Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

weezeralfalfa Reported to be Gary Cooper's favorite film role, and probably mine as well. In the charisma department, he is abetted by the presence of Walter Brennan, made up to look older than his 47 years. Brennan plays the local parson and store keeper for this rustic community of farmers. He appears to be one of the few of this community who has had significant "book larnin'". Periodically, he showed up to discuss Alvin's problems and philosophy relating to religion and violence.Margaret Wycherly plays Alvin's aged widowed mother, with big soulful eyes, mostly silent and slow to move around. She would play Ma Forrester 5 years later, in "The Yearling" : a very similar type of role, in another rustic setting. Both Brennan and Margaret would receive Best Supporting Actor nominations for their performances in this film. Incidentally, Clem Bevans, who played the minor character of Zeke, would play Pa Forrester in "The Yearling": a very distinctive character.Ex-Little Rascal Dickie Moore played Alvin's kid brother, George. He was the same age as Joan Leslie, who played Alvin's girlfriend and future wife, Gracie. Thus, based purely upon age, George and Gracie seemed a much more likely couple than Alvin and Gracie. 40 year old Cooper came across as more appropriate as her father. Joan was the same age as the real Gracie at this time. The real Alvin was 30: a much more common age spread than the 24 years spread between Cooper and Joan. In those days, a young man often had to wait until he was 25-30 or so before he had the financial means to support a family. In Alvin's case, he also was the sole support of his mother and young siblings. Also, in those days, rural women often were worn out before their time, birthing babies, along with their many indoor and outdoor chores. When looking for a replacement wife, a man often looked for a young woman who was looking for security.The balance between Alvin's civilian and military lives I though was about right. This is not primarily a war movie, although Alvin's fame derived from one war incident, in which he along with 7 privates captured 132 Germans, along with killing a bunch. I thought the battle scenes in recreating this accomplishment were well done. The dismal trench warfare of the western front cried out for a few publicized heros. Alvin wanted to forget about the war as soon as possible, saying he wasn't especially proud of what he had done over there. It was just a job, to reduce the killing. To have cut short his civilian life would have much reduced the general appeal of the film. Like the later "The Yearling", it gives a somewhat authentic snapshot of a segment of Americana early in the 20th century that most urban people had never encountered. York made various demands upon his agreement to sell the rights to his story. Firstly, his share of the profits would go to a bible school. Also, the actress who portrayed his wife must be wholesome, a non-smoker and non-drinker. Third, the screenplay must depict both the good and bad in his character. Fourth, Gary Cooper must play him. In fact, Cooper initially declined the role, and was only persuaded to accept it after meeting Alvin. Alvin had been subjected to repeated pleas to film his life since just after the war. It was only the beginning of WWII that induced him to agree. The Warners were vehemently anti-fascist and anti-communist. I have proposed elsewhere that several Warner-produced Errol Flynn films in the late '30s and 1940 likely had an intended anti-fascist subliminal message. Beginning in '41, this was transformed into 2 flag-waving biops relating the WWI, intended to promote acceptance of the eventual necessity of a formal entry of the US into the war. The other such film was "Yankee Doodle Dandy", released the following year. Warner later produced several musicals that were also blatant war propaganda films. This includes "This is the Army", "Thank Your Lucky Stars" and "Hollywood Canteen". They also released a number of WWII-related Errol Flynn war films during the war, along with "Casablanca".The present film and 'Yankee Doodle Dandy" share a number of similarities besides being nostalgic biop flag-wavers. Joan Leslie was the leading lady in both. Cooper and Cagney were both 40 or so, thus much older than the subjects they represented as well as the 16-17 year old Joan. Both were more than 2 hours long(too long for some, but I didn't think so), about 30 min longer than most feature films. Both were either the top or near top box office earners of the year. In both, the flag-waving aspect was diluted by copious time devoted to other matters.My title is taken from the last line in the film

SimonJack Many others have commented on this movie, the plot, the casting, and the character of Sgt. Alvin York. I noticed some things that hadn't been mentioned, and a couple that may be misunderstood. So, I'll try not to repeat what others have mentioned, but instead offer more details about the man and the movie from biographical sources. The film, "Sergeant York," is a number of things rolled into one very fine production. It's a story of a poor backwoods people, and one of their own who rose to fame without seeking it. It's a story about conversion, faith, and pacifism. It's a story about war, and a man who became a hero unwittingly. In one encounter in WWI, he killed 23 German soldiers and captured 132 more, single-handedly. He did that only to stop the killing of his friends and others. And, after the war, he walked away from many commercial offers that would have made him rich. He said his faith wouldn't let him profit from the killing of men. Truly, he was a remarkable person. But he didn't start out that way.Alvin York came from "the Valley of the three forks of the Wolf River." He was born on December 13, 1887 in Pall Mall, Tennessee, a stone's throw from the Kentucky border on the Appalachian Plateau. He was the third oldest of 11 children. His two older brothers had married and moved away, and he was the main breadwinner for the younger siblings still at home with his mother after his father's death in 1911. York worked in railroad construction, as a logger, and in other skilled jobs while maintaining the family farm. He also was a heavy drinker who would get in brawls and wind up in jail. And, he attended his mother's church regularly, and often led the singling. At one of the meetings of the Church of Christ in Christian Union, he had a profound spiritual experience and conversion. He was 27 on Jan. 1, 1915, when he changed his ways. He quit drinking and brawling, made amends to neighbors and began to live by the Bible as he learned and studied it. The Warner Brothers movie made some changes in York's background, but kept very close to his general story and events. The movie was a long- time in the making by producer Jesse Lasky. He was at the New York ticker tape parade for Sgt. York when he returned home from the war in May 1919. He wanted to make a movie and for 20 years sought York's OK to tell his story. York turned him down several times until the eve of WWII. York saw the divisiveness in the U.S. over the war looming in Europe. A second DVD that came with my movie DVD has two special documentaries. "Sergeant York: Of God and Country," is a very good one that tells the long story about the making of the film. Some encyclopedia references give more details about York's post-war years. When he agreed to having his story told, York initially wanted it to cover just his post-war years. He didn't want to glorify the killing of Germans. But the growing threat of Nazism in Europe, and the treachery it already led to in Germany, changed York's mind. He saw the strident isolationist movement was backed by numerous Nazi groups within the U.S. So, he began to speak out about the need to prepare and to fight a war against tyranny. York also insisted that Gary Cooper play him. Cooper had initially declined, and the bonus special has more details about that. A week after he returned home to Tennessee after the war, York married his sweetheart, Gracie Williams, on June 7, 1919. They were married by the governor of Tennessee in their hometown of Pall Mall. The farm given him in the movie came from a public fund-raising led by the Rotary Club in Nashville. It had 400 acres with a home that wasn't quite fully furnished. It was the only outright gift that York accepted. York established a foundation for education and devoted himself to community betterment campaigns. He got the first highway built into his hometown. He had financial setbacks as well. But, once he befriended Jesse Lasky and Harry Warner, and he agreed to have the movie made, his fortunes turned around for the remainder of his life. He became friends with Gary Cooper and others, with whom he stayed in contact over the years. Alvin York was a tall, strapping man. He was every bit as handsome as Cooper, but somewhat different. He had a mustache and a head of full, bushy hair. Photos show his humor and good nature. While he might be quiet at times, he was very gregarious and loved to talk with people. In the documentary, a neighbor and close friend is quoted as saying York "could talk the husk off an ear of corn." York thought the movie was very good and that it told his story accurately and sensitively. The movie was a blockbuster for Warner Brothers when it came out. Isolationists in Congress accused the studio of violating the Neutrality Act, which it sure seemed to do. They, as do some viewers today, see the film as propaganda, to encourage U.S. intervention in WWII. Of course it is propaganda. How could such a story not be propaganda when released at that time? But it started as an effort to tell the story of a bona fide hero from WWI, whose story had not yet been done. And, who had been pursued for the story for 20 years. That Alvin York finally agreed to the telling of his story on the very eve of WWII, was fortuitous. Or did providence have a hand as well?

Superhanz Of course behind the blatant war propaganda and shameless just-converted preacher's talk, in the end, what the producers wanted was making money. Hence the hodge-podge of other things they throw into their concoction: romance, a strong-minded matriarch (but not even close to Ma Joad from "The Grapes of Wrath") rivalry, et al - which made them end up with a movie which might as well have been two or three different ones (talk about bad editing!)and, as I mentioned on the title, it ends up not achieving one of them skillfully enough to be taken seriously. After all, I dare even the most hard-core fan/advocate of this movie not to admit even they were wondering by the end of its second third, whether they were watching the right movie or not or when the war bit was actually going to start and how! The question "When is the sergeant finally taking over?" was constantly at the back of my mind by then.To mention a few flaws, and as much as I am a huge fan of, say Screwball comedy and the odd romance threw in, and still a great admirer of Hawks's, I fail to understand how on earth it could amass so many academy awards in spite of the gigantic competition that year (Citizen Kane et al).Maybe Gary Cooper, as usual, deserved his statuette in the end, as the truly convincing redneck simpleton who always goes about life with a naive look on his face (Mr. Deeds, anyone?). Also (and this is still the huge Howard Hawks fan speaking) the director/writers were just trying to be faithful to the book. As I can't vouch for it simply because I didn't read it, I'll have to quote someone else's review when they say this was a blatant case of an autobiography in which the author seemed to give more emphasis to promoting his deeds and achievements than actually worrying about whether his book would be a pleasant read or not. I very much doubt that Rambo-like scene actually happened that way! As far as my weak war tactics knowledge go, they threw it all through the window in that particular scene!But the film editing award!? Come on! Does the war effort really put people so out of their minds!? Do they suddenly start awarding people for simply saying what they want the population to hear and ignoring the great minds who don't comply to all that brain washing!?Finally, making war look like a turkey shooting (and fun!) wasn't IMHO a wise move. After watching this faux-pas I'm in desperate need of watching more sober films such as "Citizen Kane"; "All Quiet in The Western Front" for what a real WWI movie should look like, or even Hawks's sublime Screwball masterpiece "Bringing Up Baby" for laughs only, not an all-in- one concoction of a movie! PS: For Christ's sake, sharpshooters are meant to do just that in the trenches, not just chatting about between ducking here and there!

dapplez There are movies that you can barely remember hours after watching them, and there are movies you can't forget even years later. Sergeant York is the later. The movie remains etched in my mind and heart.It is a story clearly told, yet not oversimplified, with characters boldly drawn, yet not caricatured, at least not the main ones. It would be a great story even if it were not true, but it is true, at least in the main. York's conversion by a lightning bolt striking his rifle is fiction, though his heavy drinking, fighting and ultimate conversion are not. So the lightning is cinematic device to shorten the process, and a brilliant one.Those who talk about it as a war story (and who complain the first part is boring) miss why this film is so great. It is also a love story and a story of family. Joan Leslie is heartbreakingly sweet and lovely as Gracie Williams. We can feel the chemistry, and see that she is a force for good in Alvin's life, who was 30 when he was drafted.Leslie's portrayal of Gracie is so full of life and youth and charm. Compare that with Margaret Wycherly's portrayal of Mother York, who is old, tired, dessicated of emotion. Yet she is full of wisdom, of understanding Alvin's passion for Gracie. In her eyes, you can see her thinking back to when she was once Gracie, in her long ago youth. It is a silent, motionless look, plumbing the depths of memory -- a master actress's use of silence.I think most viewers take Wycherly's performance for granted, perhaps assuming we are seeing the real Wycherly. Yet she was born in London in 1881 to a father who was a doctor -- far from the poverty of Pall Mall, Tennessee -- and had been mainly a British stage and film actress. Nevertheless, those who knew the real Mother York say Wycherly's portrayal was spot on. Now that is real acting.It is curious that this is the role that earned Gary Cooper his first Oscar. We, the modern viewer, have seen that Aw Shucks persona many times. But apparently it fit the real Alvin York, who insisted on Cooper playing him on screen, and was present for the movie's premiere. You can read about Alvin York online, on Wikipedia and on Gutenberg.org, which has a 1920s biography online. In the quotes of the actual Alvin York, you can easily hear Gary Cooper's voice.Henry Fonda was considered for the role, and matched York's looks more closely. But he was only a few years younger than Cooper, so it wouldn't have helped much with the Gracie-York match up. I think he could have done the role, but Cooper's fit was right and almost magical. Modesty was the hallmark of York, and Cooper had it down, far more than Fonda. Frankly, I don't notice the age thing when I watch it; it's a movie and you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief up to a point. Besides, people who work hard outside tend to look older, especially if they don't have much to eat.The scene where the family sits down to dinner and Mother York proudly presents the bag of salt is so beautiful. She reminds me of a stray mother cat who will do anything to protect and feed her children, even to the point of starvation or death, herself. And when I buy salt, I sometimes think about this, and how lucky I am.As to the portrayal of "hillbillies," we must remember that this was an extremely rural mountain area with no road coming in -- the real Alvin pushed the state to build one after the war -- and it was nearly a century ago. People were different. There was little schooling, too, and the real Alvin later raised funds to build a school. While we see Alvin drinking and fighting, we also see hard working, intelligent, gentle people with nice homes, so I don't see any stereotyping here.As to the war, yes, the story is true. You can read about it yourself. And it provides a great lesson we should continue to remember today and in the future: The only justification for killing people in war (aside from self defense) is to end the killing and end war. That is what was in York's mind, and he says so, to stop the killing. York was a pacifist at heart. Killing the enemy out of anger, hatred, retaliation or revenge was not in his mind, and should not be in the mind of any soldier. When this happens, it corrodes the soul of the soldier, so that he can no longer feel like a normal human being.It was also probably what was on the minds of thousands of Americans who enlisted after seeing this movie, which was released months before America actually entered the war following Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. By then, the war had already been raging for two years, and America's entry was consistent with York's hope of helping to bring the fighting to an end.York didn't lose his feeling for his fellow man. I found this item from the IMDb trivia section interesting: "Alvin York himself was on the set for a few days during filming. When one of the crew members tactlessly asked him how many "Jerries" he had killed, York started sobbing so vehemently he threw up. The crew member was nearly fired, but the next day, York demanded that he keep his job."While the attack he lead killed 28 German soldiers, he also captured 132, saving their lives.