The Fighting 69th
6.8 /10 1 Votes
Director William Keighley Initial DVD release May 24, 2007 (USA) Duration Country United States | 6.7/10 IMDb Genre Action, Adventure, Biography Music director Adolph Deutsch Language English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Writer Norman Reilly Raine , Fred Niblo, Jr. , Dean Riesner Release date January 26, 1940 (US) Initial release January 26, 1940 (New York City) Cast James Cagney (Pvt. Jerry Plunkett), Pat O'Brien (Father Duffy), George Brent (Maj. Wild Bill Donovan), Jeffrey Lynn (Sgt. Joyce Kilmer), Alan Hale (Sgt. 'Big Mike' Wynn), Frank McHugh ('Crepe Hanger' Burke)Similar movies Breaking the Waves , The Matrix Revolutions , Takva: A Man's Fear of God , Terminator Salvation , Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones , The Matrix Reloaded Tagline Jammed With Action ! . . Loaded With Excitement ! . . . And Every Thrill-Packed Word Is True ! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Fighting 69th (1940) is an American war film starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and George Brent. The plot is based upon the actual exploits of New York City's 69th Infantry Regiment during World War I. The regiment was first given that nickname by opposing General Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War.
Contents
Several real-life personages depicted in The Fighting 69th include Father Francis P. Duffy, the chaplain, future OSS leader "Wild Bill" Donovan, the battalion commander, Lt. Oliver Ames, a platoon commander, and then-Sgt. Joyce Kilmer, the poet (Jeffrey Lynn).
Most of The Fighting 69th was filmed at Warner Brothers' Calabasas Ranch location, which doubled as Camp Mills, the regiment's training base, various French villages, and numerous battlefields.
Plot
The plot centers on misfit Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney), who displays a mixture of bravado and cowardice. The chaplain, Father Francis P. Duffy (Pat O'Brien) attempts to reform Plunkett. Sgt. "Big Mike" Wynn (Alan Hale, Sr.) loses both his brothers in action due to Plunkett's blunders. Major Donovan ultimately orders Plunkett to be court-martialed. Plunkett is nonetheless returned to duty, as the battalion again goes into the line. Shamed and inspired by Donovan's forbearance, Plunkett redeems himself by fighting bravely. Finally he sacrifices his life to protect his comrades by covering a grenade with his body.
While Jerry Plunkett was a fictional character, Father Duffy, Major Donovan, Lt. Ames, and Sgt. Joyce Kilmer were all real members of the 69th. Many of the events depicted (training at Camp Mills, the Mud March, dugout collapse at Rouge Bouquet, crossing the Ourcq River, Victory Parade, etc.) actually happened.
Production
John T. Prout, an Irish American, former Captain in the regiment and Irish Army general, was the movie's "technical advisor".
Priscilla Lane was initially cast as one of the soldiers' girls back home, but the part was cut prior to production. No female characters are seen in the film.
References
The Fighting 69th WikipediaThe Fighting 69th IMDbThe Fighting 69th themoviedb.org