Sergeant York is a 1941 American biographical war film about the life of Alvin C. York, one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I. Directed by Howard Hawks and starring Gary Cooper in an Academy Award-winning performance, the film follows York's journey from a pacifist farm boy to a decorated war hero.
Plot
The film begins in rural Tennessee, where Alvin York is a young man struggling to reconcile his pacifist beliefs with his desire to serve his country. When the United States enters World War I, York is drafted into the Army. Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually comes to believe that it is his duty to fight.
York's marksmanship skills are quickly recognized, and he is assigned to a sharpshooting unit. In the Battle of the Argonne Forest, York single-handedly captures a German machine gun nest, killing 25 Germans and capturing 134 more. For his bravery, York is awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration for valor in the United States.
After the war, York returns home to Tennessee, where he becomes a national hero. He uses his fame to promote peace and understanding, and he eventually becomes a minister.
Trailer
Cast
- Gary Cooper as Alvin C. York
- Walter Brennan as Pastor Rosier Pile
- Joan Leslie as Gracie Williams
- George Tobias as "Pusher" Ross, a soldier from New York City and one of Alvin's friends
- Stanley Ridges as Major Buxton
- Margaret Wycherly as Mother York
- Ward Bond as Ike Botkin
- Noah Beery Jr. as Buck Lipscomb
- June Lockhart as Rosie York, Alvin's sister
- Dickie Moore as George York, Alvin's brother
- Clem Bevans as Zeke
- Howard Da Silva as Lem
- Charles Trowbridge as Cordell Hull
- Harvey Stephens as Captain Danforth
- David Bruce as Bert Thomas, another of Alvin's soldier friends
- Charles Esmond as German Major
- Joseph Sawyer as Sergeant Early
- Pat Flaherty as Sergeant Harry Parsons
- Robert Porterfield as Zeb Andrews
- Erville Alderson as Nate Tomkins
Director: Howard Hawkes
Writers: Harry Chandlee, Abem Finkel, John Huston, Howard E. Koch
Box Office Gross: $8.3 million
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: July 2, 1941
Themes
Sergeant York is a story about the struggle between conscience and duty. York's pacifist beliefs are challenged by the realities of war, and he must ultimately decide whether to fight for his country or remain true to his principles. The film also explores the themes of patriotism, heroism, and the power of faith.
Awards
The film was a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Actor for Gary Cooper and Best Film Editing.
Legacy
Sergeant York is considered one of the greatest war films ever made. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of war, its nuanced exploration of the themes of conscience and duty, and its performances, particularly Cooper's. The film is also notable for its depiction of a pacifist who becomes a war hero, a complex and controversial subject that continues to be debated today.