The Story of G.I. Joe
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| The Story of G.I. Joe | |
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| Directed by | William Wellman |
| Produced by | Lester Cowan David Hall |
| Written by | Leopold Atlas Guy Endore Philip Stevenson |
| Starring | Burgess Meredith Robert Mitchum |
| Music by | Louis Applebaum Ann Ronell |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Editing by | Albrecht Joseph |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | July 13, 1945 |
| Running time | 108 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Story of G.I. Joe is a war film released in 1945. It was directed by William Wellman and starred Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Mitchum's only nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
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[edit] Plot
The movie retells famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle's (played by Meredith) experiences as he follows Company C of the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division as they fight up through North Africa and up the length of Italy during World War II, especially when they are bogged down at the Battle of Monte Cassino. The title refers to the harsh conditions that infantrymen endure during the war.
[edit] Cast
Burgess Meredith as Ernie Pyle/Narrator
Robert Mitchum as Lt./Capt. Bill Walker
Freddie Steele as Sgt. Steve Warnicki
Wally Cassell as Pvt. Dondaro
Jimmy Lloyd as Pvt. Spencer
John R. Reilly as Pvt. Robert 'Wingless' Murphy
William Murphy as Pv. Mew
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] Academy Awards
- Best Supporting Actor (nomination) - Robert Mitchum
- Best Original Song (nomination) - Ann Ronell for "Linda"
- Best Score (nomination) - Louis Applebaum and Ann Ronell
- Best Screenplay (nomination) - Leopold Atlas, Guy Endore, and Philip Stevenson
[edit] Trivia
The movie studio wanted to place a leading-man type for the main role, but Wellman wanted a physically smaller man to better portray middle-aged Pyle. As a compromise, Mitchum was chosen to play Lieutenant (later Captain) Walker. The film was one of the first starring roles for Mitchum.
[edit] Inaccuracies
The 1st Infantry Division did not fight in the Italian campaign. After the Sicilian campaign, the division went to England to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. The events in Italy portrayed in the film are based on Pyle's experiences accompanying the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Mitchum's Capt. Walker character was based at least in part on Captain Henry T. Waskow, the commanding officer of Company B, 143rd Infantry, whose death on Monte Sammucro, Italy was the subject of Pyle's January 1944 story The Death of Captain Waskow.
