- The Fighting 69th
Infobox Film
name = The Fighting 69th
caption = VHS cover.
director =William Keighley
producer =Louis F. Edelman Hal B. Wallis
writer =Norman Reilly Raine Fred Niblo, Jr. Dean Riesner
narrator =
starring =James Cagney Pat O'BrienGeorge Brent Dennis Morgan Alan Hale, Sr.
music =Adolph Deutsch
cinematography =Tony Gaudio
editing =Owen Marks
distributor =Warner Bros.
released = flagicon|United StatesJanuary 26 ,1940
runtime = 90 min.
country = US
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0032467"The Fighting 69th" (1940) is an American
war film starringJames Cagney , Pat O'Brien, andGeorge Brent . The plot is based upon the actual exploits ofNew York 's 69th Infantry Regiment during the First World War. The regiment was first given that nickname by opposing GeneralRobert E. Lee during theCivil War .The plot centers on misfit Jerry Plunkett, played by Cagney, and his inability to fit into the unit due to a mixture of bravado and
cowardice . O'Brien plays FatherFrancis P. Duffy , amilitary chaplain who attempts to reform Plunkett. "Wild Bill" Donovan, played by Brent, is the regimental commander, who ultimately orders Plunkett to becourt-martial ed. One of the characters portrayed in this film is Sgt.Joyce Kilmer , the poet.Alan Hale, Sr. plays Sgt Wynn, who loses both his brothers due to Cagney's blunders.While Jerry Plunkett was a fictional character, Father Duffy, Colonel Donovan and Joyce Kilmer were all part of the actual regiment.
Cast
*
James Cagney as Jerry Plunkett
* Pat O'Brien as FatherFrancis P. Duffy
*George Brent as Major "Wild Bill" Donovan
*Jeffrey Lynn as SergeantJoyce Kilmer
*Alan Hale, Sr. as Sergeant 'Big Mike' Wynn
*Frank McHugh as Terence 'Crepe-Hanger' Burke
*Dennis Morgan as Lieutenant Oliver Ames
*Dick Foran as Lieutenant 'Long John' Wynn
*William Lundigan as Private Timothy 'Timmy' Wynn
*Guinn Williams as Paddy Dolan
*Henry O'Neill as The Colonel
*John Litel as Captain Mangan
*Sammy Cohen as Mike Murphy, an alias of Mischa Moskowitz
*Harvey Stephens as Major Alex Anderson
*William Hopper as Private Turner
*Tom Dugan as Private McManus
*Frank Wilcox as Lieutenant John NormanExternal links
*
* [http://www.69thnysv.org Fighting 69th Historical Association]
* [http://www.69thnyvi.homestead.com More of the Fighting 69th]
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