Sergeant York

Sergeant York (1941)

Timing: 2:14 (134 min)

7.219/10
196

6.969/10
848

7.7/10
21000

All about film

Video 2

Photo 11

Actors and characters

Release date

1941-09-27

Country

United States

Production

Warner Bros. Pictures

Genre

History, War, Drama

Budget

$1 400 000

Revenue

$16 361 885

Website

Director

Howard Hawks

Actors

Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Stanley Ridges, Margaret Wycherly, Ward Bond, Noah Beery Jr., June Lockhart, Dickie Moore
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Alvin C. York

Producer

Hal B. Wallis, Howard Hawks, Jesse L. Lasky

Operator

Sol Polito

Composer

Max Steiner

Artist

Audition

Editing

William Holmes
All team (38)

• The film depicts York as the eldest of three children. In reality, he was the third of eleven children.
• In the film, York became a Christian after being struck by lightning while riding a mule. However, some say he did so to please his mother. Others say he did so to impress his future wife, Gracie Williams.
• The film shows that when York returned to his homeland, to a new home and land, it was gifted to him by the people of the state of Tennessee. In reality, York had a home and wife several years before the state gave him new farms.
• Producer Jesse Lasky, who saw York in the Armistice Day parade in 1919, spent years persuading the modest Tennessean to allow a film about his life to be made. He finally secured York’s consent on the condition that his share of the money would go to charity and that Gary Cooper would play him. The actor initially refused, but changed his mind after visiting York. Warner Brothers hoped Michael Curtiz would direct, but Cooper refused to work with him, and when several other directors declined the project, it was offered to Howard Hawks.
• The screenplay drew on 'Sgt. York's Military Diary,' Sam K. Cowan’s 'Sgt. York and His Family,' and Tom Skeyhill’s 'Sgt. York—Last of the Long Hunters.'
• In 2008, the film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry.
• Producer Jesse L. Lasky, who saw York in the Armistice Day parade in 1919, spent years persuading the modest Tennessean to allow a film about his life to be made. He finally secured York’s consent on the condition that his share of the money go to charity and that Gary Cooper play him. The actor initially refused, but changed his mind after visiting York. Warner Brothers hoped Michael Curtiz would direct, but Cooper didn't want to work with him, and when several other directors turned down the project, it was offered to Howard Hawks.
• Alvin S. York himself was present on the set for several days. When someone on the crew tactlessly asked York how many Germans he had killed, he burst into tears and suddenly vomited. A scandal erupted, and the person who asked the question faced dismissal, but the next day York demanded that this crew member be left alone and not fired.
• Gary Cooper did not participate in World War II due to his age and a previous injury. The actor considered filming this movie to be his contribution to the victory.
• The scene of the protagonist's spiritual transformation after being struck by lightning was invented by the screenwriters. In reality, York owed his transformation from a reckless, drinking man into a Sunday school teacher to his wife. This process was much longer, less dramatic, and not at all suitable for the cinema.
• During the filming of this movie, public opinion in the United States was strongly isolationist, and Warner Bros. initially feared that the audience would react coldly to the film's military message. Producer Jesse L. Lasky went to great lengths to avoid presenting the film as a war movie. By the time the film was released, Adolf Hitler had already captured almost all of Europe, and public attitudes toward the war had changed significantly, so all fears proved unfounded.
• The film proved to be very accurate from a historical point of view, largely due to the studio's fear of being sued. Historical accuracy was strongly insisted upon by York himself, some townspeople from Tennessee, and the pastor.
• Producer Jesse L. Lasky, who saw York in the Armistice Day parade in 1919, spent years persuading the modest Tennessean to allow a film about his life to be made. He finally obtained York’s consent on the condition that his share of the money go to charity and that Gary Cooper play him. The actor initially refused, but changed his mind after visiting York. "Warner Brothers" hoped that Michael Curtiz would direct, but Cooper didn’t want to work with him, and when several other directors didn’t take on the project, it was offered to Howard Hawks.