The Story of G.I. Joe

original title:
The Story of G.I. Joe
other titles:
Ernie Pyle's Story of G.I. Joe, (Schlachtgewitter am Monte Cassino)
country / year of production:
USA / 1945
original length:
108 min. , black/white
premiere:
18 June 1945
genre:
melodrama
based on:
Ernie Pyle. Here is your war. New York: H. Holt, 1943.

Ernie Pyle. G. I. Joe. New York: Overseas Ed., 1944.
director:
William A. Wellman
film script:
Leopold Atlas , Guy Endore , Ernie Pyle , Philip Stevenson
producer:
Lester Cowan
cinematographer:
Russell Metty
editor:
Albrecht Joseph
composer:
Louis Applebaum , Ann Ronell
cast (role):
Burgess Meredith (Ernie Pyle/Narrator) , Robert Mitchum (Lt./Capt. Bill Walker) , Freddie Steele (Sergeant Steve Warnicki) , Wally Cassell (Private Dondaro) , Chris Cunningham (Himself (U.P.)) , Burgess Meredith , Robert Mitchum , Freddie Steele , Wally Cassell , Chris Cunningham
more:
plot synopsis:
Famous war correspondent Ernie Pyle follows an infantry company fighting its way from Nothern Africa to Italy. Pyle marches and live with the G.I.s, depicting their daily hardships and joys with sympathy and understanding. The soldier accept the reporter as one their own. The unit is led by competent Lt. Walker who is eventually promoted to captain and whose confidence Pyle has won. When at the end of the film Walker`s body is slung over a mule, Pyle and the men stand watching in silence - and then continue their march to Rome.
keywords:
war correspondent , infantry , comradeship , authenticity
war:
Second World War (1939-1945)
literature:
James Tobin. Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II. New York : Free Press, 1997.
remarks:
Ironically, Ernie Pyle, who acted as technical adviser (when he wasn't busy on the front), was killed by an enemy sniper shortly before the release of this film. Pyle had insisted that Meredith protray him.
The film was very popular among American audiences whereas in Britain it was critizised for omitting any reference to the large part played by the British fighting forces.
availability:
VHS, DVD