Sergeant York

[*~Mrs. Cooper ~*]

A hillbilly sharpshooter becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI when he single-handedly attacks and captures a German position using the same strategy as in turkey shoot.

Wow, such a wonderfully sweet movie.
I adored his accent, though I'm sure most would be annoyed by it. I thought he played the scenes well...and gee, he shore was an adorable farmer

[indy788]

I love this movie, I watch it most times it's on tcm.

[*~Mrs. Cooper ~*]

It's on...this November, I think...I'm so gonna tape it!!

[coopfan]

The Valley of the 3 Forks of the Wolf, located in the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee, is the home of the Yorks, a family of poor mountain farmers. In the spring of 1916, a drunken Alvin C. York, the oldest son, interrupts a church service attended by his mother, sister Rosie and brother George, when he and two friends take potshots at a nearby tree. Later, at Mother York's request, Pastor Rossier Pile speaks to Alvin, but has little influence on the hell-raising young man. One day, while hunting, Alvin encounters Gracie Williams and instantly decides to marry her. When he tells this plan to Gracie, however, she turns him down cold. Convinced that Gracie's objections would be overcome if he had more money, Alvin determines to buy a rich piece of bottomland to farm. He works day and night to earn the money, collecting the final amount after winning a shooting contest, but when he brings the money to Nate Tompkins, the owner, he learns that Nate sold the land a few minutes earlier to Zeb Andrews, his rival for Gracie's hand. Alvin proceeds to get very drunk and then, on his way to kill Zeb, is hit by lightning. Taking this as a sign from God, Alvin starts to attend church and makes his peace with Zeb and Nate. Soon, a surprized Zeb offers to let Alvin sharecrop the land he just bought. When the United States enters World War I, Alvin refuses to register for the draft, believing that killing, even as a patriotic duty, is against the Bible. Pile convinces him to register as a conscientious objector, but Alvin's request for "C.O." status is denied and he is drafted. At Camp Gordon in Georgia, Alvin's shooting so impresses his superiors that they promote him to corporal and make him an instructor. Although he agrees to teach, Alvin turns down the promotion because of his religion. His superior officer, Major Buxton, counters by arguing the importance of defending freedom, and gives Alvin a furlough to think over the proposition. In the end, Alvin decides to accept the promotion, and later, his unit sails for France to fight in the Argonne offensive of 1918. As the men advance through an area surrounded by Germans, Alvin single-handedly kills twenty Germans and convinces 132 more to surrender. Together with the seven men remaining from his unit, Alvin brings the German prisoners back to headquarters. He is awarded a French medal, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor. After returning to a hero's welcome in New York, Alvin wants nothing more than to go back to Tennessee. He refuses all the money offered to him, explaining that he did what he did because he had to and is not proud of what happened. Back in Tennessee, Alvin is reunited with his family, his beloved mother, and Gracie. Despite Alvin's wish not to gain by his actions, the people of Tennessee have purchased the bottomland farm and paid for a house to be built on the land where Gracie and Alvin will start their married life.

[coopfan]

This is the best movie that Gary was ever in and for that matter the best movie of all time.

[*~Mrs. Cooper ~*]

Amen!!
Walter Brennan was great, too.
I'm not sure what made this movie so doggone amazing...could it have been that it had all the elements of the perfect film, tightly knit together to combine one golden film that will last in our minds and hearts forever? That, and, one of the greatest actors of all time portrayed such an honorable and amazing soldier.
For me it just makes me long, even more, to live in that era; where people had respect, went to church and and were so close together. One of the many things America lacks today is closeness and friendliness toward one another. Because instead of that...we now have people who seem to be against each other--against their own family, even! So of course America is going down the tubes...we're so darn self-destructive! Oh well, I better put my soap box down and stay on topic...

I guess no matter what comes my way, Sergeant York will always be my top favorite...if only people knew what they were missing.

[coopfan]

This movie can pick you up and make you happy no matter what, which is always a good thing and of course it has Joan Leslie in it.

[senta]

I've got a real passion for Mr.Cooper after watching this movie.

[coopsgirl]

This is definitely in my top five of his and just one of the best films ever made. I never get tired of watching this one and everyone did a fantastic job in it.

1941 was a great year for him and overall it's my fave as all three of his films that year Sgt. York, Ball of Fire, and Meet John Doe are in my top five faves. They were all huge hits too making '41 and '36 his biggest years in that all his movies from those years were big.

[senta]

Great year. I haven't watched Ball of Fire yet, waiting this movie to arrive rather ancxiosly (again the word sure spells different)

[garycooperfan]

I LOVE this movie. This is one of my all time favorite Coop films. He more than deserved his first Oscar ffor his incredible, beautiful portrayal of Alvin York. I could watch this movie over and over.

[fenwick]

Sg. York was on TV,the other week. Lucky for me,I happen to catch it. The sound of his wonderful manly voice......
Made my day.

[coopsgirl]

I love him in that one too. 1941 is my fave year as far as looks go for Gary and I wish I could just freeze him that way forever

[*~Mrs. Cooper ~*]

I love his voice, too, Fen

I wish we could freeze him; and make duplicates!