Sergeant York (1941)

Gary Cooper: Alvin C. York

Photos 

Quotes 

• Alvin : Well I'm as much agin' killin' as ever, sir. But it was this way, Colonel. When I started out, I felt just like you said, but when I hear them machine guns a-goin', and all them fellas are droppin' around me... I figured them guns was killin' hundreds, maybe thousands, and there weren't nothin' anybody could do, but to stop them guns. And that's what I done.

  Maj. Buxton : Do you mean to tell me that you did it to save lives?

  Alvin : Yes sir, that was why.

  Maj. Buxton : [amazed]  Well, York, what you've just told me is the most extraordinary thing of all!

• Pastor Rosier Pile : War's way to the other side of the ocean, Alvin. Lots of things can happen before you get there. You put your trust in the Lord, and He'll look out for you.

  Alvin : I done forgot the Lord! I ain't never gonna forget him again!

• Alvin : What we done in France, we had to do. And some as done it, didn't come back, and that kind of thing ain't for buying and selling.

• Sergeant : Where did ya learn to shoot York?

  Alvin : Well I ain't never *learned* Sergeant! Folks back home used to say I could shoot a rifle before I was *weaned*, but they was exaggeratin' some.

  [everybody laughs] 

• Pastor Rosier Pile : See that rock, Alvin? You've been plowin' around that rock a heap o' years.

  Alvin : Sure have!

  Pastor Rosier Pile : Did you ever think when you start plowin' yer furrows crooked, it's mighty hard to get 'em straight again?

  Alvin : I never thought on it much.

  Pastor Rosier Pile : It's that-a-way, I reckon, with other things 'sides plowin'. Satan's got ya by the shirt tail, Alvin!

• Alvin : You see I believe in the bible and I'm a-believin' that this here life we're a-livin' is something the lord done give us and we got to be a-livin' it the best we can, and I'm a-figurin' that killing other folks ain't no part of what he was intendin' for us to be a-doin' here.

• Alvin : Therefore, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.

• Alvin : Well, I reckon these'll do until I get fixed up in government clothes. The corn's doin' right good on the south hill. Might need a little extra hoein'.

  George York : The mule's at the gate. You've got a long ways to go.

  Alvin : Well, you'll be takin' care of things from now on, George.

  George York : Sure will.

  Alvin : Guess you'll be needin' a man-sized gun. You can have my rifle.

  George York : I'm a-thankin' you.

• Alvin : What are you doing here George? Young 'uns like you ain't got no business in a place like this here nohow. Now just you... skedaddle!

  George York : Ma wants you Alvin.

• [Alvin puts a handful of dirt onto a plate at the table and pushes it toward his mother] 

  Mother York : That there's bottom land soil, ain't it? Queer how the folks on the bottom looks down on the folks on the top. It was always that way. No changin' it!

  Alvin : I'm gonna *get* us a piece of bottom land!

  Mother York : Your pa set out to get a piece of bottom land once. Nary a man ever tried any harder! Liked to *kill* hisself tryin'!

• Alvin : I ain't a-goin' to war. War's killin', and the book's agin' killin! So war is agin' the book!

• Alvin : [warning German Major]  Say, this gun touches off pretty easy!

• Alvin : The Lord sure do move in mysterious ways.

• Alvin : [in the tavern at the state line after Nate Tompkins breaks his word and sells the piece of bottom land to Zeb Andrews]  I'm a'drinkin' agin' Nate Tompkins!

  Ike Botkin : [trying to distract Alvin]  Now, how 'bout that 'ere big woman?

  [Alvin stands to leave, Ike and Buck grab his arm] 

  Buck Lipscomb : Alvin, you better be a'stayin' here!

  Alvin : Let go me!

  Ike Botkin : Well we go 'long with ya!

  Alvin : What I got to do is my own!

  [lists drunkenly to the door, takes his rifle, exits into a raging thunderstorm] 

  Ike Botkin : Shore ain't a good night for a killin'.

  [Ike and Buck sit back down slowly] 

  Buck Lipscomb : Ain't no stoppin' him now, I reckon.

• 'Pusher' Ross : An' you haven't even seen a subway?

  Alvin : I ain't never even heerd o' one.

  'Pusher' Ross : 'Heerd'? 'heerd' What kind o' talk is that? Do they all talk that kind of English where you come from?

  Alvin : Well there ain't any English people down our way - just Americans.

• Alvin : Well, sure looks like I ain't got nothin' to offer ya except'n the big weddin'.

  Gracie Williams : Some girls don't even get that.

  Alvin : I reckon you'd like a place to sleep wouldn't ya?

  Gracie Williams : Oh, I don't know... I done a heap'a sleepin' while you was away!