“The [Fighting] Sullivans” (Movie Review-2/10/44)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 2/10/44 | Bosley Crowther, Sam Zolotow

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles and the occasional radio broadcast delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Clips

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Netflix has “The Fighting Sullivans” on DVD. The final scene of the film is the launching of the destroyer “The Sullivans,” on April 4, 1943 (page 8) .

Opening credits

[abb]

USS Juneau, June 1942

[abb]

USS The Sullivans, October 29, 1962

[fredhead]

Current USS The Sullivans DDG-68, an Arliegh Burke class guided missle destroyer.

[BuffaloJack]

I served 11 months on USS The SULLIVANS, DD537.
The October 29, 1962 date would put it the month before I was assigned to the crew.

[Arthur McGowan]

The movie is treacle.

It obliterates the Sullivans’ Catholicism.

Of course, it could not show the suffering of the family in subsequent years.

[iowamark]

Netflix has “The Fighting Sullivans” on DVD. The final scene of the film is the launching of the destroyer “The Sullivans,” on April 4, 1943

When I saw it on tv, I thought that the final scene was the five brothers waving goodbye and walking off into the clouds as if to heaven.

More recently:

Kelly Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, prepares to visit the crew of her sponsor ship, USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), anchored in the Chesapeake Bay.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

When I saw it on tv, I thought that the final scene was the five brothers waving goodbye and walking off into the clouds as if to heaven.

That's right. I should have said, final earthly scene.

From the linked article it doesn't sound like the youngest brother's widow and son were on hand at the actual launching as they were in the movie.

[Doogle]

I was at the Dedication of a building (77) in south Kearney, NJ back in November in the name of the USS Juneau. I was invited to attend because I had an uncle (William G.Meeker)
past along with the Sullivans.

http://www.theobserver.com/?p=17486

[henkster]

On a note not related to the USS The Sullivans, the Kenny Baker who appeared with Mary Martin in “One Touch of Venus” was not R2D2. Different guy.

[henkster]

The Atlanta class light cruisers, of which USS Juneau was one, was the forerunner of the type of ships that would actually be needed by the United States Navy during the war and after. She was specifically designed to be an anti-aircraft platform, intended to be used as fleet air defense. Very light skinned, and only mounting 5” guns, the Atlantas were never intended to stand in the line of battle and slug it out in a surface fight. However, such were the times that any ship would do, and Juneau was put in a fight she wasn’t meant to be in. Ironically, she survived that fight, only to be lost to a submarine torpedo.

[ruesrose]

Hey, Jack, my uncle served on the USS The Sullivans during WW2. I remember him saying that he had to assist in the leg amputation of a Japanese POW. When they got into the port where the POW was going to be interred, as the prisoner passed my uncle he said, in perfect English “thanks for nothing you son of a b***h”.

Rest in peach, Chief Horace I May.

[larryjohnson]

I will never forget this movie, seen when I was 6.
“Hey,wait for me!”
The Sullivan’s has been here at Mayport NS

[dfwgator]

My understanding is that they delayed the release of The Sullivans because they thought it would be too damaging to morale.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I remember a show about WWII on the homefront. It was narrated by Johnny Carson (that segment). He said that the movie “The Sullivans” wasn't shown in several theaters in 1944 ( mostly in the Midwest ). It was thought it would hit too close to home for many families, the end of the movie had allot to do with the decision not to show it. Many showings where the movie was played had the almost final scene with the boys on the water tower edited out. IIRC the scene with the five brothers waving goodbye and walking off into the clouds as if to heaven was used to replace it as it was considered not as sad.

[colorado tanker]

To underscore the reputation of The Sullivans as a “lucky ship,” she was refueling in Aden in 2000 and was the first ship targeted by Al Qaeda, but they botched the attempt and didn’t get close.

[GOPJ]

Nice - thanks for sharing.