There are countless movies made about heroes. The film, SergeantYork, is about Alvin York, a Medal of Honor winner. He is portrayed by the first true hero of sound films, Gary Cooper. He deservedly won an Oscar, for his portrayal. He is given support by Walter Brennan; a staple in many of Cooper’s films. Brennan plays York’s pastor, Rosier Pile. It is one of Brennan’s best performances.
Howard Hawks gets the mood of the film right. He shows York’s small home in Tennessee. It is a peaceful town with people going about their lives. They go to the general store to pick up a paper, with old news. There are discussions about the war in Europe, coming ever closer to American shores. The townsfolk finally read the news, about America entering the war. It affects many people, especially Alvin York. He was a lost soul. He would drink and cause trouble. He received a message, while on mission to do harm, to a man who cheated him out of land. He is knocked from his horse, after a lightning strike. His rifle, is destroyed by the lightning. This divine intervention, changes Alvin York. He becomes a God fearing man, joining Pastor Pile’s church. He is drafted, and declares himself to be a conscientious objector. He is turned down, by the draft board, and reports for induction into the army.
York, while training, shows prowess as a marksman. He thinks nothing of it. He developed his skills hunting wild game. Sgt. York’s commanding officer, Major Buxton, (Stanley Ridges), helps him with his beliefs. The major gives York a book on American history. He tells him to take a short leave, and read it. In one of the best scenes in the movie, we see York reading from dawn to dusk, on a mountaintop. It is a tribute to Howard Hawks skill, that it works.York goes back to his unit, convinced by the major, and the lessons in the book. It gives him the strength to fight against the enemy, for the greater good. He fights well, and sees death come to his friend (Pusher Ross), George Tobias. York, realizing his unit faces peril with a machine gun nest, charges it. He disables it, and manages to capture nearly 150 German soldiers. It is this unselfish, and unquestionably heroic action, that earns York, The Congressional Medal of Honor. He is hailed as a hero, and comes home to his family. He tells his mother, (Margaret Wycherley), in an emotional scene that he came back. York also comes back to his love, Gracie Williams,(Joan Leslie). Margaret Wycherley was nominated for an academy award for her role, playing Mother York. Her character never waivers from her belief, that Alvin York is a good and decent man.
Sergeant York works well as a film because it shows life in peace and war. It shows York’s good character forming, when he meets, his future wife, Gracie. He is fox hunting with his brother, George, when he first sees her. Howard Hawks frames Joan Leslie beautifully in this scene. It is love at first sight, and romance develops. York decides to shed his irresponsible ways, and buy land for them. He even enters a turkey shoot, to get the remainder of the money owed on the property. This scene is entertaining. It is one of a few that do, and then it becomes a serious tale of war and courage.
A movie like SergeantYork, is helped by its writers. One of the writers on the film, was John Huston. It is ironic, that not long after this movie, Huston went into the army signal corps to make films. He saw firsthand, the horror of war, mainly in Italy. The film was adapted by Houston and other writers, from Sergeant York’s diary.
Howard Hawks, like Gary Cooper in the lead, was not the first choice. It is a very good thing, that he directed it. It was among many things, a well crafted film. It shows how war can disrupt lives. The movie was meant to stir up anti German feelings, because America was still not fully involved in the Second World War. It did that, and gave a new patriotic feel to Hollywood films after that. Hawks, for his efforts, was nominated for best director, losing out to John Ford. He was later told by Ford, that he deserved the statue for Sergeant York. It is incredible that a director of so many fine films, like Howard Hawks, never won an academy award. It is as people say, go figure.