Immortal Sergeant (1943)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
Out on patrol in the war-time desert a Canadian corporal reminisces
about the woman he has left behind in London and ponders whether
she will fall for the charms of his rival in love.
At the same time he worries about how he would get on
with his outfit if his crack sergeant was not there to guide him.
Circumstances combine to give answers to both questions.
Written by Jeremy Perkins

Full Cast
Henry Fonda .... Cpl. Colin Spence
Maureen O'Hara .... Valentine
Thomas Mitchell .... Sgt. Kelly
Allyn Joslyn .... Cassity
Reginald Gardiner .... Benedict
Melville Cooper .... Pilcher
Bramwell Fletcher .... Symes
Morton Lowry .... Cottrell
John Banner .... Officer (uncredited)
Wilson Benge .... Waiter (uncredited)
Gordon Clark .... Soldier (uncredited)
James Craven .... NCO (uncredited)
Italia DeNubila .... Dance specialty (uncredited)
Bess Flowers .... Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Bud Geary .... Driver (uncredited)
Frederick Giermann .... Soldier (uncredited)
Henry Guttman .... Soldier (uncredited)
Charles Irwin .... NCO (uncredited)
Guy Kingsford .... Lorry driver (uncredited)
Peter Lawford .... Soldier (uncredited)
Robert Lowery .... (uncredited)
Anthony Marsh .... Assistant Post Corporal (uncredited)
Bob Mascagno .... Dance specialty (uncredited)
John Meredith .... Soldier (uncredited)
Jean Prescott .... (uncredited)
Donald Stuart .... Post corporal (uncredited)
David Thursby .... Bren Carrier driver (uncredited)
Leslie Vincent .... Runner (uncredited)
Hans von Morhart .... Soldier (uncredited)
Sam Waagenaar .... German (uncredited)
John Whitney .... Soldier (uncredited)
Eric Wilton .... Headwaiter (uncredited)

Writing Credits
John Brophy novel
Lamar Trotti

Cinematography
Arthur C. Miller

Memorable Quotes

Filming Location
20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Immortal Sergeant is a 1943 war film set
in the North African desert during World War II.
It stars Henry Fonda as a corporal lacking in confidence
in both love and war, Maureen O'Hara as his girlfriend,
and Thomas Mitchell as the title character.
The film was based on the novel of the same name by John Brophy.

Another good pairing with Henry Fonda.
Also starring Thomas Mitchell;
and another Directed by Stahl.
A good film with realistic battle scenes,
and at least a happy ending

User Review

Author: pcronin

Quote

This movie is lauded for its realistic battle scenes of soldiers suffering during wartime. Henry Fonda is Colin Spence, a well meaning Canadian gent; Benedict(Reg Gardiner)a brash British bloke, his nemesis. They are schoolmate writers in love with the same beautiful woman, Valentine(Maureen O'Hara). They attended school together but while Benedict was privileged, Colin was humble. It has been the same in life, where Benedict has enjoyed fame and fortune and Colin has known only failure. After seeing a French acquaintance herded to prison camp during the nazi occupation, Colin decides to enlist. There he meets his Immortal Sergeant(Thomas Mitchell), a frankly admittedly self flawed man who runs his small quirky outfit with instinct and wit, leading them on long traverses through hot desert seeming with no end but resulting in nazi casualties and while he gets killed provides for his men and gives them hope to carry on. They discover a nazi outpost and raid it for some much needed supplies. They then surround the camp and do a good job of killing the men. Three of them survive, and two of them including Cpl Colin Spence are now declared heroes. While recovering in hospital, a journalist reporter comes to interview Col. Unbeknownst to both of them, it is Reg. Col had just got a telegram from Valentine, and he tells Bene to wire her his intent to marry her. Reg says no way, but Col now has backbone and says you better. Reg does it and Maureen is now here to wait for her Lieutenant a the station upon his return home. Another happy end!

Hi Todd,

You may be interested in the Review
in Maureen's Movie Reviews,

Click on the link below,

Immortal Sergeant

Quote

Another good pairing with Henry Fonda.
Also starring Thomas Mitchell;
and another Directed by Stahl.
A good film with realistic battle scenes,
and at least a happy ending

Jim, it's great to see you use the expression 'flick'
I haven't heard that for years.
Over here, we used to say,
"we're going to the 'flicks'"