Expert: Jim Kason - 11/22/2010

Question
Dear Jim,

I hope you know this one, it's a very very long shot:

As a young child of 6 or 7, I guess, I witnessed on television the last shot of a US navy movie. I am talking early 60's, so the movie must predate 1965 or so.
I only recall the closing scene: three brothers, who all died in war (WW II?), were shown on the back, walking off to the horizon (in their white uniforms) as the picture faded in an ever smaller getting circle. The youngest of them trying to keep up with his older brothers. On their way to heaven, as I recall. (I think their stroll was projected on the sea, like they were walking on water, but that may be due to my distorted memory.)
This is all I know! The image has never left me, and only now at 51, I am trying to find the movie (thanks to the internet). As I watched it on a black/white TV, I am not sure if it was originally B/W or colour. I hope you can help me with this one.
Thanks a lot!
Kind regards,
Theo Stanislaus
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Answer
Hi Theo,

Yes, ...I think I know just the film you're looking for !!   I saw it as a little boy when I lived inin San Francisco,...and all I remember about it is that final scene, too.  It's the 1944 Tewntieth-Century Fox film, "The Fighting Sullivans" ( sometimes just called " The Sullivans") starring
Thomas Mitchell and Ann Baxter.

If you go to the folling site, and click on "Read Full Synopsis", you can get the entire story-line:     http://www.tcm.com:80/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=91849

The film is available at:  www.amazon.com  ( in used VHS format, and on DVD.)  Ther may be a European or Netherland "Amazon site.

By the way, I visited Amsterdam about a year ago, and stayed at the delightful Maes Bed and Breakfast on Herenstraat, run by Ken and Vlad.   A wonderful centrally located place,  where
I'll stay again when I return to your city next year.

Sincerely,

Jim Kason
Ising2unow@aol.com