Story of GI Joe (United Artists) (1945)

Burgess Meredith Gets Endorsement of Pyle Ernie Pyle’s Simplicity Reflected In Writings Perhaps the most fitting tribute to the memory of Ernie Pyle is Lester Cowan’s production of Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe,” which will be shown at the Theatre be¬ ginning . Ernie, as he is affectionately known to G.I.’s everywhere, endeared himself to 40,000,000 readers, who avidly read his syndicated column. He was a simple man writing of simple men who were beset by the woi-st pestilence ever to face hu¬ manity—and it was as a sounding board for the thoughts, words and deeds of the unsung foot soldiers, that he became an American house¬ hold commodity. Ernie Pyle sprang from a hum¬ ble background and at the time of his death was only 44 years of age. A restless nature that kept his eye on distant horizons while he attended grade and high school, definitely asserted itself when he was a student of Indiana Univer¬ sity, not far from his native farm¬ ing community of Dana, Ind. It was this yearning that was to set the pattern for the success that was to be his. RESTLESS NATURE In college, ironically enough, he took journalism because he heard it was a snap course. However, shortly before graduation, he drifted off the campus and inau¬ gurated his career in 1923 as a cub reporter on the La Porte, Ind., Herald. For twelve years there¬ after, he worked his way up the journalistic ladder which reached its climax when he served as man¬ aging editor of the Washington, D. C., Daily News. Then, in 1935, his restless na- ERNIE PYLE 29 A—1 Column Scene (Mat .15) ture again exerted itself and he launched himself as a roving re¬ porter, which was projected through the war and until his un¬ timely death on April 18th. Ernie could never understand the fame and adulation he garnered as a war correspondent. Even after he won the coveted Pulitzer Prize— one of many awards—for war cov¬ erage, he remained the same sim¬ ple soul who loved people and hated war with such a burning inten¬ sity. He was mobbed and sought after beyond the fondest hopes of any motion picture star and his fan mail soared to astronomical proportions. Perhaps the best insight into Ernie Pyle’s character can be gathered from the letter he wrote Lester Cowan: “For God’s sake, don’t depict me constantly running around with pencil and notebook taking down names. I never take notes except names and addresses, and those usually on a V-mail envelope or any scrap of paper handy. “Showing me with the soldiers —well, I'm just with them, that’s all. Now and then, there might be a little group around talking; most of the time I’d just be riding with them, marching with them, eating with them, or sitting on the ground talking to some of them. “Soldiers are always asking me what I think, in a sort of hopeful way; but seldom does any one of them come to me with his troubles —once in a while, but not often. “Every soldier wants his name in the paper; and in those outfits with which I served during the winter and spring right in the front, I believe I’m looked upon by the soldiers with as much re¬ spect as their own leaders.” REVEALED OWN FEARS One of the qualities that at¬ tracted readers was that he never hesitated to reveal his own foibles when he wrote about the foibles of others. He often said that he was as afraid and as down-to-earth as the people he wrote about. His chief hobby was driving an automobile, which in itself, is an evdence of the simple tastes in his makeup. He was an inveterate putterer—he loved to make things with his hands. He even pre¬ ferred to roll his own cigarettes. Ernie enjoyed good food and with characteristic male vanity when they invade a woman’s domain, he fancied himself a good cook. His big enthusiasm was auto races and he used to travel far afield to see one. Just as some folks idolize Hollywood stars, he viewed these daredevil drivers with unbounded admiration. In the matter of clothing, he had a distaste for buying anything new and would wear one suit until his elbows virtually showed through. He also had a mania for a special kind of oversized, crumbly hats— one of which lasted him for years. The same applied to shoes. He never had more than one pair. He disliked disorder in personal surroundings and loathed dirt and discomfort. Yet he subjected him¬ self to these privations as well as the fear he felt of death, because as he put it, “. . . there’s a war on and I’m part of it . . . I’m sim¬ ply going because I’ve got to— and I hate it.” Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe” is based on the correspondent’s book, “Here Is Your War.” In this United Artists release, directed by William Wellman, Burgess Mere¬ dith plays the principal character. He heads a cast of 200 speaking roles in this motion picture trib¬ ute to the American Infantry. The War Department cooperated in the production and Ernie Pyle, while en route to his ill-fated Pacific as¬ signment, stopped over in Holly¬ wood to see some of the scenes then shooting, in addition to the already completed footage. FREDDIE STEELE CARVING FILM NICIIE When discussions arose as to what actor might authenti¬ cally portray the immortal war correspondent in Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe” currently showing at the . Theatre, Lester Cowan, who produced this United Artists release, faced a most formidable decision. Practically every big league character star in Hollywood came in for consideration. Then, Cap¬ tain Burgess Meredith’s name was suggested and Pyle, when asked for an opinion, enthusiastically en¬ dorsed the casting. And, so, having been placed on inactive duty status by the War Department, Meredith returned to greasepaint in order to play the celebrated war columnist in a pro¬ duction that includes 200 speaking roles as well as actual “G. I.’s,” veterans of the Italian and Afri¬ can campaigns. Until his entry in the service, where his record speaks for itself, Meredith had successfully invaded every phase of the entertainment world in the capacities of actor, writer and director. Burgess Meredith was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909 and re¬ ceived a thorough education which was climaxed at Amherst College. Prior to entering the theatre, he was a newspaper reporter, sold neckties, peddled vacuum cleaners from house to house, worked as a runner on Wall Street and shipped to South America as an ordinary BURGESS MEREDITH seaman. Eve LeGalliene gave the young man his first experience in front of the footlights and after an ap¬ prenticeship of four years, he fi¬ nally came into his own by contrib¬ uting a memorable Broadway per¬ formance in “Little ’01 Boy.” Then came a succession of other stage hits and in 1936 he made his mo¬ tion picture debut in “Winterset.” From here on, Meredith divided his career between Hollywood and New York. Some of his other screen appearances were in Doffs His Uniform Three Years BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT is Freddie Steele, former middleweight boxing champion of the world, pictured with Avrab, the mascot. Steele has a featured role in Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe,” the United Artists release now playing at the.Theatre. Directed by Academy Award-winner William A. Wellman, the film stars Burgess Meredith, who portrays Ernie Pyle. 23B—2 Column Scene (Mat .30) Freddie Steele retired at the age of 26, with an annuity ample for him and his family—but he would not quit because he had ambitions. So, after a meteoric career in which he soared to the world’s middleweight boxing championship, he looked around for a new field to conquer, and found one—acting. And, as in his ring career, he is quickly climbing the ladder to the top. As Sgt. Warnicki, in Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe,” star¬ ring Burgess Meredith, which is currently showing at the . Theatre, Steele is playing his big¬ gest role to date. This United Ar¬ tists release is based on the fa¬ mous correspondent’s best-seller, “Here Is Your War.” Steele started boxing when he was only 13 years old and his phe¬ nomenal rise was climaxed in 1936 when he won the world’s middle¬ weight crown from Babe Risko. He defended his title successfully 12 times. Defense No. 13, how¬ ever, proved unlucky. In this bat¬ tle, held in Seattle, he lost the ti¬ tle to A1 Hostak. This was Steele’s last fight, closing his remarkable career of 165 bouts, of which he lost only 5. He launched his new career in Preston Sturges’ “Hail, the Con¬ quering Hero,” followed by “Pin¬ up Girl” and “Duffy’s Tavern.” His performance in the present Lester Cowan production is fur¬ ther assurance that Freddie Steele has a long and promising future ahead of him on the screen. TWO PEAS IN A POD . . . Here’s the actual Ernie Pyle with Burgess Meredith, who portrays the cele¬ brated correspondent in Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe,” the great film tribute to the American Infan¬ tryman, now showing at the.Theatre. In this United Artists release, which was budgeted at $2,000,000, realism was the keynote and many actual war veterans of the battle scenes depicted appear in this motion picture. 20C—3 Column Scene (Mat .45) “PICKING A STAR" MAKES GREAT DRAMA PAGE ALl years, the Army has directed talent into show channels. it was to Dlav in DANCED HER WAY TO SCREEN Yolanda Lacca portrays Amelia, an amorous Italian cafe maid, in Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe,” Lester Cowan’s picturization of the immortal Pyle’s best seller, “Here Is Your War.” In this United Artists release, Burgess Meredith ap¬ pears as the celebrated correspondent. Barn in Paris, Yolanda, at the age of 12, immersed herself in the ballet and two years later she was invited by the great Massine to join the Monte Carlo Ballet Russe—as soloist—an almost unheard-of accom¬ plishment for a youngster of 14. Miss Lacca remained in the ballet for four years, touring Europe and both Americas. She little realized, when she said goodbye to her father — a noted anti-fascist in Paris—that she might never see him again. In the meantime, Yolanda con¬ tinued her outstanding success with the ballet and the inevitable hap¬ pened during an appearance on the west coast—a Hollywood con¬ tract. Her most recent appear¬ ances were in “Hostages” with Ar¬ turo de Cordova and “Of Human Bondage,” a remake of the early Bette Davis hit. In Ernie Pyle’s “Story of G. I. Joe” now on the screen of the YOLANDA LACCA . Theatre, she has a full 31A—1 Column Scene opportunity to demonstrate her (Mat .15) sultry talents as a femme fatale. Burgess MEREDITH ★ Freddie STEELE ★ Yolanda LACCA Page Twenty-two