne Bancroft, Blair Brown and Sissy Spacek in the top echelon of American actresses.

There seem to be worlds of emotion, of thought, of native refinement and wild longing within this girl as she struggles with her conscience, with her family, about her English fiance, and with her insecurity about her American romance. There is nothing in entertainment I would like as much as to see more of Lisa Eichhorn (wonderful in everything from screen to stage to television) - she's very special.

I think this movie one of the most romantic ever made - not the muted Devane-Redgrave romance - nor the unfortunately clicheed working class pair - but the most highlighted involving Gere and Eichhorn. It sweeps one completely off one's feet.

Apart from the romance, the movie is quite good in showing both Britain at home (some of the feeling of Hope and Glory) and in interaction with the Americans. It could just be me, but aren't the Americans exaggerating their accents slightly to show the difference? Perhaps Gere and Devane just sound more American in contrast.

This is a lovely memorable movie - well shot, wonderfully acted, with an ending that leaves one in tears. Do see it.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

Yanks

Filming Locations:

Moore, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$3,931,010

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,931,010

Company Credits

Production Co:

CIP Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min 165 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1