Yanks is a 1979 drama film directed by John Schlesinger, and produced by Joseph Janni and Lester Persky, and is written by Colin Welland and Walter Bernstein. It stars Richard Gere, Lisa Eichhorn, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Chick Vennera, Wendy Morgan, Rachel Roberts and Tony Melody. The film is set during the Second World War in Northern England and features no combat scenes.
The film depicts the relationships between American soldiers stationed in semi-rural England and the local population during the build-up to Operation Overlord in 1944. In particular, three romances between US service personnel and local women are shown, in order to explore the effects of the cultural differences between the brash GIs or "Yanks" and the more reserved British population.
The world premiere was held on 1 June 1979 at a cinema in Bournemouth, England. Lisa Eichhorn was present at the premiere, which had invited returning D-Day veterans from many American divisions - most notably the American 29th Division. Leader of the returning 29ers was Sgt Curtis C. Williams who was 19 on D-Day.
Plot During the Second World War, a small town in Northern England greets a large influx of rambunctious American troops when a U.S. Army base is established nearby in support of the upcoming Normandy landings. Among the "Yanks" (as the British locals call them), are Sergeant Danny Ruffelo and Technical Sergeant Matt Dyson. They flirt with Mollie, a bus attendant, when taking the bus into town for their first leave. Danny and Matt arragne to meet Mollie at the cinema. Mollie's friend Jean Moreton is frustrated Mollie didn't tell her about the soldiers; she has a strict mother and the residents of the small town know she's engaged to Ken, a British soldier fighting overseas. She rebuffs Matt's overtures but warms to his persistence. Matt talks of his life in Arizona as a short order cook with plans to build motels. A friendship builds and they go cycling through the countryside, attend dances and have friendly Sunday lunches together. She wins over her mother, comparing him positively with other G.I.s who crudely make offensive remarks, and touch the local women inappropriately.
Helen is a middle aged, upper class woman with two children, a stately home and a deployed husband. Her war duties include greeting newly arrived US soldiers with tea and doughnuts. She plays in the local orchestra and becomes friendly with an American Captain, John, who drops by to borrow library books, accompany her to concerts and play golf with her friends. Their relationship becomes physical as bad news abour their spouses arrives. John's wife unexpectedly sells their home and moves back with her family, and Helen's contact with her husband stops.
Matt is accepted by the Moreton family. As an army cook, he often brings hard-to-find foods normally on wartime rationing. When news of Ken's death in action arrives, their openly romantic relationship is condemned by Jean's ailing mother as a betrayal. Jean and Matt travel together to a Welsh seaside resort, but Matt is unable to consummate the relationship, blaming their uncertainty future. Jean is upset that her willingness to risk life and reputation hasn't been matched by the same level of commitment on his part. She concludes he isn't ready for her. When their friends Mollie and Danny marry, Jean confronts Matt, who explains his lack of commitment on the unexpected speed of their relationship and the uncertain future.
On the day of the funeral for Jean's mother, the Americans ship out by troop train to Southern England to stage for D-Day. A last-minute gift from Matt prompts Jean, at her father's urging, to race to the railway station, where a pregnant Mollie is already fighting through the crowds to say goodbye to Danny. Helen shares a resigned farewell with John; he returns her library books at concert practice, tells her his wife is divorcing him, and Helen admits her husband is due home that week for leave. They part with a brief kiss.
The film ends with the crowded train station. Hundreds of the townswomen, some of them pregnant from liaisons with men they may never see again, scramble to catch one last glimpse of their American boyfriends before the train leaves. Matt shouts from the departing train that he will return.
Cast
Main cast Richard Gere as Sergeant Matt Dyson Lisa Eichhorn as Jean Moreton Vanessa Redgrave as Helen William Devane as John Chick Vennera as Sergeant Danny Ruffelo Wendy Morgan as Mollie Rachel Roberts as Clarrie Moreton Tony Melody as Jim Moreton Martin Smith as Geoff Moreton Philip Wileman (as Philip Whileman) as Billy Rathbone Derek Thompson as Ken Simon Harrison as Tim Joan Hickson as Mrs Moody Arlen Dean Snyder as Henry
The Americans Annie Ross as Red Cross Lady Tom Nolan as Tom G.I. Drummer John Ratzenberger as Corporal Cook Andy Lucas (as Andy Pantelidou) as Cook Francis Napier as Cook Jeremy Newson as Mechanic Harry Ditson as Officer in Stores John Cassidy as G.I. at Cinema Antony Sher as G.I. at Cinema George Harris as Black Driver David Baxt as G.I. in Hospital Everett McGill as White G.I. at Dance Al Matthews as Black G.I. at Dance Eugene Lipinski as Barman in Ireland Ray Hassett as Pilot Weston Gavin as Officer at Airfield
The British Anne Dyson (as Ann Dyson) as Ivy Harriet Harrison as Helen's Daughter June Ellis as Mrs Shenton Lynne Carol as Annie Pearl Hackney as Aunt Maud Gertie Almond as Neighbour Paula Tilbrook as Neighbour Paul Luty as Ted the Publican Helen Palmer as Enid His Wife Kenneth Drury as Jock David Miller as Bereaved Father Caroline Blakiston as Golfing Friend Donald Pickering as Golfing Friend Sue Robinson as Girl at Dance Patrick Durkin as Master of Ceremonies Joe Gladwin as Plumber at Camp Nat Jackley as Postman Jackie Smith as Fish Fryer Mary Wray as Fish Fryer Gerald James as Hotel Porter Margaret Lacey as Woman at Hotel Rachel Davies as Girl in Club Angela Curran as Girl in Club Stephen Whittaker as Merchant Seaman Barry Halliday as Merchant Seaman Janet Dale as Girl with Baby
Production Schlesinger was able to obtain the finance to make Yanks - which was a personal project - because of the financial success of his 1976 suspense film Marathon Man.Phillips, Gene D. Major Film Directors of the American and British Cinema, Volume 1999. Lehigh University Press, 1999. 238. Retrieved from Google Books on January 30, 2012. , .
Much of the filming took place on location in Northern England between April and August 1978. Scenes were shot on location in Oldham, Glossop, Stalybridge, Stockport, Salford and other surrounding areas. The opening shot of the film is the war memorial in Stalybridge town centre. Other scenes were filmed at the town hall in Hyde and outside a Type 24 pillbox attached to a former Royal Ordnance Factory in Steeton, West Yorkshire.Location of Steeton Pillbox The main street procession was filmed in the Ordsall area of Salford, where the entire length of Regent Road was redressed to period appearance. All the shop fronts were replaced or covered over and the road-lines were covered by gravel. The cinema sequences were shot at the Davenport Theatre / Cinema, in Stockport. This was chosen because of its authentic, period Art Deco interior, as well as the presence, in the orchestra pit, of a Compton 3 Manual/6 Rank theatre organ on a lift to the left of the stage. This was used in the film for scenes involving an audience sing-along, to such songs as "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" and "Deep in the Heart of Texas," Exterior shots of the unnamed Welsh resort were filmed along Happy Valley Road, Llandudno, North Wales.
The ending, where the troops board their train to head to the front, were filmed at Keighley railway station on the line belonging to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. An authentic Second World War locomotive, which is preserved by the heritage railway, was used for the scene.
Lisa Eichhorn said one of her most difficult scenes in the film was where she offers herself to her boyfriend, Matt, only to be rejected. "The difficult part was dealing with the nudity in that scene," she said. "I'd never done any on the stage, and didn't think I'd have to do it in my first movie. I didn't want to get the reputation of an actress who easily disrobes".
Reception The film was a box office flop in the US only making $1.6 million in rentals.THE BIG THUDS OF 1979--FILMS THAT FLOPPED, BADLY Epstein, Andrew. Los Angeles Times 27 Apr 1980: o6.
The film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 57% based on reviews from 21 critics.
References
External links
Yanks at BFI Collections