The Story of G.I. Joe

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The Story of G.I. Joe
Theatrical release poster
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.
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) is a war film directed by William Wellman and starring Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Mitchum's only nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Awards and nominations 3.1 Academy Awards 4 Inaccuracies 5 External links

[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 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.

[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

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] 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] Inaccuracies

The 18th Infantry did not fight in the Italian campaign. After the Sicilian campaign, its parent unit, the 1st Infantry Division deployed 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.

[edit] External links

• The Story of G.I. Joe at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Death of Captain Waskow" reprinted at the Indiana University School of Journalism

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