One of the greatest war movies ever made – Sergeant York – is available to stream for free. Released in 1941, Sergeant York was directed by Howard Hawks, one of the most celebrated directors in the history of Hollywood. Hawks was arguably best known for his work on Westerns and war movies, with John Wayne being one of his most frequent collaborators.
However, it was not Wayne who helped Hawks deliver his war movie masterpiece; rather, that distinction belongs to none other than Gary Cooper. In 1941, legendary actor Gary Cooper teamed with Howard Hawks for Sergeant York.
Considering that it was made during World War II, the film can be counted as a product of a huge trend in Hollywood, as studios were encouraged to pump out patriotic, pro-military movies that would encourage enthusiasm in the United States’ war effort, help with morale, and boost recruitment numbers.
Not all of the films that came from this era were particularly noteworthy, and sometimes their patriotic themes could feel forced, but that was not the case with Sergeant York, which turned out to be one of the best films the genre has ever seen.
The Greatest World War I Movie Ever Made Is Streaming On Tubi
Sergeant York Won Oscars For Best Actor & Best Film Editing
Despite being hailed as one of the best of its kind, Sergeant York is not hard at all to find on streaming. In fact, it can be streamed on Tubi, a free streaming service. Tubi hosts a number of great movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, with Sergeant York easily standing out as one of the best films in that particular corner of its library.
There was interest from Hollywood in a Sergeant York movie for years, but the real-life Alvin C. York was resistant to the idea. He was finally convinced to sign off on the film due to World War II.
Sergeant York has long been held in high esteem by movie critics and audiences alike. The Howard Hawks film was the highest-grossing film of 1941, which is a testament to its popularity. But the film was more than just an audience favorite; it’s held in high esteem by critics as well, as evidenced by its 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 11 Academy Award nominations.
Two of those were wins, with Gary Cooper taking home Best Actor for his role as the тιтular protagonist, Alvin C. York. The American Film Insтιтute (AFI) notably included it as #57 on its list of the 100 Most Inspirational Movies.
Sergeant York Is A True Story About A World War I Hero
Alvin C. York’s Story Translated Perfectly To The Big Screen
The “inspirational” element of Sergeant York stems largely from the fact that the movie is based on a true story. The accomplishments made by Gary Cooper’s character may seem too extraordinary to be real, but it’s important to note that Alvin C. York was a real-life American war hero.
York was a highly religious person whose beliefs clashed with the need to take lives as an American soldier fighting in World War I. After his efforts to avoid enlistment as a “conscientious objector” failed, York was forced to join the military and sent into combat against the Germans.
As a biopic, Sergeant York chronicles his youth, struggles that resulted from his convictions in his civilian life, and romantic relationship with Gracie Williams, before diving deep into his activities in World War I. The real-life York famously captured 132 German soldiers single-handedly and without killing anyone.
York cleverly found a way to fulfill his duties in a way that didn’t violate his morals. Sergeant York makes this remarkable chapter in York’s journey the defining moment of the movie, and justifiably so, considering that it’s the sort of heroism that feels like it came straight out of a Hollywood movie.
