SERGEANT YORK [1941] A retro reveiw by: Richard Matich I once thought of Sergeant York as a great movie. I now think its just a good movie. I have every right to change my mind, especialy when I think I have been wrong about an opinion or an idea. I try to keep an open mind. Why is this film so heavily regarded by some? You must put the film into the proper historical context. It opened to a world on the brink of war [WWII]. Some in the country were nuetral. Some,
however, knew a fight with Germany, Italy, and Japan was just a matter of time. Now that we have established the time of the film's release, we can review the story itself. Classic film "good guy" Gary Cooper is exellent as the backwoods hero Alvin York. York became one the greatest war heros of all time. The Collin Powell, or Dwight Eisenhower type of "living legend" of his day. A simple man thrust by circumstances beyond his control into heroic actions. York saved the lives of his fellow comrads in the
first world war, and also managed to capture enemy soldiers. But the film over simplifies York's story. All the action of valor happens much to quickly to seem real, and there is little payoff from it. The movie ends without the rousing finnish I expected. What had I hoped to see before the end? I still do'nt know. I might never come up with an answer to that question. Cooper plays York well enough though. He even
made me respect his charecter York's not wanting to fight because it would sacrafice his princibles of kindness and passifism. Alvin York was never a man cut out to be a soldier, and yet the ironic twist comes when he becomes the big hero. Somewhat, however, I question the truthfulness about the York story. The Sergeant himself was part of the making of the movie. He helped with the realism of the
events. I'll bet he did! I believe he could be accused by some of "suger coating" his life for the silver screen. Would'nt somebody you know do the same thing? Remember that film is forever! My theory about the movie's realism may never be proven [or be true at all], yet the movie rings false. Very false! Perhaps that is my problem with the "payoff" I was illuding to. Howard Hawkes directed, and its not his best directing by a long shot!
We were clamouring for heroism and patriotism at that tumultous time in our history. I just wish we had clamoured for a piece of our collective history that was beyond resonable doubt about its actually having happened.
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