FILM · 1941 · USA
Sergeant York
- Directed by
- Howard Hawks
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
38 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Alvin York a hillbilly sharpshooter transforms himself from ruffian to religious pacifist. He is then called to serve his country and despite deep religious and moral objections to fighting becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI.
Summary: TMDB
Sergeant York — Career & Awards (9 facts)
- #003
Gary Cooper's acceptance speech was typical of many of the actor's performances, saying: "It was Sergeant Alvin C. York who won this award; Shucks, I've been in this business 16 years and I've been dreaming that maybe I'd get one of these. That's all I can say! Funny, I always made a good speech when I was dreaming." Leaving the stage, he forgot the Oscar on the podium.
- #012
This earned Walter Brennan his fourth Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and it was the only time Brennan did not take the statuette home. Brennan was somewhat embarrassed about how he had won three Oscars. In the early years of the Academy Awards, extras were given voting rights. Brennan was popular in the Film Extras Union, and since its numbers were so large, he won every time he was nominated. His third win, for "The Westerner," led to the union being stripped of its Oscar voting rights.
- #014
When Gary Cooper won the Academy Award for his role at the Academy ceremony in the spring of 1942, the award was presented to him by James Stewart, wearing the lieutenant's uniform of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
- #018
It was the first film to receive at least ten Oscar nominations and not win Best Picture. The winner: How Green Was My Valley (1941).
- #019
The directing job was turned down by Michael Curtiz, Henry Koster, Henry Hathaway, Victor Fleming and Norman Taurog before it was finally offered to Howard Hawks. Gary Cooper had always been his choice of director, and that choice was confirmed by Hawks's only Oscar nomination.
- #029
It contains Margaret Wycherly's only Oscar-nominated performance.
- #032
This film was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2008.
- #035
It was included on the American Film Institute's 1998 list of 400 films nominated for the 100 Best American Films.
- #036
It was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 2.
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