BYU NewsNet - Classic film ‘Sergeant York’ showing to honor Memorial Day

The classic film “Sergeant York” will be shown on May 22 to honor Memorial Day and close the 10th season of the BYU Motion Picture Archive Film Series.

Each year the BYU Motion Picture Film Archive shows a film for Memorial Day honoring our soldiers. This year’s choice, “Sergeant York,” depicts the life of Alvin York, a soldier who gained fame during World War I for attacking and capturing a German position. York was a drinking, fighting Tennessee boy who undergoes a religious awakening and turns his life around.

The film has been called one of the most beloved motion pictures of all time.

“That is a great movie,” said Mark Choate, an associate professor of history. “Alvin York was the most decorated U.S. soldier in World War I.”

During its release it became the third highest grossing film up to 1941. It was behind “Gone With the Wind” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in terms of box office revenues. The film won two academy awards, Best Actor (Gary Cooper as Alvin York) and Best Film Editing and was nominated for nine other categories.

The film was released before America had become a part of World War II.

“It caused controversy because the U.S. was not yet in World War II as the rest of the world was,” said James D’Arc, curator of the BYU Motion Picture Archive. “A film about the exploits of an American Army sergeant against the Germans came across to some in the Senate as rattling to join the war effort because at the time America was very isolationist. Most Americans wanted nothing to do with what they called the ‘War of Europe’ even though it had been going on for almost two years.”

Due to the controversy of the film a senate committee investigated Warner Brothers. Hearings took place in September 1941 but no conclusion was ever made. Once Pearl Harbor took place the case was closed.

“‘Sergeant York’ was credited single-handedly in increasing Army recruitment in the fall of 1941 before Pearl Harbor,” D’Arc said. “The increase in recruitment occurred almost immediately.”

The film will be shown in the auditorium of the library on the first floor next to the L. Tom Perry Special Collections section, which sponsored the film. This film finishes the 10th season and the 11th will begin in September.

“What makes us unique is we like to put the film into its historical context,” D’Arc said. “I do an introduction about the background of the film and things to look for, we hand out program notes that further elaborate about the film, cast, why was it made, who made it and we do this for every one of our screenings in addition to actually showing these rare motion pictures on film.”

The film is a rare film print, not an actual video. According to the Theatre and Media Arts Department this gives the film a warmer feel and makes it less electronic.

“A great story is a great story, no matter the era,” said Jeff Parkin, a Theatre and Media Arts professor. “Although the style of the telling can change through time, genuine emotion and authentic human truths don’t. This is why certain plays, novels and films last.”