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Sergeant York
1941 134 min United States of America 0+
★8.0
War, Drama, History
Director: Howard Hawks
Trailers
Description
Alvin York a hillbilly sharpshooter transforms himself from ruffian to religious pacifist. He is then called to serve his country and despite deep religious and moral objections to fighting becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI.
Budget:
$1.4M
US Gross:
$16.36M
Worldwide:
$16.36M
Starring
Gary Cooper
Actor
Walter Brennan
Actor
Joan Leslie
Actor
Awards
Won 2 Oscars. 5 wins & 10 nominations total
Key opinion
Sergeant York is widely regarded as a definitive and masterful biographical film that prioritizes character development and spiritual struggle over typical war-movie theatrics. Anchored by a celebrated Academy Award-winning performance from Gary Cooper, the film successfully captures the wholesome, reverent spirit of its era.
| Acting | Gary Cooper delivers an engaging and career-defining performance that serves as the emotional anchor for the film. | |
| Production | The film benefits from high-quality craftsmanship, featuring excellent cinematography and solid production design that grounds the historical setting. | |
| Direction | Howard Hawks provides measured, subtle direction that effectively balances the protagonist's internal transformation with the eventual war sequences. | |
| Pacing | The film's deliberate, episodic pacing is viewed by some as necessary for building deep character empathy, while others find the narrative progression drags at times. |