The Story of G. I. Joe (1945)

My Review

“The Story of G. I. Joe” is a war film about a journalist embedded with Army troupes in North Africa and Europe in World War II. It is based on the writings and experiences of reporter Ernie Pyle, tightly directed by William A. Wellman (“A Star is Born” 1937) from a screenplay by Leopold Atlas, Guy Endore, and Philip Stevenson.

The cast delivers marvelous performances, with Burgess Meredith as Pyle and Robert Mitchum as Lt. Captain Bill Walker. Co-stars include Wally Cassell, Freddie Steele, Jimmy Lloyd, William Self, William Murphy, John R. Reilly, and Dorothy Coonan Wellman (wife of the director) as a nurse. “The Story of G. I. Joe” was popular in theatrical release for United Artists. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Mitchum), Best Original Song (Ann Ronell for “Linda”), Best Score (Louis Applebaum and Ann Ronell), and Best Screenplay.