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WarDrama

Sergeant York

- Missiles! Jets! Tanks! ... It's still the guy with guts and a gun who wins the war!

Alvin York a hillbilly sharpshooter transforms himself from ruffian to religious pacifist. He is then called to serve his country and despite deep religious and moral objections to fighting becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI.

Release Date : 1941-09-27

Language :EnglishFrenchGerman

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Gary Cooper

Character Name : Alvin C. York

Original Name : Gary Cooper

Gender : Male

Walter Brennan

Character Name : Pastor Rosier Pile

Original Name : Walter Brennan

Gender : Male

Joan Leslie

Character Name : Gracie Williams

Original Name : Joan Leslie

Gender : Female

George Tobias

Character Name : "Pusher" Ross

Original Name : George Tobias

Gender : Male

Stanley Ridges

Character Name : Major Buxton

Original Name : Stanley Ridges

Gender : Male

Margaret Wycherly

Character Name : Mother York

Original Name : Margaret Wycherly

Gender : Female

Ward Bond

Character Name : Ike Botkin

Original Name : Ward Bond

Gender : Male

Noah Beery Jr.

Character Name : Buck Lipscomb

Original Name : Noah Beery Jr.

Gender : Male

June Lockhart

Character Name : Rosie York

Original Name : June Lockhart

Gender : Female

Dickie Moore

Character Name : George York

Original Name : Dickie Moore

Gender : Male

Clem Bevans

Character Name : Zeke

Original Name : Clem Bevans

Gender : Male

Howard Da Silva

Character Name : Lem

Original Name : Howard Da Silva

Gender : Male

Charles Trowbridge

Character Name : Cordell Hull

Original Name : Charles Trowbridge

Gender : Male

Harvey Stephens

Character Name : Captain Danforth

Original Name : Harvey Stephens

Gender : Male

David Bruce

Character Name : Bert Thomas

Original Name : David Bruce

Gender : Male

Carl Esmond

Character Name : German Major

Original Name : Carl Esmond

Gender : Male

Joe Sawyer

Character Name : Sergeant Early

Original Name : Joe Sawyer

Gender : Male

Pat Flaherty

Character Name : Sergeant Harry Parsons

Original Name : Pat Flaherty

Gender : Male

Robert Porterfield

Character Name : Zeb Andrews

Original Name : Robert Porterfield

Gender : Male

Erville Alderson

Character Name : Nate Tomkins

Original Name : Erville Alderson

Gender : Male

Murray Alper

Character Name : But! Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Murray Alper

Gender : Male

Frank Faylen

Character Name : But! Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Faylen

Gender : Male

James Anderson

Character Name : Eb (uncredited)

Original Name : James Anderson

Gender : Male

Arthur Aylesworth

Character Name : Marten - Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Aylesworth

Gender : Male

Eugene Beday

Character Name : Private (uncredited)

Original Name : Eugene Beday

Gender : Male

James Bush

Character Name : Private (uncredited)

Original Name : James Bush

Gender : Male

Victor Zimmerman

Character Name : Private (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Zimmerman

Gender : Male

Sonny Bupp

Character Name : Boy in Sunday School (uncredited)

Original Name : Sonny Bupp

Gender : Male

Sammy McKim

Character Name : Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammy McKim

Gender : Male

Nat Carr

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Nat Carr

Gender : Male

John Dilson

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : John Dilson

Gender : Male

Eddie Graham

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Graham

Gender : Male

Al Lloyd

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Lloyd

Gender : Male

Frank Mayo

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Mayo

Gender : Male

Jack Mower

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Mower

Gender : Male

Lucia Carroll

Character Name : Saloon Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Lucia Carroll

Gender : Female

Rita La Roy

Character Name : Saloon Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Rita La Roy

Gender : Female

Kay Sutton

Character Name : Saloon Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Kay Sutton

Gender : Female

Lane Chandler

Character Name : Corporal Savage (uncredited)

Original Name : Lane Chandler

Gender : Male

Jack Pennick

Character Name : Corporal Cutting (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Pennick

Gender : Male

Elisha Cook Jr.

Character Name : Piano Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Elisha Cook Jr.

Gender : Male

Clyde Cook

Character Name : Cockney Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Clyde Cook

Gender : Male

Will Stanton

Character Name : Cockney Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Will Stanton

Gender : Male

Ray Cooke

Character Name : Orderly (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Cooke

Gender : Male

Paul Phillips

Character Name : Orderly (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Phillips

Gender : Male

Roger Creed

Character Name : Motorcycle Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Creed

Gender : Male

Jean Del Val

Character Name : Marshal Foch (uncredited)

Original Name : Jean Del Val

Gender : Male

Donald Douglas

Character Name : Captain Tillman (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Douglas

Gender : Male

Charles Drake

Character Name : Scorer (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Drake

Gender : Male

Steve Pendleton

Character Name : Scorer (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Pendleton

Gender : Male

Roland Drew

Character Name : Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Roland Drew

Gender : Male

William Forrest

Character Name : Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : William Forrest

Gender : Male

Arno Frey

Character Name : German Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Arno Frey

Gender : Male

Rolf Lindau

Character Name : German Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Rolf Lindau

Gender : Male

Sigfrid Tor

Character Name : German Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Sigfrid Tor

Gender : Male

William Yetter Sr.

Character Name : German Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : William Yetter Sr.

Gender : Male

Frederick Giermann

Character Name : German Lieutenant (uncredited)

Original Name : Frederick Giermann

Gender : Male

Jody Gilbert

Character Name : Fat Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jody Gilbert

Gender : Female

Joseph W. Girard

Character Name : General John J. Pershing (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph W. Girard

Gender : Male

Russell Hicks

Character Name : General (uncredited)

Original Name : Russell Hicks

Gender : Male

Selmer Jackson

Character Name : General Duncan (uncredited)

Original Name : Selmer Jackson

Gender : Male

Kit Guard

Character Name : Soldier on Rifle Range (uncredited)

Original Name : Kit Guard

Gender : Male

Ted Mapes

Character Name : Soldier in Trench (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Mapes

Gender : Male

William Haade

Character Name : Card Player (uncredited)

Original Name : William Haade

Gender : Male

Creighton Hale

Character Name : Associated Press Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Creighton Hale

Gender : Male

Henry Hall

Character Name : Mountaineer (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Hall

Gender : Male

Frank McGlynn Sr.

Character Name : Mountaineer (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank McGlynn Sr.

Gender : Male

Charles Middleton

Character Name : Mountaineer (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Middleton

Gender : Male

Herbert Heywood

Character Name : Man at Church (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Heywood

Gender : Male

Si Jenks

Character Name : Man at Church (uncredited)

Original Name : Si Jenks

Gender : Male

Robert Milasch

Character Name : Man at Church (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Milasch

Gender : Male

Eddy Waller

Character Name : Man at Church (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddy Waller

Gender : Male

George Irving

Character Name : Harrison (uncredited)

Original Name : George Irving

Gender : Male

Jane Isbell

Character Name : Gracie's Sister (uncredited)

Original Name : Jane Isbell

Gender : Male

Edward Keane

Character Name : Oscar of the Waldorf (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Keane

Gender : Male

Victor Kilian

Character Name : Andrews (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Kilian

Gender : Male

Joe King

Character Name : Draft Board Chairman (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe King

Gender : Male

Frank Marlowe

Character Name : Beardsley (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Marlowe

Gender : Male

Tully Marshall

Character Name : Uncle Lige (uncredited)

Original Name : Tully Marshall

Gender : Male

Patrick McVey

Character Name : Spoldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick McVey

Gender : Male

Wallace Scott

Character Name : Spoldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Wallace Scott

Gender : Male

Frank Orth

Character Name : Drummer (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Orth

Gender : Male

William Phillips

Character Name : Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : William Phillips

Gender : Male

Harry Strang

Character Name : Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Strang

Gender : Male

Pat West

Character Name : Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat West

Gender : Male

Frank Wilcox

Character Name : Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Wilcox

Gender : Male

Walter Sande

Character Name : Sergeant on March (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Sande

Gender : Male

Mickey Rentschler

Character Name : Zeb's Brother (uncredited)

Original Name : Mickey Rentschler

Gender : Male

Dick Simmons

Character Name : Marching Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Simmons

Gender : Male

Ray Teal

Character Name : Marching Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Teal

Gender : Male

Gig Young

Character Name : Marching Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Gig Young

Gender : Male

Edwin Stanley

Character Name : Editor (uncredited)

Original Name : Edwin Stanley

Gender : Male

Theodore von Eltz

Character Name : Prison Camp Commander (uncredited)

Original Name : Theodore von Eltz

Gender : Male

Lee 'Lasses' White

Character Name : Luke - Target Keeper (uncredited)

Original Name : Lee 'Lasses' White

Gender : Male

Guy Wilkerson

Character Name : Tom (uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Wilkerson

Gender : Male

Tom Wilson

Character Name : Turkey Shoot Participant (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Wilson

Gender : Male

Douglas Wood

Character Name : Major Hylan (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas Wood

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Just like a turkey shoot! Alvin York of Tennessee was a simple backwoods farm boy who liked a drink and a scrap, then one day, fuelled by drink and anger in his heart, an event gave him religion and a new found respect for life. However, the advent of World War 1, and his subsequent call to duty, tore his pacifist state of mind apart, torn between a patriotic sense of duty and his religious beliefs, Alvin York of Tennessee was to become the name on everyone's lips in 1918. Sergeant York is pretty much close to being the perfect template for biography movies. It stands out (as it stands up proud) because the makers have the willingness to tell the tale from the humble beginnings of the central protagonist. They then ease it through to the end without feeling the need to rush there. Some allegations of it being a tad slow for its own good may well be valid, but for those of us who crave ultimate detail and flesh on the bones of main characters, well Sergeant York is a peerless joy. By the time that the critical point in York's life is realised, we the audience care so much because we have been party to his life story. From hard working farm boy to falling in love with Gracie, and onto his World War 1 heroics, Alvin York feels like one of us because of the work that all involved have done here. Producer Jesse Lasky literally spent years trying to persuade the real life York into letting him film his story, the humble and modest Tennessean kept refusing until finally relenting with some conditions. One was that the proceeds go to charity (truly befitting the man that), two was that a non-smoking actress play his wife Gracie, and another that Gary Cooper play the title role!, well he got his wishes, and what a result it turned out to be. Cooper was initially against taking the job but soon relented after a meeting with York himself. Cooper then requested that Howard Hawks direct, which turned out to be the case - but only after the studio failed to attract Michael Curtiz, Henry Koster and a few other notable directors of the time. As it turned out this was a perfect subject for Hawks, Alvin York boasting all the human traits in a man that Hawks admired, and with Gary Cooper operating on full tilt the resulting picture is a stirring emotive classic that never falls to gung-ho over bearing theatrics. In fact the critical war sequences here are wonderfully subtle. Backing Hawks up is the excellent Sol Polito, whose photography is precious - have a look at one scene as York sits on a cliff edge with his hound, contemplating his being in the war, it's shot in half silhouette and just gives me tingles on my spine. Critics of the time were mixed on Sergeant York, and many people felt that the film was over propagandist in its aims?, well time has been kind to the film and personally I find the story, and the technical brilliance on show, to be truly remarkable. 10/10

B

barrymost

@barrymost

2021-06-23

To summarize (which is quite a task, since this is a very detailed, comprehensive, and well-done biopic), Gary Cooper plays one of the greatest and most beloved heroes of the First World War: backwoods sharpshooter, Alvin C. York. Hailing from the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, somewhere in the Tennessee hills, he spent his youth drinking, carousing, and causing mischief and mayhem in general. All that changes one stormy night when a lightning bolt strikes his rifle, instead of him, and he turns from his rowdy ways and becomes a fine, upstanding Christian. When America becomes involved in WWI, he requests to be exempted from the draft as a conscientious objector. But his appeal is rejected and into the army he goes. As he serves his country, his eyes are opened to the reasons behind the conflict, and to the fact that it isn’t against God or the Bible to fight against evil. In a heroic act, he saves the lives of several men in his squadron and captures over 100 German prisoners. There’s so much fascinating trivia behind this film which is so much more than your average war picture. It’s the story of a humble yet remarkable man’s life, and a good reminder that, as Alvin observes, “the Lord sure do move in mysterious ways.” The real Alvin C. York was approached by producer Jesse Lasky several times, asking for permission to film the story of his life. York finally agreed on three conditions — first, that a share of the profits would go towards a Bible school York was trying to establish; second, that a non-smoking actress would play his wife Gracie; and third, that Gary Cooper play him! At first, Cooper didn’t even want the role. Even if he did he was under contract to Samuel Goldwyn, who had no intention of releasing him. After York spoke to Cooper personally the latter agreed to take the part. A bargain was struck when Goldwyn agreed to lend out Cooper in exchange for Warner Brothers lending him Bette Davis for his production of The Little Foxes. Thus, everything worked out, everyone was happy, and two excellent films were made because of the exchange. Not only were two great films made (both of which were nominated for Best Picture), but Gary Cooper won his first Oscar for Best Actor! In his acceptance speech he made the comment, “I’ve been in this business sixteen years and sometimes dreamed I might get one of these things.” While films of this era were consistently clean and wholesome, and had a definite reverence for God, not as many could be called overtly “Christian.” Sergeant York is one of the few movies that definitely fits this category. The pivotal faith aspect of Alvin York’s story is handled well, mostly due to Cooper’s sensitive and sincere performance. Walter Brennan was an honest, upstanding man in his own life, and plays the local pastor who counsels Alvin. Brennan claimed to be religious in his personal life as well. He brings enthusiasm and warmth to his role, and received his fourth nomination for Best Supporting Actor. However, the Oscar went to Donald Crisp for "How Green Was My Valley." The scene in which York’s rifle is struck by lightning, causing his conversion, was an invention of the screenwriters. In reality, the steps leading to York’s conversion were longer and more drawn-out due to the efforts of his wife to help him clean up his act. Ultimately, Sergeant York is a film that takes its time, with a running length of 2 hours and 14 minutes, but it’s time well spent. The production fares well under the expert direction of the masterful Howard Hawks, who received his only Best Director nomination for it. It also contains one of the most gorgeous camera shots I’ve ever seen. York stands tall and proud on a rocky outcrop, surveying the Tennessee countryside, with his hound dog by his side. It’s shot in half-silhouette, and the imagery is both haunting and exhilarating. After this recent Resurrection Sunday, when the focus is especially on faith and looking to a Savior, the following is an appropriate quote from the film with which to end this review. “You see, I believe in the Bible and I’m a-believin’ that this here life we’re a-livin’ is something the Lord done give us and we got to be a-livin’ it the best we can…”