Aug. 05, 2002 - 12:16 am
nominated for a total of 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. my friend David had been talking about how excellent this film is for months after i showed him my National Film Registry list. after looking at all the ones i didn't have highlighted, he came across this one. it's apparently one of his favorites. i didn't realize it was directed by Howard Hawks who also directed the totally amazing Bringing Up Baby (1938). it will now have to be one of my favorites too.
this is definitely another one of the great Gary Cooper performances of all time. he won his first Best Actor Oscar for this film. this is a biographical film about the life of Alvin C. York, a native of Tennessee (my home state), who went to France at the end of WWII and became a national war hero. a great marksman, a deeply religious man, and a man who wanted nothing more than to live a peaceful life on his own piece of land with the woman he loved. it's really the all American story. it might as well have been made up because it doesn't get much sappier than that. but it's still wonderful. you can't not enjoy watching this film.
ahhh, one more film that should have in no way shape or form lost the Best Picture award to How Green Was My Valley (1941).
i don't think i'm a big enough fan of Gary Cooper's to seek out all of his films and watch them, but for some reason i still love to see him onscreen. he just has undeniable talent. he always plays a simple man of sorts, but there's always some air of complexity there that you can't quite put your finger on. it's like he's always the same character, but he's always different at the same time. think of one of your favorite actors and you'll understand what i'm saying. i really loved the lead female actress/character in this film too. Joan Leslie. the only other thing i think i've seen her in is Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). the chemistry between her and Gary Cooper was outstanding. tip your hat to Howard Hawks yet again.
my favorite scene from this film i think is when York decides that he believes in God. it's not even spoken onscreen. it's all done visually. really a breathtaking scene. i guess if i had to pick one scene from a movie that would make you believe in God, this would be a good one to go with. well, that or maybe the last few minutes of Signs (2002). M. Night Shyamalan made a good case too you might say.