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The Fighting Sullivans

20 votes

The lives of a close-knit group of brothers growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression and of World War II and their eventual deaths in action in the Pacific theater are chronicled in this film based on a true story.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1944-02-03

Runtime: 112 mins

Director: Lloyd Bacon

Writer: Mary C. McCall, Jr.

Spoken language: English

Genres: Drama, History, War

Original title: The Fighting Sullivans

Production Companies: 20th Century Fox

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Katherine Mary Sullivan

Anne Baxter

Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan

Thomas Mitchell

Mrs. Alleta Sullivan

Selena Royle

Albert Leo 'Al' Sullivan

Edward Ryan

Genevieve 'Gen' Sullivan

Trudy Marshall

Francis Henry 'Frank' Sullivan

John Campbell

George Thomas Sullivan

James Cardwell

Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan

John Alvin

Joesph Eugene 'Joe' Sullivan

George Offerman, Jr.

Father Francis

Roy Roberts

Lt. Cmdr. Robinson

Ward Bond

Genevieve, as a child (uncredited)

Nancy June Robinson

Al, as a child (uncredited)

Bobby Driscoll

Gladys (uncredited)

Mary McCarty

Reviews

Geronimo1967

After a rather noisily slow, child-led start, this becomes one of the more touching films based on the true story of the Irish-American "Sullivan" family. Selena Boyle (Mum") and Thomas Mitchell ("Paw") are good as they go through all the usual scrapes gradually moulding their six children into a formidable family unit that must deal with the ups and downs of the American depression in the 1920s through to the boy's participation in the Pacific theatre of WWII. The factual elements of their fate are well documented - indeed they even had a destroyer named after them, so there is no real jeopardy in this. It is a straightforward story of courage, bravery and sibling loyalty that like so many other of the better wartime dramas, focusses on the achievements and integrity of the ordinary folks who fought in WWII with charm, humour, "Greensleeves" and Ward Bond. It is a very slow burn, the first hour borders on the melodramatic as the kids all go a-courting, teasing and brother-baiting but it is well worth wading through the slush as once it gets going it is quite compelling to watch.

2022-06-30

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