The Story of G.I. Joe Overview:

The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) was a Biographical - Drama Film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Lester Cowan and David Hall.

SYNOPSIS

Mitchum's big break came in Wellman's harrowing biopic of WWII correspondent Ernie Pyle. Pyle (Meredith) follows an exhausted platoon as they fight their way from town to town in Italy. The platoon's captain (Mitchum) becomes the focus of his men's lives and of the film. Privately, he anguishes over having to send his men into mortal danger and writes letters to the mothers of all the soldiers who have died under his command. Pyle records the emotional breakdowns and physical courage of the common foot soldier, a point of view that endeared him to the soldiers and his readers. Pyle saw only a rough cut of this fine war drama before he was killed in a Pacific battle.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

The Story of G.I. Joe was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2009.

Academy Awards 1945 --- Ceremony Number 18 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorRobert MitchumNominated
Best Music - ScoringLouis Applebaum, Ann RonellNominated
Best Music - SongMusic and Lyrics by Ann RonellNominated
Best WritingLeopold Atlas, Guy Endore, Philip StevensonNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

No article for The Story of G.I. Joe at this time. Submit yours here.

Quotes from

[Final Line]
Ernie Pyle: (Voice-over): For those beneath the wooden crosses, there is nothing we can do, except perhaps to pause and murmur, "Thanks pal, thanks."


read more quotes from The Story of G.I. Joe...

Facts about

William A. Wellman, nicknamed "Wild Bill", was a fighter pilot in World War I and hated the infantry, and therefore had no interest in making a film about them. Producer Lester Cowan tried several times to convince Wellman to direct the film, including showing up uninvited at Christmas with gifts for Wellman's children. Wellman finally agreed to take the job only after meeting and spending several days with Ernie Pyle at Pyle's home in New Mexico, where he saw how much former infantrymen revered him.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called this the finest war film he had ever seen.
War correspondent Ernie Pyle acted as advisor to the film. Pyle was killed not long after the film was completed.
read more facts about The Story of G.I. Joe...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1945






See more Best Supporting Actor awards>>
National Film Registry

The Story of G.I. Joe

Released 1945
Inducted 2009
(Sound)




See All Films in National Registry >>
Also directed by William A. Wellman




More about William A. Wellman >>
Also released in 1945




See All 1945 films >>
More "World War II" films



See All "World War II" films >>
More "Army" films



See All "Army" films >>
More "Italy" films



See All "Italy" films >>
More "Book-Based" films



See All "Book-Based" films >>