| The Fighting 69th | |
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| Directed by | William Keighley |
| Produced by | Louis F. Edelman Hal B. Wallis |
| Written by | Norman Reilly Raine Fred Niblo, Jr. Dean Riesner |
| Starring | James Cagney Pat O'Brien George Brent Dennis Morgan Alan Hale, Sr. |
| Music by | Adolph Deutsch |
| Cinematography | Tony Gaudio |
| Editing by | Owen Marks |
| Studio | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | January 26, 1940 (US) |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Fighting 69th (1940) is an American war film starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and George Brent. The plot is based upon the actual exploits of New York City's 69th Infantry Regiment during the First World War. The regiment was first given that nickname by opposing General Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War.
The plot centers on misfit Jerry Plunkett, played by Cagney, and his inability to fit into the unit due to a mixture of bravado and cowardice. O'Brien plays Father Francis P. Duffy, a military chaplain who attempts to reform Plunkett. "Wild Bill" Donovan, played by Brent, is the first battalion commander, who ultimately orders Plunkett to be court-martialed. One of the characters portrayed in this film is Sgt Joyce Kilmer, the poet. Alan Hale, Sr. plays Sgt. Wynn, who loses both his brothers due to Cagney's blunders.
While Jerry Plunkett was a fictional character, Father Duffy, Major Donovan, Lt. Ames, and Sgt. Joyce Kilmer were all real people who served in the regiment and many of the activities depicted (Camp Mills, the Mud March, dugout collapse at Rouge Bouquet, crossing the Ourcq River, Victory Parade, etc.) actually happened.
Jerry Plunkett redeems himself and sacrifices his life at the end of the movie by throwing his body on a grenade.
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John T. Prout, an Irish American, former Captain in the regiment and Irish Army general, was the movie's "technical advisor".[1][2].