Thomas sullivan of waterloo, iowa, in a 1987 address. I believe this is commented on at the begining of the film. Even if youre not crazy about war movies, youd still like this. As a result of this event every branch of the military has taken steps to prevent this from happening again. The sullivan brothers grew up looking out for each other and continued doing so when they went off to war w. The sullivans 1944 based on a true story about five brothers from waterloo, iowa, the fighting sullivans 1944 resonated with a warweary nation, a reminder of the homespun values for which american troops were fighting. Ed sullivan is mentioned many times, and marykate wins the part of kim, even though she auditioned for rosie. The fighting sullivans 2008 cast and crew moviefone. Jim sheridans film, adapted from susanne biers 2004 movie, concerns captain sam cahill tobey maguire, a marine who receives orders to ship out for yet another tour of duty in afghanistan. While the film opened to acclaim, katherine, in a 2012 courier interview. That movie is also inspired in part by the story of the niland brothers, where one of those brothers was sent home under the sole survivor policy. They joined the navy after pearl harbor with the insistence that they would serve together. The true story of the niland brothers who inspired saving.
As a direct result of the five sullivan brothers fatalities, the united states war department developed and initiated the sole survivor policy. The 1998 movie saving private ryan is one of the alltime great war movies. Mar 20, 2018 the sullivan brothers have been memorialized with a museum wing, a school and two navy ships. As dramatic as the true story of saving private ryan is on its own, it may not have unfolded as it did if not for the tragic tale of another group of american brothers who served in world war ii and who some mistakenly believe inspired saving private ryan. By the time rescuers finally made their way to the scene only about 10 of some 100 hundred initial survivors were still alive. The brothers story was filmed as the 1944 movie the sullivans later renamed the fighting sullivans and inspired, at least in part, the 1998 film saving private ryan. They were the subject of a 1944 war movie, the fighting sullivans. The academy awardwinning film saving private ryan, directed by steven spielberg, was loosely based on the niland brothers story. Nov 15, 2000 directed by arthur drooker, damian weyand. The five sullivan brothers albert, francis, george, joseph, and madison served together as shipmates aboard the cruiser uss juneau after requesting special permission from the secretary of the navy.
Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport keys news. It follows five brothers through their childhood, and shows their family life, so the entire movie does not take place during the war. In this dramatization of a true story, five brothers from iowa james cardwell, john campbell, george offerman jr. This movie is based on a true story, about a real family during wwii. The armed services do not send siblings to the same place anymore because of what happened to the sullivan brothers. Ii all five brothers, albert, francis, george, joseph, and madison joined the navy with the stipulation that they all serve on the same ship. With david ackroyd, frank holmgren, arthur kent, dan kurzman. The sullivan brothers have been memorialized with a museum wing, a school and two navy ships. Juneau in the pacific when the ship was torpedoed by the japanese during. And the brothers deaths led to sole survivor policies, which exempt people who have lost a. The five sullivan brothers were lost when the ship to which all five were assigned, uss juneau cl52 was sunk on november 1942 during the battle of guadalcanal. This is a news story about the family, but this is not the fighting sullivan movie. Based on a true story, this gripping ww iiera war drama chronicles the courage of five brothers who bravely fought to save the battleship juneau after it was. Oct 27, 2017 the five sullivan brothers albert, francis, george, joseph, and madison served together as shipmates aboard the cruiser uss juneau after requesting special permission from the secretary of the navy.
As dramatic as the true story of saving private ryan is on its own, it may not have unfolded as it did if not for the tragic tale of another group of american brothers who served in world war ii and who some mistakenly believe inspired saving private ryan the sullivan brothers of iowa were, like the niland brothers, a family of soldiers. Sullivan loughren has become the point person for the sullivan brothers legacy, saying its important to keep the story of their sacrifice alive. Based on the apparent ages of the boys, the first part of the plot occurs in the late 1920s. In november of 1942, the sullivan brothers were all serving aboard the cruiser u.
The truly heartbreaking story of the 5 sullivan brothers. After the reported deaths of his three brothers, fritz was sent back to the united states to complete his service, and only later. It is a myth that following the five sullivan brothers deaths, the us government enacted the sullivan act, an act made to prevent siblings serving together on the same boat. The 25 best movies based on true stories on netflix april. This is a great movie about 5 brothers that serviced in the u. On friday, november, the juneau along with a number of other u. The screenplay was adapted from michael stewarts book for the musical by irving brecher, with music by charles strouse and lyrics by lee adams. Jul 01, 2019 in response to the deaths of the sullivan brothersand several other sets of brothers who had perished up to this point in the warthe u. Directed by george sidney, the film stars dick van dyke in his feature film debut, reprising his broadway role as albert. History s mysteries traces the story of the sullivan brothers, revealing how.
A movie was even made about them, with an appropriate title. On november th, 1942, the light cruiser uss juneau cl52 was sunk by a japanese torpedo during american efforts to resupply marines holding the island of guadalcanal on board juneau were five brothers. Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport florida news. The lives of a closeknit 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.
Sullivan brothers iowa veterans museum iowa museum. These are the real brothers that inspired saving private. It is based on a true story and the acting in superb. Since their loss much confusion has resulted from the many myths surrounding both the sullivan brothers and the navys policy regarding. The fighting sullivans 2008 in this dramatization of a true story, five brothers from iowa james cardwell, john campbell, george offerman jr.
Sullivan brothers iowa veterans museum iowa museum grout. Scott from kankakee, il the movie saving private ryan is in fact somewhat based on the sullivan brothers. Nov 11, 2012 the sullivan family was caught in a wave of publicity. The five brothers soon were hailed as heroes, and became known in popular memory as the fighting sullivan brothers. The sullivan brothers story, unlike the brothers themselves, has had a long life span. The sullivan brothers came from a bluecollar irish catholic family in waterloo, iowa. In response to the deaths of the sullivan brothersand several other sets of brothers who had perished up to this point in the warthe u. It was nominated for a nowdiscontinued academy award for best story.
The fighting sullivans portrays the true story of 5 brothers who fought and died together when their ship, the american cruiser u. The sullivans 1944 full biography, drama, history movie youtube. The billionaire boys club was founded in the 80s by joseph henry gamsky, aka joe hunt. Many memorial efforts have honored the five brothers. Sullivan brothers story showcased in film, tv productions. They, along with the deaths of all of the sullivan brothers in 1942, helped lead to it. The fighting sullivans, originally released as the sullivans, is a 1944 american biographical war film directed by. Albert leo sullivan, francis henry sullivan, george thomas sullivan, joseph eugene sullivan and madison abel sullivan. The sullivan brothers of iowa were, like the niland brothers, a family of soldiers.
The sullivans were also briefly mentioned in saving private ryan. The lives of a closeknit group of brothers growing up in iowa during the. Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport florida. Jan 12, 2017 it sounds like a ridiculous story, but the movie is based on a real organization. I did like it their fateful ending was only about the last minutes of the movie.
Six family members were among those who gathered aboard uss. If you have a dry eye at the end of this movie, you have no heart or soul. That is the story of the niland brothers edward, preston, robert, and frederick from tonawanda, new york. A navy ship was named for the brothers, and the family participated in war bond drives. Katherine shied away from that attention to raise her. The fighting sullivans, originally released as the sullivans, is a 1944 american biographical war film directed by lloyd bacon and written by edward doherty, mary c. The lives of a closeknit group of brothers growing up in iowa during the days of. Unrequited patriotism and love of country and family.
George and francis had been in the navy before, so they all decided to again choose the navy. If you enjoy vintage movies you wont be disappointed. The five sullivan brothers, serving together, were killed in world war ii. The story follows the lives of the five irishamerican sullivan brothers, who. Some theaters even refused to show the film, which is also known as the sullivans. The sullivan brothers and the assignment of family members. These are the real brothers that inspired saving private ryan. In 1952, a stand of trees near the capitol in washington, d. The bulk of the movie is spent letting you get to know the sullivan familyan irish family full of scrappers. Two survived the war, but for a time, only one, frederick fritz niland, was believed to have survived. Both the borgstrom and butehorn incidents occurred before the sole survivor policy was put into effect in 1948. The sullivans by lloyd bacon anne baxter, thomas mitchell. On friday, november, 1942, all five sullivan brothers from iowa were serving aboard the u. Based on a true story, this gripping ww iiera war drama chronicles the courage of five brothers who bravely fought to save the battleship juneau after it was fatally torpedoed at gaudalcanal.
In april 1943 a fletcherclass destroyer was named uss the sullivans dd537 in their honor the first united states navy. The five sullivan brothers george, francis, joseph, madison and albert of waterloo, ia enlisted together in the u. Bye bye birdie is a 1963 american musical comedy film based on the stage production of the same name. The fighting sullivans, originally released as the sullivans, is a 1944 american biographical war film directed. With anne baxter, thomas mitchell, selena royle, edward ryan. A young chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. Sullivan brothers on november th, 1942, the light cruiser uss juneau cl52 was sunk by a japanese torpedo during american efforts to resupply marines holding the island of guadalcanal. The sullivan brothers sacrifice reminds us all to support our country, honor our veterans, learn from our past and always.
Nonetheless, every happy moment in the movie foreshadowed what all. When rescue forces finally arrived, only 10 survived. The niland brothers were four american brothers of irish descent from tonawanda, new york, who served in the military during world war ii. Since their loss much confusion has resulted from the many myths surrounding both the sullivan brothers and the navys policy regarding family members serving together at sea. The sullivan brothers were five siblings who all died during the same. Ap the five sullivan brothers of waterloo, iowa, died together at the battle of guadalcanal in 1942. It sounds like a ridiculous story, but the movie is based on a real organization. In bye bye boyfriend, a two of a kind book, the white oak academy puts on a school play based on bye bye birdie. The story follows the lives of the five irish american sullivan brothers, who grew up in iowa during the days of the great. Its really quite cheesy and fluffy for the most partuntil all five brothers determine they are going to help put a quick end to the war after pearl harbor. The deaths of these 5 sailors changed how us manned military units.
I liked ithat much of the movie was spent on their childhoods. Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport news. The sons of thomas and alleta sullivan of waterloo, ia. The five sullivan brothers of waterloo, iowa were serving together aboard the light cruiser uss juneau cl52. Fighting sullivans theatrical movie trailer 1945 youtube. The other two george and albert survived the destruction of the ship but died in the water days later. Uss juneau, sullivan brothers ship, found by paul allens research. George thomas sullivan 19141942 find a grave memorial. The sullivan brothers legacy continues in the 1944 movie, the fighting sullivans, as the namesake of two navy destroyers, a dod school in japan, a museum in waterloo, iowa, and countless buildings and memorials.
Young actors take on the roles of the five sullivan brothers in a scene from the 1944 movie, the fighting sullivans. While much of the movie is a fictional account, the premise behind capt. The story follows the lives of the five irishamerican sullivan brothers, who grew up in iowa during the days of the great depression and served together in the united states navy during world war ii. The sullivan family was caught in a wave of publicity. In the book the characters and the soundtrack of the movie as well as some of its songs are mentioned. Nostalgic and with a very warm family feeling, mixed with much humor. The five sullivan brothers from left to right joseph, francis, albert, madison, and george, are shown in this jan. And the brothers deaths led to sole survivor policies, which exempt people who. The sullivans 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
449 551 1131 395 443 263 1336 547 1485 694 1239 1442 463 421 1495 23 1095 606 672 1196 1540 229 1206 202 263 468 1357 1210 988 123 671 431 1206 1570 75 502 54 1483 1283 1412 1006 383 13 1243 12 806 922