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DVD Sergeant York
Gary Cooper plays Alvin York, the real-life country lad and sharpshooter drafted to fight during World War I but blocked from killing by his pacifist sentiments. Howard Hawks makes a rousing, heroic film out of the tale, and Cooper gives one of his best performances (for which he won an Oscar). The 1941 feature seems as much a valentine to wartime America (and a not-so-subtle piece of propaganda) as anything, with Hawks capturing splendidly shot scenes of life in York's home state of Tennessee, which in turn provide a striking contrast to the battlefield. A key scene in the film, in which York is presented with an argument in favor of killing in war, is still thought provoking. --Tom Keogh
I like this movie as a Christian. It is about a great historical war hero from WWI; yet it does not say YANKEE DOODLE DANDY or RALLY AROUND THE FLAG BOYS! Obviously, Sergeant York was a common farmer like Cincinattus that I read a bit about in Roman History who was a farmer who left his plow in the field to serve Rome and then after he became a hero, he went back to his plow.
Obvioulsy, I have relaties who I love who come from this region of the country and have a simple faith in God and the Bible just like Sergaent York. And I know that when I was in the Army enlisted ranks in 1978 and I had signed up for NBC school which I felt was like learning to be a chemical engineering technican and a training sergeant had started lecturing on battlefield combat tactics, I had told them that I wanted to become a conscientious objector, too. And the one sargeant had said that I should wait to see if there would be an actual war and then cross that bridge when I got there. I did also find in the Bible where Jesus had said HE WHO LIVES BY THE SWORD WILL DIE BY THE SWORD, and I would have thought that killing in war was also wrong for a Christian. They seemed to have laundered that verse out in more recent translations of the Bible. So, I could identify a bit with the religous beliefs of Sargeant York. But it was Chuck Swindol who taught me the Old Teatament well, and I started thinking of my perscutors again like I did in grade school that I was Samson and they were the Philistines. It is amazing how little dramas in life reemerge over and over again.
I also did like the idyllic peaceful tranquil mood of the Kentucky/Tenessee region of the country in the movie. And I did like the Baptist hymns that I recognized from when I tried to attend Baptist Church in 1986-like WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN and GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION! But what struck me as funny was the old Army song "You're in the army Now" that begins the movie. My deceased uncle was a 20 year army enlisted man; yet when I ran off at 17 to join the Army on September 11, 1977, my mom had sung this song to me to the tune of "YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW: "You're in the Army now; they treat you like a sow; you'll never get rich, you son of a bitch; you're in the Army now!" They did not have any brainwashed blind patriotism in this movie like you see in the attitude of the US servicemen who are being shown on the evening news. York's family did not even know why Alvin York had to leave the mountains to go towar!
a stirring biopic of a real hero
finally available on dvd, i managed to watch this movie on veterans day, november 11th! gary cooper turns in one of his strongest acting jobs as a simple and honest man who is forced into war tho he is a pacifist, and emerges as one of the great individual military heroes of all time. and from all accounts, it actually happened that way! excellent supporting work all the way around, and the movie manages to be fair to various points of view: a far cry from what one might expect.
A girl's opinion!
Even girls like this movie! I first saw Sergeant York when I was fourteen and I was thoroughly entertained! At first, it starts off a little slow and you may wonder where in the world it's going, but just stay with it because it gets VERY interesting. It's an incredible story! It's also funny to see what a great job the entire cast does playing mountain people. You can tell a lot of research was invested in the movie because it seems so authentic! You would swear the actress playing Alvin's mother was dragged right off a mountain to Hollywood! I still can't believe she's actually an actress!! And Joan Leslie, who plays "Gracie," is one of my favorites! She's adorable. And if you listen closely, some of her lines are a scream! "I don't know . . . I done a heap of sleep'n while you was away." I heard someone else remark that what they enjoy about her acting is the innocence and freshness she brings to her character, unlike modern actresses who lack sparkle and seem like they've "been there and done that." Sergeant York is truly a classic you'll want to watch again and again. I'm only shocked and disappointed they didn't release this in COLOR!!
Conflict of conscience over duty and honor are in the spotlight here. Cooper subtle as ever turns in a brilliant performance as he operates on the fringe of his beliefs but must ultimately confront them. Anthony Perkins turns in one of his best performances as the son distracted by wayward thoughts of glory on the battlefield contradictory to his religious beliefs. The score by Dimitri Tiomkin is lively, affectionate and moving while the cinematography is very effective visually tender giving the viewer a wide range of colors creating great atmosphere. This is a classic.
More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Gary Cooper - Dorothy McGuire Director(s): William Wyler DVD Release Date: Released the 05 December 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier in World War II, enjoyed a Hollywood acting career after the fight. In this 1955 autobiographical film, however, he plays himself re-creating his own actions and movements in key battles. As strange as this project might have seemed to him at the time, the results are pretty impressive. The film, despite a flat script, is really a pretty good war drama about Murphy and his buddies making their way from North Africa to Berlin. --Tom KeoghMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Audie Murphy - Marshall Thompson Director(s): Jesse Hibbs DVD Release Date: Released the 25 May 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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