There are many movies that show American spirit. There are five that stand out. They are Bad Day at Black Rock, Apollo 13, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, SergeantYork and The Alamo. Other than the theme running through them, they feature quality acting and filmmaking. Some of America’s most famous actors are included, in these films. All of the lead actors, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Tom Hanks, Spencer Tracy and James Stewart; won an academy award. Three of the actors, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks won more than once. These films were put together by people who made films an art, like Frank Capra and Howard Hawks. Three of the films are based on real events, Apollo 13, Sgt.York and The Alamo. All of them show courage and some humility. Here are the five movies.
5.Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
Spencer Tracy was an actor who did it all, comedy, drama, westerns and horror. He is great in this movie. He plays John J. Macreedy, a one armed World War II veteran. He has come to the town of Black Rock, Arizona, looking for a man named Kumoko. He is the father of Joe Kumoko, who was killed in Italy, while saving Macreedy’s life. He’s come to give Joe’s posthumous medal to the father. While asking questions, Macreedy encounters hostility and even an attempt on his life. The main reason is the town is hiding a secret, which they want to stay buried. The hostile townsfolk haven’t counted on a man intent on a mission, who won’t be threatened or intimidated. This is patently obvious when Tracy’s character encounters Coley Trimble, (Ernest Borgnine) who’s been menacing Macreedy. He throws Trimble facedown on the bar, explaining he won’t be stopped from his mission. This film shows Tracy going around kicking butt and taking names, and finding out the town’s secret, which involves corruption and evil. It is a solid performance by Spencer Tracy, which should not be missed.
4.Apollo 13 (1995)
This story of three brave astronauts, Jim Lovell, (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise, (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert, (Kevin Bacon), could have been an American tragedy. It fortunately wasn’t. This was, to use a Shakespeare phrase, because they were made of sterner stuff. It is also because of the efforts of mission control in Houston, led by Gene Kranz, (Ed Harris). It is a gripping tale of deep emotion. Lovell, Haise and Swigert, show their delight of going to the moon. The astronauts, while in space broadcast to earth, how much fun they’re having. Their joy is turned into fear, frustration and anger; when an oxygen tank explodes, two days into their mission. This derails their mission, and puts them in grave danger. It is edge of the seat suspense, and the audience gets to feel the fear of the message, Houston, we have a problem. One of the persons trying to help the astronauts, is Ken Mattingly, (Gary Sinise). Mattingly was originally supposed to be part of the Apollo 13 mission, but was replaced, when he came down with measles. Sinise’s character puts aside his hurt feelings; because the mission went forward without him. He works on solutions, in the flight simulator, and gets back to Gene Kranz. Everything is relayed to the astronauts, so they can return.
Ron Howard directed this film, and has given the feel of being confined, and trapped in space. He also shows the disappointment of Ken Mattingly, by focusing on him, when Jim Lovell explains that the mission is going without him. It is not easy directing a film, even if it’s a true story. This fact sometimes makes it harder, because the film will be judged harshly, if it isn’t accurate. Howard has strived for accuracy, with this movie, and achieved it. He has also told a taut tale, showing what Americans can do in a life and death situation. Ron Howard’s depiction of courage and American ingenuity, make Apollo 13, an inspiring film about America’s space age.
3.Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
James Stewart stars in this Frank Capra directed film. It’s focus is on Jefferson Smith, (James Stewart), a freshman senator, with ideals and moral character. He is in great contrast, to Senator Joseph Paine, (Claude Rains), his mentor and friend; who is connected to a political boss, Jim Taylor, (Edward Arnold). Jefferson Smith naively believes that good ideas and ideals, are universally accepted. He finds out a harsh truth very quickly. Smith wants a national boys camp in his home state. It’s a nice idea, except the land he proposes for the camp, is scheduled for a dam. The dam is a money making scheme for Jim Taylor. He immediately sets out to derail Smith’s idea, with the help of Senator Paine. This doesn’t work, and the good senator goes ahead with his project. He is helped by Saunders, a reporter. Jean Arthur, a very underrated actress plays Saunders quite well. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, shows why James Stewart was one of Hollywood’s finest actors.
Frank Capra had a gift for showing the little guy fighting for what he believes. This movie shows Jefferson Smith not as a politician, but as an idealist, willing to challenge the opposition, no matter the cost. He has great imagery, showing Smith’s arrival in Washington. The newly appointed senator is shown riding in a cab, marveling at the beauty of the nation’s capital. He is in awe of the Lincoln Memorial. This is made even clearer, when a boy reading The Gettysburg Address, is helped by an adult, who knows it by heart. There is the conversation between Saunders and Smith; a contrast from the bickering and confusion, the senator has encountered. There is the note passed by Saunders to Smith, during the filibuster. She relays her feelings, and Smith acknowledges his.There is also the focus of Smith’s face during the filibuster. Capra has with his directing skill, succeeded in giving movie lovers a film, that lifts up spirits. He also shows that an American’s ideals and beliefs are worth the good fight.
2.SergeantYork (1941)
Gary Cooper played many heroes on the big screen. He plays in the Howard Hawks film, SergeantYork, a real life hero. Cooper won his first academy award for his portrayal of Alvin York, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner in World War I. It is great to watch York’s transition from an irresponsible farm boy to a hero on the battlefield. The great story is he found the lord before he went to war, and was a conscientious objector, because he didn’t want to kill. There is a powerful moment when York is denied his status, and his friend Pastor Rosier Pyle, (Walter Brennan) counsels him. Brennan appeared in many films with Gary Cooper, mostly adding comic relief, but not in this one. Brennan at one point, was making more money than Cooper. York, a crack shot at home, does no less in the army. He tells the C/O that he can’t kill people. York is told to take a brief leave, and go home. He is given a book on American history to read. It is powerful imagery, by Howard Hawks, when York is reading his book on a mountaintop, from dawn to dusk. Alvin York comes back ready to fight. He does this very well, risking his life taking out a German machine gun nest, and taking over a 130 German soldiers prisoner. The imagery of war is powerful, with York losing one of his friends, Pusher Pyle, (George Tobias). Gary Cooper has done something that is hard to do: portray a person who is a true American hero.
It is hard for Hollywood to do biographies well. It is even more difficult to portray an heroic figure like Sergeant Alvin York. The dream factory has done a fine job with this biography. The direction of Howard Hawks, has helped. It shows why he had such a long, varied and successful career. It is surprising that Hawks did not win for his great effort on this picture. He lost out to John Ford, who told Hawks, that he should have won. Sergeant York should have won for best picture, but didn’t. It does not take away from the film’s portrayal of a great American. Everyone should see this movie about answering your country’s call, and bravery.
1.The Alamo (1960)
John Wayne was a hero to many, onscreen and off. His dream was to make a movie about his hero, Davy Crockett. This was a long delayed film project, which he finally completed in 1960. He used much of the money he made in Hollywood to finance the film. It took much negotiation, with the studio, and a belief, that the film was worth the cost and effort. John Wayne went ahead with his dream, despite the objections of friends and financial advisers.
The Alamo had one of the most gifted screenwriters, in Hollywood, to tell the tale, in James Grant. He developed other scripts for Wayne, among them Hondo. It has intelligent dialogue among the principles, who are in a no win situation. John Wayne is the star, but the other actors, Richard Widmark and Lawrence Harvey aren’t overshadowed by Wayne’s Crockett. That is because the script allows them to become three dimensional characters, who bicker over command, and other things.
John Wayne has successfully brought his hero Davy Crockett to life in this film. His many years of quality acting helped him in this role. Richard Widmark as Col. Jim Bowie and Lawrence Harvey as Colonel William Barret Travis, help to give this film a human face. The two bicker throughout the film, over command. They do agree that The Alamo is the last line of defense against the Mexican army.
The Alamo shows the heroism of people defending freedom. In this case, the newly formed Texas republic. The defenders have settled in, for a long siege. They are waiting for Gen. Sam Houston, (Richard Boone), to get there with more troops. Unfortunately they don’t get there on time. Gen. Santa Anna and his army breach the defenses. Everyone is killed, with the dramatic deaths of Crockett, Bowie and Travis shown. Davy Crockett is shown blowing up a magazine, taking more than a few of the enemy with him to the great beyond. The lone survivors are Mrs. Dickinson, her daughter and a boy. They are allowed to leave by Santa Anna on a burrow. They come across Smitty, who left to deliver a message, to Sam Houston, and sees the tragic scene.
The tragic, but heroic story of the Alamo, could not be told without John Wayne’s persistence. He not only acted in the movie, but directed it as well. He only directed five movies, and only two where he was involved from beginning to end. Even though The Alamo wasn’t critically acclaimed when it was released, it is a well done movie. This is due to John Wayne’s involvement in bringing a great tale of American sacrifice for liberty to life.
These five films, Bad Day at Black Rock, Apollo 13, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Sergeant York and The Alamo, show the American spirit at its finest. They show determination to do the right thing, teamwork for a goal, idealism, heroism and self sacrifice. All of the stars are screen legends. Two of the stars, Gary Cooper and John Wayne were staunch defenders of the American way of life. John Wayne is not only is a movie icon, but defines America’s story. He grew up poor, but worked hard, becoming a top star for decades. He also formed a production company, that kept westerns going and actors working. James Stewart was a real life American hero. He was a decorated bomber pilot over Europe, and retired a general in The Air Force reserves. Tom Hanks has played many heroes, and is a beloved American actor: a difficult, nearly impossible feat today. Spencer Tracy was always working throughout his career, and could play any character. These actors not only played in these films, but their roles, perfectly suited them now and today.