SERGEANT YORK (DVD/P&S/ENG-FR-SP SUB) DVD

Sergeant York
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, All Movie Guide

Cast Gary Cooper as Sgt. Alvin C. York Walter Brennan as Pastor Rosier Pile Joan Leslie as Gracie Williams Ward Bond as Ike Botkin Margaret Wycherly as Mother York Stanley Ridges as Maj. Buxton George Tobias as Michael T. "Pusher" Ross Noah Beery Jr. as Buck Lipscomb June Lockhart as Rosie York Dickie Moore as George York Clem Bevans as Zeke Harvey Stephens as Capt. Danforth David Bruce as Bert E. Thomas Charles Esmond as German Major Joe Sawyer as Sgt. Early Pat Flaherty as Sgt. Harry Parsons Robert Porterfield as Zeb Andrews Erville Alderson as Nate Tompkins

Crew John Hughes - Art Director Howard Hawks - Director William Holmes - Editor Max Steiner - Composer (Music Score) Leo F. Forbstein - Musical Direction/Supervision Perc Westmore - Makeup Sol Polito - Cinematographer Arthur Edeson - Cinematographer Jesse Lasky - Producer Howard Hawks - Producer Hal B. Wallis - Producer Fred MacLean - Set Designer Oliver S. Garretson - Sound/Sound Designer Nathan Levinson - Sound Recordist Abem Finkel - Screenwriter John Huston - Screenwriter Harry Chandlee - Screenwriter Howard Koch - Screenwriter Tom Skeyhi - Book Author Sam K. Cowan - Book Author

Sergeant York
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, All Movie Guide
 

Abem Finkel: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated) Fred MacLean: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Art Direction (nominated) Gary Cooper: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (winner) Gary Cooper: National Board of Review, Best Acting (winner) Gary Cooper: New York Film Critics Circle, Best Actor (winner) Harry Chandlee: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated) Howard Hawks: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Director (nominated) Howard W. Koch: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated) John Hughes: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Art Direction (nominated) John Huston: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated) Margaret Wycherly: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Max Steiner: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Dramatic Score (nominated) Nathan Levinson: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Sol Polito: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Cinematography (nominated) Walter Brennan: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) William Holmes: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (winner)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional 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 & Français Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only) DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 134 min   DVD 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]