Search - The Fighting Sullivans on DVD


The Fighting Sullivans
The Fighting Sullivans
Actors: Anne Baxter, Thomas Mitchell, Selena Royle, Edward Ryan, Trudy Marshall
Genres: Drama, Military & War
PG     1999     1hr 52min


     
6

Larger Image

Movie Details

Actors: Anne Baxter, Thomas Mitchell, Selena Royle, Edward Ryan, Trudy Marshall
Genres: Drama, Military & War
Sub-Genres: Classics, Family Life, Military & War
Studio: Roan Archival Group
Format: DVD - Black and White
DVD Release Date: 10/26/1999
Original Release Date: 02/03/1944
Theatrical Release Date: 02/03/1944
Release Year: 1999
Run Time: 1hr 52min
Screens: Black and White
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 8
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English
See Also:
We're sorry, our database doesn't have DVD description information for this item. Click here to check Amazon's database -- you can return to this page by closing the new browser tab/window if you want to obtain the DVD from SwapaDVD.
Click here to submit a DVD description for approval.

Similar Movies

The Long Gray Line
Director: John Ford
6
   UR   2002   2hr 18min
To Hell and Back
Director: Jesse Hibbs
9
   UR   2004   1hr 46min
Sergeant York
Two-Disc Special Edition
Director: Howard Hawks
   NR   2006   2hr 14min
Since You Went Away
7
   NR   2004   2hr 52min
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
8
   PG-13   2007   2hr 18min
Carbine Williams
Director: Richard Thorpe
1
   UR   2009   1hr 33min

Similarly Requested DVDs

The Green Mile
Director: Frank Darabont
   R   2000   3hr 9min
   
Avatar
Director: James Cameron
   PG-13   2010   2hr 42min
   
The Sum of All Fears
Special Collector's Edition
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
   PG-13   2002   2hr 4min
   
The Next Three Days
Director: Paul Haggis
   PG-13   2011   2hr 2min
   
Children of Men
Widescreen Edition
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
   R   2007   1hr 49min
   
Jesse Stone Sea Change
Director: Robert Harmon
   UR   2008   1hr 27min
   
Walk the Line
Widescreen Edition
Director: James Mangold
   PG-13   2006   2hr 16min
   
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Director: Mark Waters
   PG-13   2009   1hr 40min
   
The Departed
Widescreen Edition
Director: Martin Scorsese
   R   2007   2hr 31min
   
Godzilla
Director: Roland Emmerich
   PG-13   1998   2hr 19min
   
 

Movie Reviews

An American family sends its five boys off to World War II
Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 07/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Fighting Sullivans" is the true story of five brothers who died together when their Navy ship, the Juneau, was sunk in the South Pacific during World War II. But only the last act of this 1944 film, directed by Lloyd Bacon, shows the Sullivans at war. Most of this film is pure Americana, following the lives of the boys from their childhood in Waterloo, Iowa. Thomas Mitchell and the marvelous Selena Royle are the loving parents, while the five boys are played by unknown actors: Edward Ryan (Al), John Campbell (Frank), James Cardwell (George), John Alvin (Matt), and George Offerman (Joe). Trudy Marshall plays their only sister, Genevieve. Top billing actually goes to Anne Baxter as the young girl who marries into the family and will be left a widow with a baby in arms. Ward Bond plays the Navy lieutenant who befriends the family when the Sullivans insist that they will only join up if they can serve together. Eventually the Navy relents and the boys get their wish. Audiences knew the tragic fate of the Sullivans, although the film was originally released as "The Sullivans" and pretty much bombed at the box office. Retitled "The Fighting Sullivans" and re-released, it became a smash hit. The use of unknown actors made the film all the more effective, especially since it refrained from the sort of cliches you would expect. If the scene where the parents learn all five boys have died does not get you, the next scene will: Mr. Sullivan goes off to his job on the railroad and as the train passes the water tower where his boys waved to him as kids, he salutes them. Actually, this film works so well that the final shot, of the Sullivans in uniform striding across the clouds of the afterlife does not seem one whit hokey. There is a documentary available on the Sullivans, which tells how one of the boys survived the sinking before dying in the waters off of Guadacanal. I would not have thought anything could have made this story more tragic, but that bit of information certainly made it worse for me."
Will live in my heart and memory forever
Lawrance M. Bernabo | 11/20/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"My mother brought me to see this movie at the Crest movie theatre in Highbridge. It was soon after the Sullivan brothers had so heroically died for their beloved country. There were many other mothers or fathers who wanted their children to learn about why we were at war at that time, and to have respect for the Sullivans and all the other men and women in their service of their country during World War II.I was only five years of age at that time, but I remember everything about the movie. Ofcourse, I saw it in the movies a couple of more times within the next few years as well as staying up until the wee small hours of the morning to see it on the late show. Each and every time, the movie evoked the same reaction from me, tears and trembling. I felt as though every member of the Sullivan family was a friend of mine. Perhaps I may sound old fashioned or outdated, but I appreciated The Fighting Sullivans more than I could any of the films of the present day. This film was realistic, it dealt with the thin line which separates life from death. The present day films focus, for the most part on fantasy, violence, and sex, which have many negative effects on the people who so choose to take them seriously. Whereas, The Fighting Sullivans encompased strong family values, the family was not perfect, but with their strong love and respect for each other, they were able to overcome any challenges which life might have brought them. Good family values is the basis of life.Oh, yes, this is one of the greatest tragedies of all times, but this film has had positive effects on me as well as many others. It has served as an inspiration and an appreciation of our great American heritage, thanks to some of the many brave servicemen such as the Sullivans who helped uphold the principles of democracy for us.My ambition is to purchase this film and watch it periodically, and share it with any family member(s) of friends who would care to watch it with me."
Always a classic, never too late to see.
Michael George (mgkski@juno.com) | Lombard, Illinois | 11/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1955 my mother made me sit and watch this movie at the ripe young age of 10. I will never forget the emotions that overcame me even at this youg age. For years I had looked, and looked for this movie, and alas a few years back it appeared on late nite tv. I watched, I recalled, and I cried my eyes out. Mind you I am a seasoned Viet Nam veteran...and this movie is so realistic as to what life was and should be, that it will affect anyone who views it in a favorable light. I now insist that my two adult children view this movie, and will purchase it for each of them as a reminder as to family values, and the sacrifice that past American's have made for our freedoms. This is a film that should be viewed by every American. This is a film which should be included as required viewing for any immigrant entering and enjoying the freedoms of the USA. This film is reality, family values, loyalty, tradition, and patriosim all intertwined into a classic movie which has and will endure over the years."
One of the best
Stephen | New Haven, CT, USA | 12/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"(Note. This review and every other one on this page gives away the ending of this movie. It does not necessarily ruin the movie, but if you don't want to know, don't read on).There are so many criteria for what makes a film good that to try to say universally that any one is one of the best is asking for argument. But in my book anyway, this movie has all it needs to make it one of the greatest movies of the century.It approaches its subject from a unique and brilliant perspective, one which is actually the most realistic. People do not start their lives going to war, so it is impossible to see what war really is by just seeing a movie that starts with a young man (or woman) "going off to war". (There is a place for movies like that, of course). Instead, soldiers are persons with lives behind and possibly ahead of them, and this movie makes that point with more than usual strength.Also, as others pointed out, the first part as well makes it an excellent family movie. The portrait of the young Sullivans, while adding pathos to the finale, is a fine view of a loving, close-knit family.It is not an anti-war movie, but merely a movie to show one how great a sacrifice was made by so many for the continuing freedom with which we are blessed. (Even thought that sort of thing is said so often that we get cynical.)I highly recommend it."