Sergeant York by Kevin Fisk

Title/Year : Sergeant York (1941)
Director/Birth Country/Year Born: Howard Hawks/Goshen, Indiana/1896
Budget: $1.4 million
Gross: $4 million 
Synopsis: A true story about a Tennessee country boy (Alvin York) that finds religion in his life and tries to dodge the draft for WWI.  After denied appeals, York ends up in the war only to become one of the most decorated heroes in the war.
Political/ Social Commentary: Attitude of Australians toward the British, the importance of bringing the fight to the enemy so the fight doesn't come to them.
Narrative and Visual Keywords: Sharp-shooter, Southern hospitality, Pro-war
Main Character/Arc: Alvin York is introduced as a nice young man who takes care of his mother and siblings, but enjoys drinking and fighting when away from the house.  When he is denied a piece of land, he almost turns violent but after being struck by lightning, finds religion in his life and ultimately the errors of his ways.  When dodging the draft is unsuccessful, he joins the war, and is immediately seen as a leader on the battlefield due to his impressive marksmanship with a rifle.  An American history book wins Alvin over, and he decides fighting for his country is most important to him.
Notable Collaboration: William Keighley was scheduled to direct but took another job when shooting was postponed.
Historical relevance/recognition:  Sergeant York became the highest grossing movie of 1941, and remains one of the highest grossing when adjusted for inflation.  The huge success at the box office can be attributed by the attack on pearl harbor, which happened while the film was in theaters.
Etc.: The film helped recruit soldiers for WWII with it's patriotic theme.

1.  as far as evidence of ineffective military leadership,  there was none.  This film was created to inspire people to fight for their country.  Alvin York made his duty to his country look easy.  There was however, evidence of ineffective leadership on the German front.  Some of the soldiers calling them "dumb animals".  The first act of the film portrays York as a working class hillbilly who scrapes to get by and yearns for a piece of "bottom land".  Once York gets to military boot camp, he is treated just as one of the guys; his upbringing becomes irrelevant to the other soldiers.  When he comes back from the war as a decorated war hero,  his social status seems to be elevated.

2.  The film uses the protagonist York as a strong man who after wrestling with his morals, ultimately decides to follow the code of honor and fight for his country.  The film shows him making the right decision as he is showered with praise and adulation upon his return.

3.  All the familiar pleasures of cinema are present in this film.  When the female lead Gracie is introduced, she has a shallow depth of feel and a twinkle in her eye.  She catches Alvin York's attention along with the audience's, and there is a definite feel of romance for the viewer.  Love at first sight for the two of them.

4.  The Germans are portrayed as big dumb animals who are sloppy during war and as cowards who surrender easily.