Fighting 69th [VHS]

Warner Bros. Pictures presents "THE FIGHTING 69TH" (1943) (90 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- The US 69th division was a national guard contingent comprised of Irish Americans, who fought with the Rainbow Division in the WWI years 1917-1918 --- Into this ethnic stronghold comes cocky Jerry Plunkett, a streetwise tough who is certain that he can lick the Germans single-handedly --- But during his first taste of real combat, Plunkett turns coward and inadvertently reveals the 69th's position --- Held responsible for the deaths of his companions, Plunkett is sentenced to a firing squad --- Thanks to a bomb that levels the stockade in which he is held, Plunkett set out to redeem himself on the battlefield.

The beauty of James Cagney's star performance is that he is as thoroughly convincing as a "yellow belly" as he is a hero.

The real-life personages depicted in The Fighting 69th include military priest Father Duffy (Pat O'Brien), future OSS leader Wild Bill Donovan (George Brent) and poet Joyce Kilmer (Jeffrey Lynn).

Another outstanding tour de force for Cagney!

Under the production staff of:
William Keighley [Director]
Norman Reilly Raine [Original Screenplay]
Fred Niblo Jr. [Original Screenplay]
Dean Riesner [Screenplay] (as Dean Franklin)
Louis F. Edelman [Associate Producer]
Hal B. Wallis [Executive Producer]
Adolph Deutsch [Original Music]
Tony Gaudio [Cinematographer]
Owen Marks [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. William Keighley [Director]
Date of Birth: 4 August 1889 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 24 June 1984 - New York City, New York

2. James Cagney [aka: James Francis Cagney]
Date of Birth: 17 July 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 30 March 1986 - Stanfordville, New York

the cast includes:
James Cagney - Pvt. Jerry Plunkett
Pat O'Brien - Father Duffy
George Brent - Wild Bill Donovan
Jeffrey Lynn - Joyce Kilmer
Alan Hale - Sgt. 'Big Mike' Wynn
Frank McHugh - Crepe Hanger Burke
Dennis Morgan - Lt. Ames
Dick Foran - Lt. 'Long John' Wynn
William Lundigan - Timmy Wynn
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams - Paddy Dolan

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 90 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (04/24/2007)

i was delighted ,there is some thing about the old films.which is definatly missing in the short modern films,i have always been a lover of the cinama,but dont go as often as i used to.good old james is never a disapointment,seen it before,but i love it

They don't make them like they used to,this is a good film brought me back to my childhood and my 9 year old loved it too happy days