Yanks main backdrop
Yanks main poster

5.9/10 • 55

1979-09-012h 18m

RomanceDramaWar

In 1942 everyone loved a soldier

During WWII, the United States set up army bases in Great Britain as part of the war effort. Against their proper sensibilities, many of the Brits don't much like the brash Yanks, especially when it comes to the G.I.s making advances on the lonely British girls. One relationship that develops is between married John, an Army Captain, and the aristocratic Helen, whose naval husband is away at war. Helen loves her husband, but Helen and John are looking for some comfort during the difficult times.

Directors
John Schlesinger
Editors
Jim Clark

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Richard Gere

    Richard Gere

    Matt Dyson

  2. Lisa Eichhorn

    Lisa Eichhorn

    Jean Moreton

  3. Vanessa Redgrave

    Vanessa Redgrave

    Helen

  4. William Devane

    William Devane

    John

  5. Chick Vennera

    Chick Vennera

    Danny Ruffelo

  6. Wendy Morgan

    Wendy Morgan

    Mollie

  7. Rachel Roberts

    Rachel Roberts

    Mrs. Clarrie Moreton

  8. Tony Melody

    Tony Melody

    Mr. Jim Moreton

  9. Derek Thompson

    Derek Thompson

    Ken

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 9, 2025

6/10

This has something of the mini-series to it, and try as I did - I just couldn’t get the “over paid, over sexed and over here” mantra from my mind as it rather predictably plodded along some melodramatic lines for a rather lengthy 2½ hours. There are two prongs to the story with the dashing “Matt” (Richard Gere) probably having the more prominent as he rather respectfully courts grocer’s daughter “Jean” (Lisa Eichhorn) - who is supposedly engaged to “Ken” (Derek Thompson) who is away fighting. Meantime the married lady “Helen” (Vanessa Redgrave) is drawn to captain “John” (William Devane) but let’s say their requirements from any relationship are maybe a little more cerebral. Back to “Jean” though and she has to convince her suspicious mother (Rachel Roberts) and father (Tony Melody) that he isn’t just after one thing. Can he mount an effective charm offensive and win the heart of his lady before the rumoured mobilisation makes their decisions for them. To be fair, it looks good with plenty of attention to the detail of the production and that helps it on the authenticity front, but that’s about the only front that delivers here as the plot meanders rather aimlessly without really bringing home just how perilous wartime living in southern England was and at how just how the local population dealt with the privations of wartime rationing whilst their visitors did their trading in stockings and chocolate. Gere is undoubtedly easy on the eye and his character has a general decency to him, but maybe that’s the problem - he, like the thing is general, is just too nice. Indeed, with exception of Roberts none of the characters here really resonate. It’s ok, but that’s about all that can be said for it.

Media

  • Yanks poster
  • Yanks poster
  • Yanks poster
  • Yanks poster
  • Yanks poster
  • Yanks poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
new year's evenorthern englandenglandworld war iiprejudicejitterbugarmy base1940samerican g.i.