While "Sgt York" is just a so-so biopic, the bit where York gets hit by lightning and "see's the light" is a joke! York himself wanted Coop in it, fine! Was he hit by lightning in reality? - I doubt it! The hit by lightning bit is so contrived as to be laughable!
I've seen this film over a dozen times and have commented on it before.
Once York's in the service, the film improves considerably.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
shareIn the trivia notes on this site, it says that the lightning strike was an invention of the writers. It is a convenient occurrence in the plot, but a minor part of the entire story.
shareWell I knew that basically but found it odd that anyone in their right mind would buy it for a second.
That and the fact that I personally feel that Coop was totally miscast as Alvin York.
Why would it be so hard to believe that he might be struck by lightning? Lots of people survive lightning strikes.
Or are you just trying to sound pompous and arrogant?
To quote Gunnery Sgt Hightower in "Heartbreak Ridge": "You're beginnin' to bore the hell out of me!"
And I mean you you Simeon sap!
The correct spelling for reference to the animal genus that includes Old World monkeys is "simian." San Simeon is a locality on the central California coast.
Another near miss Is the lightning strike. Alvin York is not struck by lightning; it just misses him and splits a tree some yards away. In the movie he takes it as a "sign from God" to change his ways.
I have read different accounts on this incident. One said that it actually happened, but several years before the time shown in the movie and another that said it is complete fabrication. Either way, he does not get a direct strike.
No *beep* Sherlock!
That was my point numbskull!
That isn't what you wrote, you self important, officious ignorant pea brain. You said he couldn't survive a lightning strike. If you don't know how to write, don't blame others for misunderstanding your random scribble.
I found it best just to ignore this idiot. He obviously doesn't have a clue what he is talking about and he's too stupid to know how stupid he is. All he wants to do is argue.
shareRoger, agree.
But didn't the lightning melt his rifle?
And then I wondered why he didn't keep the rifle as a souvenir.
Like many instances in many movies, the lightning strike, or near miss, and its associated effects are "dramatized" for the storyline. Lightning is a complex phenomenon and I hesitate to label anything about it as impossible, including the melting of Alvin York's rifle while he's holding it in his hands without him being personally severely injured. I think the scenario as depicted is low in probability, but not impossible.
shareI kind of worked the 'willing suspension of disbelief' by thinking he was holding the wooden part of the rifle when the lightning struck and we all know electricity doesn't flow through wood all that well. ;)
share