Western Front Association - U.S. Branch - Movie Review of the Fighting 69th

THE FIGHTING 69TH. (1940). VHS released 2001 in NTSC format (U.S. and Canada only). About $15. at Amazon.com. Starring James Cagney and Pat O'B; Warner Studios; ASIN: 07907449 96. Rated

1/2 by Jim Minnoch, who can be reaches at jemcam@comcast.net.

This outstanding patriotic entertainment is about wise-guy draftee Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney) from Brooklyn, who has no respect for the U.S. Army, or much else. Who else could successfully play this American role but the non- sequitur, flashingly respondent Jimmy? There is not much history here for the serious Great War student, but not to worry, as it was designed and produced to inspire men to join the U.S. Army in World War II. The characterization and acting are superb, all-round. The rousing look inside the Army of the day keeps the viewers eyes wide open. No flaws in the military aspects of equipment, settings, lingo, and such.

One might almost imagine the ending, which is of a patriotic tone, but that is not as important as trying to make a soldier out of the irreverent Private Plunkett and trying to instill in him the reasoning behind the war, as well as the spirit of the "Fighting Irish" division. The task of making a soldier out of Plunkett falls to the much under-rated Sergeant "Big Mike" Wynn (Alan Hale), who gives Plunkett a devastatingly hard time throughout the movie, as one might expect. Plunkett has no friends, but the kindly Father Duffy (Pat O'Brien) steps in regularly to comfort and explain the war to Plunkett, as well as the battalion commander, "Wild Bill" Donovan (George Brent).

Still from the Film

Tough-guy Cagney then does some exceptional acting by proving himself a coward when a trench collapses and he shivers from his responsibility to save buried men. He immediately becomes an outcast. And, of course, the only way to rectify the situation is to do something courageous on the battlefield, by saving the life of Sergeant Big Mike. This is a kind of not-to-be-missed movie that I recommend.

Created: 20 March 2004