Flying Leathernecks
1951 · Movie · NR · 102 min · ★ 5.9 · 75% critics
Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers on the eve of combat. Though the men mean well, discipline and judgment break down, and Kirby clashes with his second in command over the hard choices leaders must make—sending others into danger they may not survive.
Also known as The Flying Leathernecks
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Details
- Years
- 1951
- Release date
- 1951-08-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Critic score
- 75/100
- TMDB rating
- 5.9/10 (72 votes)
- Box office
- $2,600,000
About
You’ll like Flying Leathernecks if you enjoy classic John Wayne WWII pilot dramas and tense leadership clashes during Pacific battles; Not for you if you want modern realism or tightly consistent war action, like Sands of Iwo Jima or Flying Tigers.
Pros: strong air combat moments; John Wayne and Robert Ryan chemistry; character-focused conflict | Cons: dated, predictable war tone; continuity/production goofs; some shaky home-front scenes
Themes
- world war ii
- fighter pilot
- u.s. air force
- marine corps
- pacific
- okinawa
- pacific island
Cast & crew
John Wayne
as Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
Robert Ryan
as Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin
Don Taylor
as Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe
Janis Carter
as Joan Kirby
Jay C. Flippen
as MSgt. Clancy, Line Chief
William Harrigan
as Dr. Lt.Cdr. Joe Curran
James Bell
as Colonel
Barry Kelley
as Brigadier General
Maurice Jara
as Shorty Vegay
Adam Williams
as Lt. Bert Malotke
Directed by Nicholas Ray