The Sullivans (1944)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Edward Doherty (story)
Mary C. McCall Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

3 February 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

The Guts and Glory of the Fighting Navy!!

Plot:

The lives of a close-knit group of brothers growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression...

Plot Keywords:

Iowa | Family Relationships | Navy | Priest | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Anne Baxter	...	Katherine Mary Sullivan
Thomas Mitchell	...	Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan
Selena Royle	...	Mrs. Alleta Sullivan
Edward Ryan	...	Albert Leo 'Al' Sullivan
Trudy Marshall	...	Genevieve 'Gen' Sullivan
John Campbell	...	Francis Henry 'Frank' Sullivan
James Cardwell	...	George Thomas Sullivan
John Alvin	...	Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
George Offerman Jr.	...	Joesph Eugene 'Joe' Sullivan
Roy Roberts	...	Father Francis
Ward Bond	...	Lt. Cmdr. Robinson

Also Known As:

The Fighting Sullivans (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #9650) | USA:PG (DVD/VHS release)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the induction center, the Petty Officer the Sullivan brothers bull past has his Crow (Navy Chevrons) sewn on the mid-line of his sleeve with a crease running through the center of the chevrons. Navy uniforms have the stripes sewn forward of the crease, not on the crease.

Movie Connections:

Edited into All This and World War II (1976)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus

Heroic and Touching

The USS Sullivans is now anchored in a Naval Park in Buffalo, NY. This destroyer was named in honor of the Sullivan Brothers who all lost their life during the battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. After Pearl Harbor they all enlisted in the Navy with the condition of not being separated. While serving on the USS Juno they perished together. Shipmates reported that three of the brothers, when out of harms way, returned to the burning ship for their brothers when it went under. When news of this tragic loss was learned, the government instituted the rule that stands today, no brothers will serve in the same combat theatre. This was due to the Sullivans.

I saw this movie one night with my mother on late night TV in 1981. Let me tell you, the very memory of the ending of this movie brings me to tears. A mixture of pride and sorrow. Do not hesitate, purchase, and watch this film.