The Fighting Sullivans (1944)

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.