The Fighting 69th (1940): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Fighting 69th is a 1940 action drama directed by William Keighley, starring James Cagney as Jerry Plunkett, Pat O'Brien and George Brent. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $2.3 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- William Keighley
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Fighting 69th About?
The premise of The Fighting 69th without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film is packed with action and excitement, delivering on its promise of thrills. It follows the outspoken soldier Jerry Plunkett, whose bragging alienates his fellow troops and superiors, while the regiment’s chaplain, Father Duffy, remains convinced that Jerry will ultimately earn respect and prove his worth.
The Fighting 69th Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- american abroad
- u.s. soldier
- military uniform
- cagney and o'brien
- sergeant the military rank
- propaganda
- chaplain
- faith
- cowardice
- born again christian
- uniform
- death of hero
+38 more Show fewer
- tragic hero
- catholic priest
- catholic
- christian
- last stand
- violence
- war violence
- main character shot
- behind enemy lines
- bombing
- no man's land
- mortar shell
- combat
- infantry
- bolt action rifle
- fistfight
- bayonet
- tough guy
- warrior
- war hero
- hero
- death of protagonist
- doughboy
- arc de triomphe paris
- volunteer
- troop transport
- troop train
- redoubt
- machine gun nest
- jewish american
- foxhole
- firing squad
- egoist
- donkey
- catholicism
- buried alive
- bunker
- new york city
The Fighting 69th Cast & Characters
James Cagney leads the cast as Jerry Plunkett, with Pat O'Brien as Father Duffy and George Brent as Wild Bill Donovan. Directed by William Keighley; 54 actors are credited in all.
-
Director William Keighley
-
James Cagney as Jerry Plunkett -
Pat O'Brien as Father Duffy -
George Brent as Wild Bill Donovan - Jack Perrin as Major (uncredited)
Also Starring in The Fighting 69th
· 50 more- Harvey Stephens Major Anderson
- Tom Dugan Private McManus
- Frank Wilcox Lieutenant Norman
- Dennis Morgan Lieutenant Ames
- Dick Foran Long John Wynn
- Alan Hale Big Mike Wynn
- William Hopper Private Turner
- Herbert Anderson Private Casey (uncredited)
- William Lundigan Timmy Wynn
- James Flavin Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
- Frank Faylen Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)
- Frank Sully Sergeant (uncredited)
- Sammy Cohen Mike Murphy
- Jeffrey Lynn Joyce Kilmer
- Joseph Crehan Inoculations Doctor (uncredited)
- Henry O'Neill Colonel
Show all 54 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Litel Captain Mangan
- Frank McHugh "Crepe Hanger" Burke
- Trevor Bardette Alabama Man #1 (uncredited)
- Emmett Vogan Doctor (uncredited)
- Donald Kerr New Recruit (uncredited)
- Chuck Hamilton Soldier Watching Fight (uncredited)
- Wilfred Lucas Eye Doctor (uncredited)
- James Conaty Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
- Ralph Dunn Medical Captain (uncredited)
- Frank Mayo Captain Bootz (uncredited)
- John Ridgely Moran (uncredited)
- Guinn "Big Boy" Williams Paddy Dolan
- John Harron Carrol (uncredited)
- Tom Coleman Wounded Soldier (uncredited)
- George O'Hanlon Eddie Kearney (uncredited)
- George Reeves Jack O'Keefe (uncredited)
- John Daheim Soldier (uncredited)
- Frank Coghlan Jr. Jimmy (uncredited)
- Arno Frey German Officer (uncredited)
- Frank Melton Alabama Man #3 (uncredited)
- Eddie Dew Regan (uncredited)
- John Arledge Alabama Man #2 (uncredited)
- J. Anthony Hughes Healey (uncredited)
- Roland Varno German Officer (uncredited)
- Edmund Glover Alabama Man #4 (uncredited)
- Edgar Edwards Engineer Officer (uncredited)
- Jerry Fletcher Telephonist (uncredited)
- Jacques Lory Waiter (uncredited)
- Richard Clayton Tierney (uncredited)
- Jack Boyle Chuck (uncredited)
- Byron Nelson Soldier (uncredited)
- Layne Ireland Hefferman (uncredited)
- George Kilgen Ryan (uncredited)
- Elmo Murray O'Brien (uncredited)
More from William Keighley
More films directed by William Keighley, best-rated first: The Green Pastures, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Adventures of Robin Hood (re-release) and The Master of Ballantrae.
The Fighting 69th Plot Summary
What happens in The Fighting 69th from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story revolves around Jerry Plunkett, a rebellious and rough-talking soldier from New York who often displays a mix of bravado and disrespect towards authority figures. When the United States enters World War I, Jerry, eager to prove his bravery and attain medals, enlists in the 69th Infantry Regiment with dreams of single-handedly defeating the Germans. His enthusiasm is matched by his inexperience, which soon begins to reveal itself through careless mistakes in the chaos of battle.
Full summary
The whole story of The Fighting 69th, scene by scene
The Fighting 69th Box Office
The Fighting 69th grossed $2.3 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.3M
The Fighting 69th Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Fighting 69th.
How Well Do You Know The Fighting 69th?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character of Jerry Plunkett in 'The Fighting 69th'?
Seen The Fighting 69th?
Movies Like The Fighting 69th
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Fighting Seabees, The Fighting American and Saints and Soldiers.
The Fighting 69th FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Fighting 69th, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Fighting 69th?
The Fighting 69th runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was The Fighting 69th released?
The Fighting 69th was released on January 26, 1940.
Who directed The Fighting 69th?
The Fighting 69th was directed by William Keighley.
More films by William Keighley Who is in the cast of The Fighting 69th?
The Fighting 69th stars James Cagney as Jerry Plunkett, Pat O'Brien as Father Duffy and George Brent as Wild Bill Donovan, among 54 credited actors.
How much did The Fighting 69th make at the box office?
The Fighting 69th grossed $2.3 million worldwide.
Does The Fighting 69th have a post-credit scene?
No. The Fighting 69th has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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