The fighting 69th
James Cagney is at his best acting as a make believe heror all through the movie. At the end, the true person comes out. Very believable acting. James Cagney was one of the true great actors, playing any roll from gangster to dancer.

Dream Fulfilled
This is a great old movie and I have been looking for it on DVD for years. This is a classic. Glad to see more old movies are being made available on DVD.

WWI Hero Soldiers
The Fighting 69th is one of the greatest early movies produced about WWI and the Army unit of that designation. It tells the story of a tough, Irishman from NYC and reveals his inner depth brought about by a patient and understanding Catholic Chaplain who guides him to let his true feelings out. It combines all the humor and pathos of a soldier's life - then and, in some ways, now. No matter how many times we watch this movie we still get a lump in the throat at the end....

The Fighting 69th !!!!
What is to be said about the "War to end all wars". A great flick, with some historical fact, as well as poetic license. Not to many great movies about World War One, truly enjoyable and heartwarming. Cagney is great as Jerry Plunkett from Brooklyn, and Pat O'Brian as the legendary Father Francis Duffy. A good movie for the younger set to watch who may not be familiar with the Fisrt World War. You can watch this movie over and over, and see things you may have missed the first time viewing. Buy it, it is worth the price.

Excellent DVD release from the Warner Bros vault
Warner Brothers does their usual excellent job with the DVD release of "The Fighting 69th." This is a beautifully restored print in glorious black and white.

The special features package contains "Warner Night at the Movies," consisting of a theatrical trailer ("Brother Orchid"), a newsreel ("Fleet Sails for Secret War Tests"), an Academy Award nominated short film about Londoners coping with the Blitz ("London Can Take It" ), a short about civil aviation pilot training programs ("Young America Flies"), and a B&W cartoon set on the Mayflower ("Pilgrim Porky"). Additional bonus material includes a color Merrie Melody cartoon, "The Fighting 69 1/2th," a 1949 Lux Radio Theater audio adaptation of "The Fighting 69th," and the theatrical trailer for "The Fighting 69th."

This is a stirring, sentimental, and patriotic film released in 1940 before American entered WWII. James Cagney and Pat O'Brien were outstanding actors, with great chemistry in the nine films they made together. The excellent supporting cast includes Alan Hale and Dennis Morgan.

The story revolves around the 165th US Infantry, which had previously been known as the 69th New York, an outfit composed mostly of Irish immigrants and several generations of their native born sons. In grand Hollywood tradition, everyone speaks with a brogue, fist fights break out with abandon, and references to shillelaghs, banshees and blarney are plentiful.

Jerry Plunket (Cagney), a tough mug from Brooklyn enlists so he can come home with a chest full of medals and be a big shot. He brags, cracks wise, and struts his way through boot camp, endearing himself to no one. But when he comes under fire, Plunket discovers he isn't as brave as he thought he was going to be. Instead of honor and glory, he finds himself facing execution by firing squad for desertion.

Real life heroes of the regiment are also portrayed in the movie - Sergeant Joyce Kilmer, soldier poet, is in the outfit; Father Francis J. Duffy (O'Brien), who's statue stands in Times Square; and Major "Wild Bill" Donovan (George Brent), Medal of Honor winner, who later became the head of the OSS.

About the only thing missing from this package is a commentary track, but what more really needs to be said? The movie speaks for itself.

Highly recommended.