Yanks

Yanks

1979

American GIs stationed in Yorkshire in the final months of the Second World War form bonds and romantic attachments with local women, exploring the cultural clashes and tenderness that develop between them. John Schlesinger's warm and underrated film stars Richard Gere, William Devane, and Vanessa Redgrave.

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Director

  • John Schlesinger

Cast

  • Richard Gere
  • Lisa Eichhorn
  • Vanessa Redgrave

Filming Locations

  • Delph

    The village of Delph in Saddleworth was among the northern English communities used as a backdrop for the wartime drama, providing period-dressed street scenes representative of a 1940s northern mill town.

  • Dobcross

    This was where the landlord of The Swan is rudely awakened at 1am by two GIs demanding half and half, a mixture of bitter and mild.

  • Halifax

    A scene of some GI trucks climbing a steep hill was filmed at Southowram Bank.

  • Hyde

    The dance and fight sequences were filmed in the Town Hall.

  • Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

    Keighley station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was used for the climactic departure sequence, in which the American GIs board their train to ship out to the front, using an authentic preserved Second World War locomotive.

  • Manchester Ship Canal

    The Manchester Ship Canal near Moore in Cheshire was used for a scene in which Jean and the Sergeant enjoy a cycle ride together, with Fiddlers Ferry Power Station visible on the horizon.

  • Oldham

    Locations in Oldham and the wider Saddleworth area, including Dobcross, were used for period-dressed street scenes, convoy sequences and community scenes depicting a Lancashire mill town under wartime American occupation.

  • Saddleworth

    This was the location for the village shop.

  • Springhead

    Used in the opening shot where the trucks are climbing up a steep hill adjacent to a chimney stack.

  • Stalybridge

    This was used for a number of scenes. The shot of the war memorial with Jeeps driving past was in Trinity St., the orchestra concert was filmed at St.Paul's Church and various street scenes were filmed around the town.

  • Stamford Golf Club

    Stamford Golf Club near Mossley was used for the scene in which Helen plays golf with friends while GI John watches from nearby, an early encounter scene establishing the cross-cultural romance.

  • Stockport

    The Davenport Cinema in Stockport was used for the cinema scenes, including the audience sing-along sequence featuring the Compton theatre organ; it is also where GI Matt Dyson (Richard Gere) first meets Jean Moreton (Lisa Eichhorn).

  • Uppermill

    The village of Uppermill features throughout the film.