The Fighting Sullivans (5 stars)

Very inspiring and incredibly moving, The Fighting Sullivans, from 1944, is a Memorial Day tradition in our home.  Last year, though, because I was out of town until June 10th, we didn't end up watching it (and we missed it tremendously); this year, my daughter will be gone over Memorial Day, and since she loves this film, she has requested that we wait until she returns to watch it.  So, we'll be catching it a few days AFTER the holiday this year. Starring Thomas Mitchell, Selena Royle, and Anne Baxter, this film is an extreme tearjerker...you will definitely want to keep the tissues nearby.

The film is based on the true story of an Iowa family, whose five sons all enlisted in the United States Navy just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The boys wanted to serve their country together and were determined to be assigned to the same ship, so when their ship was attacked in the Pacific, all five boys perished.

There is very little in the way of battle scenes, as the movie focuses more on their family life when the boys were young.  Though not perfect by any means, they were a functional and loving family.  Thomas Mitchell portrays the boys' father, and he is alot of fun, especially when he decides that the boys' punishment for smoking is to treat them as "real men" by allowing them to smoke cigars.

The most haunting line in the movie is spoken by Ward Bond, who, as a Naval Officer, visits the Sullivan home to break the news of the deaths.  When Mother Sullivan asks, "Which one?", Bond responds, "All five."  Those words are haunting and devastating and serve to remind us of the truth that freedom isn't free.  The Sullivan family gave so very much for the cause of freedom, as do all our veterans.





The Fighting Sullivans is a perfect Memorial Day movie, so I wanted to review it now---before Memorial Day---so as to give a heads-up about it.  See if you can find it in time for the holiday, and if you can obtain a copy with bonus features, be sure to watch them.  You'll have a chance to meet a descendant of one of the Sullivan brothers.

The Luck of the Irish (3 stars)

The Luck of the Irish, from 1948, is a fun little romantic comedy starring Tyrone Power and Anne Baxter.  Featuring Cecil Kellaway, who received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his work here, Jayne Meadows, and Lee J. Cobb in supporting roles, this film was one our family enjoyed as part of our St. Patrick's Day celebration this year.

While traveling in Ireland, American newspaperman, Steven "Fitz" Fitzgerald (Ty Power), encounters car problems.

In a hurry to get back to New York and the job awaiting him there, Fitz sets out in search of assistance, and he soon discovers an old man (Cecil Kellaway) sitting beside a waterfall.

Though the man is a bit odd, he, nevertheless, directs Fitz to a nearby inn, where he makes the acquaintance of the beautiful Nora (Anne Baxer).  Fitz and Nora click immediately, and when Fitz mentions the old man and the waterfall to her, he is told that no such waterfall exists.  Sure enough, when he makes another visit to that location, there is no waterfall; however, he does come upon the old man, and he soon realizes the man is a leprechaun...unless, of course, it was all just a strange dream.

Leaving the lovely Nora behind, Fitz returns to America, where his writing abilities will be used developing speeches for his politically-minded boss (Lee J. Cobb).

Engaged to the boss's daughter, Frances (Jayne Meadows), and with a fancy apartment and servant to call his own, things appear to be looking very fine for Fitz.  But with Nora suddenly arriving in New York and his new servant none other than Horace, the Irish leprechaun---whose one goal is to give Fitz gold, instead of the pebble he is willing to settle for---Fitz's life is soon to be turned upside-down.

Will Horace and his "pot of gold" get Fitz's life back on track?  Or will Fitz continue to compromise his beliefs to satisfy his boss's political plans?  These are the questions which play out in the balance of this adorable little film.

While not a spectacular film, The Luck of the Irish is, nevertheless, very sweet and fun.  Ty Power is great in this role...as is Anne Baxer.  Both of them are completely beautiful...and you will love the soft brogue Anne sports here.  Cecil Kellaway is absolutely delightful as the little leprechaun.  He more or less bounces around Ty's apartment and is quite adorable.  Though nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role here, quite honestly, since Walter Huston was nominated that year for Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Mr. Kellaway didn't have a hope of winning.  Even so, though, he was wonderful in the role and played the part perfectly.  Another delightful aspect of this film is the lovely Irish score.

This film is out on DVD as part of the Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down. Plus, it's available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE). Really, it's loads of fun...and it's the perfect addition to a St. Patrick's Day movie night.  Put it on your "watch list" for next year.

Happy viewing!!

Homecoming (4 stars)

Homecoming, from 1948, is a wartime romantic drama starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner in the third of their four pairings.  Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, this touching film features Anne Baxter and John Hodiak in supporting roles.  With yesterday being Clark Gable's birthday and next week being Lana's, I thought a rewatch of this movie was in order.

The story, which is mostly told in flashback, begins in 1945, as Clark Gable's character (Col. Ulysses "Lee" Johnson), an Army surgeon, is returning home after the war.  Prompted by a reporter's question, Col. Johnson reflects on the man he was in 1941 and the man he is now.

Prior to U.S. involvement in the war, successful surgeon Lee Johnson and his wife, Penny (Anne Baxter), live a rather selfish, high-society life.  Concerned with things like parties, golfing, and dancing, Lee doesn't have much time for his friend, Bob (John Hodiak), a doctor who works with the less fortunate in the poor section of town.  Though Bob longs for Lee's financial and practical help, Lee simply isn't cut from the same cloth Bob is.  He sees his patients as cases, not human beings, so to work with patients who cannot further his career or enlarge his bank account matters little to him.  Lee's attitude angers Bob, causing the two men to argue bitterly.

After Pearl Harbor, Lee enlists in the Army and is sent to Europe, where he will serve as a field surgeon.  While enroute to his assignment, he has an uncomfortable meeting with an Army nurse---one Lt. Jane "Snapshot" McCall (Lana Turner).  Arrogant, and with a seeming disdain for women's opinions about political matters, Lee succeeds in irritating the widowed nurse.  Snapshot can't stand, and has no use for, the pompous doctor, even nicknaming him "Useless."  As it turns out, though, the two of them will have to stop butting heads, for Snapshot is assigned to be Lee's nurse.

The workload is intense, and they find themselves sometimes in the surgical unit for 16 hours straight.  Eventually, Lee begins to change, even apologizing for things he has said and done.  He begins to care about people...even comes to see the error of his ways with regard to the poor people back home.  As Lee changes from a self-centered man into a caring one, he and Snapshot find themselves falling in love.

Since Lee is married, however, and there can be no future for them, they vow to fight their feelings.  Penny, meanwhile, on the homefront, sees the change in Lee through his letters and fears she is losing him.  How it all plays out is the balance of this very lovely film.

Of the four Gable/Turner pairings (Honky Tonk, Somewhere I'll Find You, and Betrayed are the others), Homecoming is definitely my favorite; not only is it my favorite of their pairings, but it's one of my five favorite Clark Gable films and one of my five favorite Lana Turner films.  I think it's a beautiful movie---the transformation of Clark Gable's character from selfish to caring, from arrogant to humble, is a joy to watch.  The chemistry between him and Lana is wonderful---they really were great together.  While this film is not a sobber, it is most definitely a heart-tugger--one that gets me lightly misty-eyed several times and brings on quite a volume of tears a couple other times.

The film, which I think is a must-see, is out on DVD, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down.  I do hope you get a chance to see it.  Happy viewing!!