IMDb > Sergeant York (1941)
Sergeant York
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Sergeant York (1941) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   5,809 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Howard Hawks
Writers:
Abem Finkel (screenplay) &
Harry Chandlee (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Sergeant York on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 September 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama | History | War more
Tagline:
America's Greatest Modern Hero! Timelier today than ever . . thrilling and inspiring story of the kind of men that America is made of! more
Plot:
True story of a hillbilly sharpshooter drafted in WW1 despite his claim to be a pacifist, who ends up becoming a war hero. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
"Alvin, you've got the using kind of religion." more (69 total)

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 ... Major 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 ... Captain Danforth
David Bruce ... Bert Thomas
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
134 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French | German
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7090)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Alvin C. York had been approached by producer Jesse Lasky several times, beginning in 1919, to allow a movie to be made of his life, but had refused, believing that "This uniform ain't for sale." Lasky convinced York that, with war threatening in Europe, it was his patriotic duty to allow the film to proceed. York finally agreed - but only on three conditions. First, York's share of the profits would be contributed to a Bible School York wanted constructed. Second, no cigarette smoking actress could be chosen to play his wife. Third, that only Gary Cooper, could recreate his life on screen. Cooper at first turned down the role, but when York himself contacted the star with a personal plea, Cooper agreed to do the picture. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Sgt. York is shown with his pistol shooting a line of German soldiers coming at him from front to back. In reality he shot them in a line from back to front as he quoted himself, "just like a flock of turkeys". more
Quotes:
Alvin: I ain't a-goin' to war. War's killin', and the book's agin' killin! So war is agin' the book! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Warner at War (2008) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
The Star-Spangled Banner more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 35 people found the following comment useful.
"Alvin, you've got the using kind of religion.", 20 February 2006
9/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Alvin Cullom York (1887-1964), a modest American and Christian hero of World War I, is the subject of this biographical picture which goes beyond the mere telling of the tale how he won all the medals he did for bravery during the Meuse Argonne Offensive. It's the inner struggle of a man whose pacifist Christian beliefs came into conflict with his patriotism. It's the heart and soul of this film, beautifully crafted by director Howard Hawks.

The real Sergeant York eschewed all money making ventures that would have capitalized on his heroics in World War I and had resisted giving the rights to his story to Hollywood. He relented because in 1941 he became concerned with the danger fascism posed for the world and advocated preparedness. Part of what brought him out was the speechmaking of that other American hero Charles A. Lindbergh who was an appeasement advocate.

York even called the shots on who was to play him. So Jack Warner made a call to Adolph Zukor over at Paramount and probably paid one hefty sum for Gary Cooper's services. It was worth every penny of it as Cooper got his first Oscar for Best Actor.

Alvin York is a poor farmer supporting a widowed mother and a brother and sister. And he likes to cut loose every so often with a jug and a rifle. But he gets converted and gets involved in Walter Brennan's church which is a strict fundamentalist sort with pacifist tenets. When America gets into World War I, his very soul is tormented by the tenets of his church and the volunteer tradition of his state. Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State and that nickname is no lie. It bothers him more than other men because as Pastor Walter Brennan tells him he's "got the using kind of religion."

These people may be fundamentalists and somewhat backward, but they're not phonies. No high hog living preachers here, just simple people trying to get through life the best they can. Howard Hawks did a masterful job in casting this film with some actors very used to playing rustics. Ward Bond, Noah Beery, Jr. Howard DaSilva, Clem Bevans and most of all Walter Brennan as Pastor Rosier Pyle, tripling as preacher, postmaster, and owner of the general store. Brennan got an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but since he'd already won three of them, the Academy voters gave Donald Crisp a break that year for How Green Was My Valley.

The York family is played by Margaret Wycherly, June Lockhart and Dickie Moore as mother, brother, and sister. Wycherly is one you'll remember also. Hard to believe this is the same woman who is also James Cagney's Ma in White Heat. Come to think of it, maybe not, Ma York and Ma Jarrett are both tough survivors.

As for the action that won him decorations from all the Allied powers including the Congressional Medal of Honor, you'll just have to see the film for that. But while some liberties are taken with York's pre-war story, what happened in the Argonne is actually what happened.

We could use a whole lot more Sergeant Yorks, those with the using kind of religion.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sergeant York (1941)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
re-release (?) rhorky
Believable story LiviP
Considered an Anti-War film, or a Pro-War film? Der_Erlkonig
Joan Leslie (Gracie) almost ruins the movie for me pcflraveralex
The Importance of the Living in the South for Alvin C. York fierceandfab
Hollywood stereotyping guy_in_west_houston
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