Introduction

Yanks is a drama film directed by John Schlesinger and starring Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Lisa Eichhorn and Tony Melody.

The film is set during the Second World War in Northern England and features no combat scenes.

The film depicts the relationships between American soldiers stationed in semi-rural England and the local population during the build-up to Operation Overlord in 1944.

In particular, three romances between US service personnel and local women are shown, in order to explore the effects of the cultural differences between the brash GIs or ‘Yanks’ and the more reserved British population.

Outline

A small northern town soon finds out that a large U.S. Army base is being established for the build-up to the Normandy landings. Soon thousands of rambunctious American troops, or “Yanks” as they are known to the British, descend upon the area. On leave in the town, Technical Sergeant Matt Dyson, encounters Jean Moreton while out to the cinema. She is the fiancée of Ken, a British soldier fighting overseas, and initially rebuffs Matt’s advances. He is quite persistent, and she, doubtful about her relationship with Ken, eventually accepts him. The handsome, brash American is in stark contrast to the restrained Englishmen she has known. Soon, she is keeping company with Matt, though it is largely platonic at first.

For her part, Helen is a bit more worldly in her affairs. Captain John comes to her estate often, and a relationship develops. They are both married, but her husband is away at sea, and his wife is thousands of miles distant.

Eventually, the kind-hearted Matt Dyson is accepted by the Moreton family, notwithstanding Jean’s engagement. They welcome his visits, when he, as an army cook, often brings hard-to-find foods normally on wartime rationing and other presents. But when news of Ken’s death in action arrives, Jean’s ailing mother condemns their relationship as a kind of betrayal.

Jean and Matt travel together to a Welsh seaside resort, where they make love but without completion when Jean calls out Ken’s name. Jean is crushed, although Matt says “not like this.” She feels spurned, and that her willingness to risk everything has not been matched by him, concluding that he is “not ready” for her.

Shortly afterwards, the Americans ship out by troop train to Southern England to prepare for D-Day. A characteristic last-minute gift and message from Matt prompt Jean into racing to the railway station. With the town and station a hive of activity, hundreds of the townswomen, some of them pregnant from liaisons with men they may never see again, scramble to catch one last glimpse of their American boyfriends before the train leaves. Matt shouts from the departing train that he will return.

Trivia & Goofs

• The ending, where the troops board their train to head to the front, were filmed at Keighley railway station on the line belonging to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. An authentic Second World War locomotive, which is preserved by the heritage railway, was used for the scene.

Production & Filming Details

• Directer: John Schlesinger.
• Writers: Colin Welland and Walter Bernstein (screenplay), Colin Welland (story).
• Producers: Joseph Janni and Lester Persky.
• Music: Richard Rodney Bennett.
• Cinematography: Dick Bush.
• Production: CIP Filmproducktion GMBH.
• Distribution: Universal Pictures (US) and United Artists (UK).
• Release Date: 19 September 1979 (UK & US).
• Running time: 141 minutes.
• Country: West Germany.
• Language: English.

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