Based on the true story of five brothers, The Fighting Sullivans is a family melodrama, centering on a quintet of male siblings (they had one sister). who fought and died together when their ship, the American cruiser Juneau, was sunk in the South Pacific.
With the exception of the last reel, most of the film tells why the boys fought rather than how they fought.
The tale traces their lives from boyhood in Waterloo, Iowa and was in essence a story of “typical” Americans and of love centered around home and family.
The account of the lives of these brave and patriotic men was mean to givea all Americans a renewed sense of what the war was all about.
Thomas Mitchell and Selena Royle play the parents of Al, Frank, George, Matt and Joe, who are all portrayed by unknown actors, giving the saga an addes sense of realism.
A simple but intimate and highly emotional family saga, The Fighting Sullivans was a sleeper hit at the box-office due to its patriotic tone and time of release.
The title changed between the film’s initial New York release and subsequent bookings: Originallythe film was called The Sullivans, but proved to be a disappointment at the box office until the new title was appended, whereupon it became a success.
It is a rare opportunity to see the versatile character actor, Thomas Mitchell (Oscar winner for the 1939 Western Stagecoach) play a lead role as the quick-tempered bu good-hearted father.
Cast:
Anne Baxter
Thomas Mitchell
Selena Royle
Edward Ryan
Trudy Marshall
John Campbell
James Cardwell
John Alvin
George Otterman, Jr.
Roy Roberts
Ward Bond
Mary McCarty
Bobby Driscoll
Nancy June Robinson
Marvin Davis
Buddy Swan
Billy Cummings
Johnny Calkins
Credits
New York release date: February 10, 1944
20th Century-Fox.
Produced by Sam Jaffe.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Screenplay by Mary C. McCall, Jr. from a story by Edward Doherty and Jules Schermer.
