Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
THEY MET LIFE - AND GLORY - IN ONE BLINDING FLASH!!
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.
CinemaSerf
Jun 30, 2022 · via TMDB
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.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
Artiflix
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
Anne Baxter
Katherine Mary Sullivan
Thomas Mitchell
Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan
Selena Royle
Mrs. Alleta Sullivan
Edward Ryan
Albert Leo 'Al' Sullivan
Trudy Marshall
Genevieve 'Gen' Sullivan
James Cardwell
George Thomas Sullivan
John Alvin
Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
George Offerman, Jr.
Joesph Eugene 'Joe' Sullivan
Roy Roberts
Father Francis
Ward Bond
Lt. Cmdr. Robinson
Bobby Driscoll
Al, as a child (uncredited)
Mary McCarty
Gladys (uncredited)
Lloyd Bacon
Director
Alfred Newman
Music Director
Emilie Busquant, an Algerian passion
Night and Fog
The Great Dictator
Saving Private Ryan
Andrei Rublev
Downfall
The Last Emperor
Cinderella Man
Gandhi
Birdman of Alcatraz
Closely Watched Trains
The Tin Drum
Silent Barricade
Antonia's Line
The Life and Loves of Beethoven
The Great Love
Our Miss Fred
The Creep Behind the Camera
I Stop Time
Los Alamos: The Beginning
Palestine 36
Zulu
The Zone of Interest
The Cruel Sea
Devotion
The Scarlet and the Black
The One That Got Away
The Young Lions
A Call to Spy
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
The Last Rifleman
The Gathering Storm
Operation Mincemeat
Tobruk
The Battle of the River Plate
Gods and Generals
Waiting for Anya
Fat Man and Little Boy
Churchill
The Monuments Men
Feb 3, 1944
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
Stells
Ups and Downs
2019
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
Stells
Ups and Downs
2019
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.