MovieChat Forums > Sergeant York (1941) Discussion > Joan Leslie (Gracie) almost ruins the mo...

Joan Leslie (Gracie) almost ruins the movie for me

posted 15 years ago by pcflraveralex
9 replies | jump to latest

while stunningly beautiful and rather experienced with several other films under her belt(mostly bit and minor roles), Joan Leslie (Gracie) almost ruins the movie for me. off the top of my head i can recall at least 3 scenes where she breaks character. the first that really gets me is where she sees york running through her yard on a fox hunt and he stops to say hello, she goes from a southern accent to a kinda Scottish draw, the boy does it to, and then she switches back. next at the train station when york comes home she goes from her southern accent to an annoying 1940's glamorous/high pitched screech kinda voice, you know the sound. the third that i can pull from memory is the final scene when gracie and york walk up to their new house, again she goes from her southern voice to that screechy crap...i almost have to stop the movie and cool off. beyond that i love this movie, but she almost kills it for me.

[–] Piperson 12 years ago

She really isn't much of an actress is she? But she is beautiful. Some girls are so beautiful I guess we are supposed to put on the mute when they open their mouths.

Elizabeth Taylor has the same effect on me. I am transported by her beauty but I have to start laughing and making fun of her when she opens her mouth. No offense to either of these ladies. I know acting is hard and voices are a gift.

[–] manage-932-700755 12 years ago

I think Joan was a fine actress. That's why they kept using her successfully with much older great leading men- Ccoper, Cagney, Bogart, Astaire, and Dennis Morgan. I didn't notice changes in her speaking voice.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] manage-932-700755 12 years ago

Well, she was all of 15 years old. She sounded like a 15-year old. Of course, I am a big fan of hers. "They give it to ya, Alvin. The people of the State of Tennessee. For what you done."

She was better as she matured. My favorite film of Joan's was "The Hard Way."

[–] crlnrgbrght5 11 years ago

I knew that wasn't an authentic Southern accent She had, so I looked up Her Bio, and saw She was born in Michigan, and, that She was born in 1925. Dickie Moore Who, played York's Brother George was born in 1925 too, She should've played His Girlfriend.

[–] Pbaumannjr-775-71695 9 years ago

I thought she was fine. I ever noticed the voice changes you mentioned. I had no idea she was so much younger than Cooper until I read it here. She sure didn't seem awed by playing across from such a big star.

[–] jerann 9 years ago

Just watched this wonderful movie and found that I disliked her for the same reason! Would have thought she would be a pleasant sounding "slow" talker like the rest of the people.

[–] kbarada 9 years ago

She played pretty much the same type of character in High Sierra 1941, which was released in January, 8 months earlier than Sgt. York. Her character's name was Velma, and was an "Oakie" with a club foot. A much older Bogart playing "Mad Dog" Earle, a bad guy on the lam, fell in love with sweet, gushing 19 year old Velma.

She delivered her lines in the same accent as in Sgt. York. Her performance was over the top and not in a good way.

[–] PoliticallyIncorrectone 8 years ago

Joan Leslie was a type very common in Hollywood; the idealized all American girl; beautiful, wholesome, but not a flirt and certainly not a femme fatale. Perhaps not even pinup material. Teresa Wright, who starred opposite Cooper in "Pride Of The Yankees" was another. Olivia DeHavilland was the best example.

I loved Joan Leslie in "Yankee Doodle Dandy".