Story of G.I. Joe (1945)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Leopold Atlas (writer) and
Guy Endore (writer) ...

Release Date:

13 July 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Plot:

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Italy | Infantry | Army | War Correspondent

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Burgess Meredith	...	Ernie Pyle / Narrator
Robert Mitchum	...	Lt. / Capt. Bill Walker
Freddie Steele	...	Sgt. Steve Warnicki
Wally Cassell	...	Pvt. Dondaro
Jimmy Lloyd	...	Pvt. Spencer
John R. Reilly	...	Pvt. Robert 'Wingless' Murphy
William Murphy	...	Pv. Mew (as Bill Murphy)
Sicily and Italy Combat Veterans of the Campaigns in Africa	...	Themselves
Don Whitehead	...	Himself (A.P.)
George Lait	...	Himself (International News Service)
Chris Cunningham	...	Himself (U.P.)
Hal Boyle	...	Himself (A.P.)
Jack Foisie	...	Himself (Stars and Stripes)
Bob Landry	...	Himself (Life)
Lucien Hubbard	...	Himself (Readers Digest)

Also Known As:

Ernie Pyle's Story of G.I. Joe (USA) (complete title)
G.I. Joe (USA) (short title)
War Correspondent

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (PCA #10863) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Selznick International Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Lester Cowan Productions

Trivia:

Several of the humorous lines spoken by G.I.s in the film are taken, uncredited, from WWII cartoonist Bill Mauldin's "Willie and Joe" characters.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Ernie leaves his sleeping bag and other heavy gear before crossing a small stream, the shadows of the camera crew, boom mics, etc are clearly visible as he begins entering the water.

Quotes:

[Final Line]
Ernie Pyle: (Voice-over): For those beneath the wooden crosses, there is nothing we can do, except perhaps to pause and murmur, "Thanks pal, thanks."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Private Screenings: Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Silent Night

I was There

I entered for 17 weeks of infantry basic training at Camp Roberts California in January,1945. I was just 18. I was in the 96th, inf, training battlion. I am 73 now. The movie about Ernie Pyle was being made there in part. Some of the trainees were in the film. I recall my company marching over and over on this same hill to make it look like there was a full army there for the picture. My company commander was in the film as was the company mascot dog. I can't recall much more about the film as I have'nt seen it in a long time, getting old I guess. I surely would like to have a VCR copy of it too. If anyone has a copy to sell, please let me know. I recall that Burgess Meredith had lunch in the mess hall and shot the bull with the G.I.s there. Thats about all that I can remember for now. Hope this helps. G