THE FIGHTING 69th
US, 1940, 90 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Pat O’ Brien, George Brent, Jeffrey Lynn, Alan Hale, Frank Mc Hugh, Dennis Morgan, Dick Foran, William Lundigan, Guinn Williams, Henry O’ Neill, John Litel, Sammy Cohen.
Directed by William Keighley.
Fighting 69th was released in 1940, prior to America’s entering into World War Two. The setting this time is World War One and America’s part in the battles in France after 1917.
The Fighting 69th is a crack Irish regiment from New York City, with a long tradition from the time of the Civil War on. George Brent portrays the real-life Major Wild Bill Donovan. Pat O’ Brien portrays the real Father Duffy, chaplain to the Fighting 69th (whose statue is still in Times Square with a tribute).
Many of Warner Bros’ character actors contribute to the personnel of the Fighting 69th, especially Alan Hale. Jeffrey Lynn portrays the actual poet, Joyce Kilmer, with several of his poems. Kilmer was killed in action in France. Of interest is the portrayal by Sammy Cohen of Mike Murphy, a New York Jew who wanted to fight with the 69th and assumed the Irish name and accent.
The film shows the training in a US camp, the transfer to France, and, in quite some detail, the trench warfare, the loss of men, the difficulties of bombardment as well as a scene in a hospital which is also bombed. These scenes are quite graphic.
The focus of the action, however, is on James Cagney as a loudmouthed New York type. Always boasting, fighting, alienating everybody, he goes to France continuing to boast but fails under fire, sending up a flare which lights the trenches and causes the death of many of his comrades. He is court-martialled. Later in action, he runs away leaving his gun. He is put under care and is to be executed as a deserter. However, Father Duffy has always had faith in him, urging him along. When the hospital is bombarded, Cagney has a conversion experience and goes out to fight, with Alan Hale, firing mortars on enemy lines, being wounded and finally dying.
Of particular interest is the religious treatment of the war, Father Duffy’s work, pastoral care of soldiers. It must be one of the most Catholic films coming from Warner Bros during the 1930s and 40s. There are scenes of confessions, Midnight Mass, the singing of Silent Night, the advice by Father Duffy, seeing him in prayer. There is also a final anointing scene for Cagney.
The film ends with a rousing appeal to patriotism in 1940, showing Father Duffy, his statue, hearing his words about America as a beacon for peace – and this must be the only film which ends with the words, ‘Through Christ our Lord, Amen.’
1. A Warner Bros production, values, cast? The musical score?
2. America in 1940, morale, the outbreak of the European war, anticipation of American participation in World War Two? With the memories of the participation in World War One?
3. Black and white photography, New York, the boot camp, France, the trenches, the towns, the hospital?
4. The title, the true story, the Irish, their history and tradition, the Catholic tone?
5. Bill Donovan and Father Duffy? Actual characters? Portraits? Tributes? The end with Father Duffy’s words?
6. Bill Donovan and his control, the training of the men, his severity, his knowledge of what was in store for the men? His antagonism towards Jerry Plunkett? Wanting him out? Command in France, action, strategies? His rapport with Father Duffy? Persuaded to give Plunkett another chance? The end and Plunkett’s heroism and his comment?
7. Pat O’ Brien as Father Duffy, a strong Irish Catholic priest, traditional, a soldier, his mixing with the men, breaking up fights? His kneeling in prayer for the men? Midnight Mass, confessions, Silent Night, the playing of the organ? His relationship with Jerry? Trying to encourage him, having faith in him, persuading Bill Donovan to give him another chance? Mike Murphy, his being wounded, Father Duffy praying with him, the Our Father, the prayer at death, Mike and his reciting the Shemah Israel? Father Duffy continuing in Hebrew? Jerry Plunkett, court-martial, to be executed? Father Duffy and his quoting about the shepherd who searches for the one leaving the ninety-nine? Jerry wanting to escape? The final sequence? Anointing him?
8. Jerry, a James Cagney character, tough, his image, joining up, speaking Yiddish to Mike Murphy to make him feel comfortable? The details of the training, his being cheeky, annoying everyone? His attitudes, picking fights? His boasting, going to war, in France, in the trenches, his being scared, his outbursts, shooting the flare, the deaths of his men? His fears? His going out into the field, running without his rifle? The court-martial, Father Duffy getting him a chance? Bill Donovan and Jerry to be shot for desertion? His attitudes towards church, slinging off at God, at Father Duffy, outside at Christmas? His fight in the town square, covering up by fighting with Mike Wynn? His failures, his heroism at the end? His death?
9. The Wynn brothers, their characters, the bonds between them, in action, Mike Wynn as a leader?
10. Joyce Kilmer, his reputation as a poet, as a soldier, his bonding with the men, seeing him in action, his poem at the funeral, his death?
11. The picture of the officers, their strategies, discussions of tactics, allowing for the sacrifice of so many men in the attacks? The trench warfare? The deaths? Father Duffy and the lifting of the beam, his going into the dangerous tunnel? His praying absolution for the dead men?
12. The background of France, the people, the scene with Jerry at the cafe?
13. The achievement of the Americans in World War One? The morale-boosting ending – and the praise of America?
