"Sergeant York" Gary Cooper 1941 Warner Bros

Gary Cooper won an Oscar for his portrayal of real-life soldier Sergeant Alvin York, a war hero who astonished the world with his bravery and modesty. Although an unruly lad while growing up in rural Tennessee, he later reformed to pacifist ideals, but was called to serve in World War I where his valor on the battlefield earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor. The film is directed by Howard Hawks and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.