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Story of G.I. Joe

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6.4/10 • 37

1945-07-131h 48m

DramaWar

The mightiest action drama ever filmed !

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 2000.

Directors
William A. Wellman
Editors
Albrecht Joseph

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Burgess Meredith

    Burgess Meredith

    Ernie Pyle

  2. Robert Mitchum

    Robert Mitchum

    Bill Walker

  3. Freddie Steele

    Freddie Steele

    Sgt. Steve Warnicki

  4. Wally Cassell

    Wally Cassell

    Pvt. Dondaro

  5. Jimmy Lloyd

    Jimmy Lloyd

    Pvt. Spencer

  6. John R. Reilly

    John R. Reilly

    Pvt. Robert 'Wingless' Murphy

  7. William Murphy

    William Murphy

    Private Mew

  8. Dorothy Coonan Wellman

    Dorothy Coonan Wellman

    Nurse Lt. Elizabeth 'Red' Murphy (uncredited)

  9. William Benedict

    William Benedict

    Pvt. Whitey (uncredited)

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jul 21, 2025

7/10

A little like Australian wartime reporter Damien Parer, this story of a renowned American equivalent is also something that makes us realise just how perilous the job of correspondent really was. This film focuses on the segment of Ernie Pyle’s career when he (Burgess Meredith) joins an American company moving from North Africa to be at the vanguard of the invasion of Italy. He is paired up with Lt. Walker (Robert Mitchum) and across those gruesome theatres of war he reports honestly to his readers at home whilst befriending many of the war-weary soldiers. The production is interspersed with actuality which adds a richness to the engaging characterisations that illustrate really effectively just how ordinary these soldiers were, and therefore just how they reacted - each to their strengths and vulnerabilities - to the relentless onslaught and deprivations of war. These men are fighting tenaciously through the sand or the snow for every inch they can obtain, and this film doesn’t shy away from showing us the personal costs of war. Their enemies are well entrenched, well armed and ready for what is coming. Meredith himself fought in the war and presents a considered and personable performance of a brave and often sickened man, and he works well with an authentic looking Mitchum and a solid and small cast of supporters with whom Pyle became good friends. It’s not without it’s optimism, and there’s even a tiny bit of romance, but essentially it’s a grim indictment of a modern and indiscriminate conflict.

Media

  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster
  • Story of G.I. Joe poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
journalistarmyitalianworld war iiinfantryus armynorthern africareporter