Sergeant York

UPC: 012569793750

Studio: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Mild Violence, War Violence]

Summary: When World War I hero Alvin York agreed to sell the movie rights to his life story to Warner Bros., it was on three conditions: (1) That the film contains no phony heroics, (2) that Mrs.York not be played by a Hollywood "glamour girl" and (3) That Gary Cooper portray York on screen. All three conditions were met, and the result is one of the finest and most inspirational biographies ever committed to celluloid. When the audience first meets young farmer Alvin York (Cooper), he's the cussin'est, hell-raisin'est critter in the entire Tennessee Valley. All of this changes when York is struck by lighting during a late-night rainstorm. Chalking up the bolt from the blue as a message from God, York does a complete about-face and finds Religion, much to the delight of local preacher Rosier Pile (Walter Brennan). Despite plenty of provocation, York vows never to get angry at anyone ever again, determining to be a good husband and provider for his sweetheart Gracie Williams (Joan Leslie). When America goes to war in 1917, York elects not to answer the call when drafted, declaring himself a conscientious objector. Forced to go to boot camp, he proves himself a born leader, yet still he balks at the thought of killing anyone. York's understanding commanding officer Major Buxton (Stanley Ridges) slowly convinces the young pacifist that violence is sometimes the only way to defend Democracy. Later on, while serving with the AEF in the Argonne Forest, Sergeant York sees several of his buddies, including his Bronxite best pal Pusher Ross (George Tobias), killed in an enemy ambush. His anger aroused, York personally kills 25 German soldiers, then single-handedly captures 132 prisoners. As a result, York becomes the most decorated hero of WW1, celebrated by no less than General John J. Pershing as "the greatest civilian soldier" of the war. The film won Gary Cooper his first Academy Award, and also picked up an Oscar for Best Film Editing. Not surprisingly, it ended up as the highest-grossing film of 1941. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: War

Awards: Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Director – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Editing – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Dramatic Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Supporting Actress – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Acting – National Board of Review Best Actor – New York Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 10 Best Films – New York Times 10 Best Films – Film Daily

Features: Commentary by film historian Jeanine Basinger
2 insightful documentaries: new making-of featurette Sergeant York: Of God and Country and vintage biographical profile Gary Cooper: American Life, American Legend
Classic cartoon Porky's Preview
Vintage short Lions for Sale
Gary Cooper movies trailer gallery
Languages: English & Fran?ais
Subtitles: English, Fran?ais & Espa?ol (feature film only)

Sergeant York

Format: DVD

Release Date: 11/07/2006

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: DD1 Dolby Digital Mono

Runtime: 134 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Sergeant York: Feature Film
1. Credits and Dedication [1:39]
2. Mighty Good Shootin' [5:06]
3. What War? [3:23]
4. No Excuses [2:37]
5. Ma Wants You [5:34]
6. How Religion Comes [5:17]
7. Nobody But Gracie [3:08]
8. Courtin' Call [4:48]
9. Nothing I Can't Get [4:43]
10. Sweat for Bottomland [6:16]
11. Four-Day Extension [3:12]
12. Straightest Shooter [5:20]
13. Prize Not Landed [3:15]
14. Lightning Strike [3:49]
15. Help of the Lord [5:39]
16. Draft Board Appeal [4:14]
17. Not Exempt [3:26]
18. Off to War [2:58]
19. Camp Gordon [4:22]
20. Bull's Eye [4:32]
21. Another Good Book [6:49]
22. God and Country [5:16]
23. Death up Close [3:23]
24. October 8, 1918 [4:41]
25. Outflanking the Germans [2:19]
26. Machine Gun Nest [4:27]
27. Pusher Changes Cars [1:27]
28. York's Prisoners [5:15]
29. To Save Lives [3:29]
30. Honors for a Hero [5:34]
31. Homecoming [3:40]
32. Tennessee's Gift [3:18]
33. Cast List [:47]
Disc #2 -- Sergeant York: Special Features-
1. Introduction and Credits [2:29]
2. Westerner and Little Boy [3:47]
3. Romantic Figure [4:41]
4. Common Man [4:57]
5. Deeds, Doe and York [4:44]
6. Unexpected Heroes [6:03]
7. Playing Innocent [3:24]
8. The Fountainhead [2:56]
9. High Noon [3:49]
10. From Outsider to Charmer [3:12]
11. Vanished World [5:26]
12. End Credits [:38]

Richard Gilliam

Sergeant York is among the best of war-time propaganda films, with a superb performance by Gary Cooper in the title role. It was natural that, as the United States entered World War II, Hollywood would want to make a movie about the life of Alvin York, the most decorated U.S. soldier in World War I. The real-life York set several conditions for the production, all to the betterment of the resulting film. It is a tribute to the skills of director Howard Hawks that, removed from its historical context, Sergeant York remains one of the most powerful screen biographies, though it perhaps falls short when compared with the realism of such later war-bios as Patton. The battle sequences, edited by William Holmes, are usually sharp, and Cooper gives one of the most memorable performances of his outstanding career. Sergeant York was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning two, Cooper for Best Actor and Homes for Best Film Editing. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Donald Douglas  Actor 
Joseph W. Girard  Actor 
Edward Keane  Actor 
Charles B. Middleton  Actor 
Gig Young  Actor 
James Anderson  Actor 
Lane Chandler  Actor 
Roland Drew  Actor 
William Haade  Actor 
Rita La Roy  Actor 
Theodore Von Eltz  Actor 
Frank Orth  Actor 
Howard Da Silva  Actor 
Selmar Jackson  Actor 
Tully Marshall  Actor 
Kay Sutton  Actor 
Douglas Wood  Actor 
Elisha Cook, Jr.  Actor 
Frank Faylen  Actor 
Russell Hicks  Actor 
Walter Sande  Actor 
Frank Wilcox  Actor 
Jane Isbell  Actor 
Arthur Aylesworth  Actor 
Clyde Cook  Actor 
Creighton Hale  Actor 
Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton  Actor 
Lee "Lasses" White  Actor 
Lucia Carroll  Actor 
Charles Drake  Actor 
Kit Guard  Actor 
Victor Kilian  Actor 
Charles Trowbridge  Actor 
Jack Pennick  Actor 
Murray Alper  Actor 
Abe Finkel  Actor 
George Irving  Actor 
Frank Marlowe  Actor 
Guy Wilkerson  Actor 
Jean del Val  Actor 
Jo Gilbert  Actor 
Si Jenks  Actor 
Frank McGlynn, Sr.  Actor 
Ray Teal  Actor 
Harry Chandlee  Screenwriter 
Abem Finkel  Screenwriter 
Howard Hawks  Director 
Howard Hawks  Producer 
John Huston  Screenwriter 
Jesse Lasky  Producer 
Max Steiner  Composer (Music Score) 
Hal B. Wallis  Producer 
Howard Koch  Screenwriter 
Gary Cooper  Actor 
Walter Brennan  Actor 
Joan Leslie  Actor 
Ward Bond  Actor 
Stanley Ridges  Actor 
Margaret Wycherly  Actor 
George Tobias  Actor 
Noah Beery, Jr.  Actor 
June Lockhart  Actor 
Dickie Moore  Actor 
Clem Bevans  Actor 
Harvey Stephens  Actor 
David Bruce  Actor 
Charles Esmond  Actor 
Joe Sawyer  Actor 
Pat Flaherty  Actor 
Robert Porterfield  Actor 
Erville Alderson  Actor 

Country: USA