The Fighting Sullivans (1944)

The Fighting Sullivans documents the tragic loss of the five Sullivan brothers, who died while serving together on the USS Juneau in the Solomon Islands. This story served as an inspiration for Saving Private Ryan, and it is as relevant and painful a story today as it was then.

Although the film itself is not at all what I expected it to be. We find ourselves "getting to know" the Sullivan boys, from their christenings, on up through the years and their various (mis)adventures. Instead of a typical "war movie", we get a sort of biography. Not that its a bad thing, the majority of the film is as heart-warming, funny, and true-to-life for most people as you can get.

Which makes the final few scenes all the more heart-wrenching. In a lot of ways this film could be made today, in spite of the fact that the Navy won't allow these sort of situations to happen anymore (I think?) But whether its five or one, the loss is just as bad.

The Fighting Sullivans is also a bit of a time-machine, with respect to what it was like growing up back then, and how problems were dealt with. The scenes with the young brothers running around un-challenged in a train yard made me think how commonplace that sort of thing must've been, and how horrified most people today would be at that. The entire "smoking" incident also brings a "it'd never happen today" vibe, although you've all heard the stories, you'd probably be thrown in jail for doing that to your kids today.... Don't even get me started on the wood-box scene!

Like most films of the era, though, The Fighting Sullivans ends on a somewhat triumphant note, both with the "life must go on" mentality of the father as he goes to his job the same as always immediately after hearing the terrible news, and passing the water tower where his young kids would see him off. Likewise as we end the picture, with the family christening the USS The Sullivans, and we see the brothers marching off towards the pearly gates.

I can only imagine the reaction to this film by the public of that time, with so many lives given up, and so many others sharing a common experience. The Fighting Sullivans, while not so much war movie as it is tribute to American sacrifice, is still a classic.

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The Fighting Sullivans - Commemorative Edition List Price: $9.71 Sale Price: $9.67 You save: $0.04 (%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Description

The Guts and Glory of the Navy! This is the movie that inspired "Saving Private Ryan." It's the true story of five brothers who fought and died together when their ship, the American cruiser Juneau, was sunk in the South Pacific during World War II. The Fighting Sullivans is something more than a worthy tribute to a pair of small town parents and the five sons they lost when the Juneau blew up in a battle off Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. It is a heartwarming slice of Americana that will fill in the background of any number of Americans on the fighting front. The audience's awareness of the news in store for the Sullivan family adds considerably to the film's effect. The Fighting Sullivans generates emotion strictly on it's own terms and without bidding for tears. This Commemorative Edition marks the 63rd anniversary of the sinking of the Juneau. DVD features: 2005 Interview with Frank Holmgren (last living survivor of the sinking)| Video Inside the 5 Sullivan Brothers Veterans Museum| A message from Bob Neymeyer of the Grout Museum| Family Photos| Last Muster List| Memorials from family members| Survivor List| Juneau Action account letter by Lieutenant Roger W O'Neil – Mc-V (G) U S Naval Reserve| Personal Letters| Letter from President Franklin D Roosevelt| New Digital Transfer| Original Theatrical Trailer.

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: Video Communications Inc.
Manufacturer: Vci Video
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Anne Baxter
• Thomas Mitchell
• Selena Royle
• Edward Ryan
• Trudy Marshall

Reviews

Related posts:

1. The Fighting 69th (1940)
2. The Purple Heart (1944)
3. Wing and a Prayer (1944)
4. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
5. The Way Ahead (1944)
6. Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944)
7. Private SNAFU – Booby Traps (1944)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 8:12 am and is filed under 1940s, Reviews, World War II Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.