Flying Leathernecks (1951)
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86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(3,982 ratings)
The Technicolor adventure epic Flying Leathernecks offers two things that film cultists can never get enough of: star John Wayne and director Nicholas Ray. Filmed at the behest of RKO chieftain Howard R. Hughes, Leathernecks is a paean to the Marine Flying Corps of World War II. Wayne plays Major… More The Technicolor adventure epic Flying Leathernecks offers two things that film cultists can never get enough of: star John Wayne and director Nicholas Ray. Filmed at the behest of RKO chieftain Howard R. Hughes, Leathernecks is a paean to the Marine Flying Corps of World War II. Wayne plays Major Dan Kirby, a squadron commander, whose no-nonsense attitude is sharply at odds with the easygoing approach of executive officer Captain Carl Griffin (Robert Ryan). Griffin eventually learns the value of discipline at all costs, while Kirby becomes more humanized as he gets to know his pilots. Jay C. Flippen steals the show as a supply sergeant who "borrows" from other companies to keep his men happy. Though not entirely cliché-free, Flying Leathernecks is one of the more solid war films of the 1950s, and one that has remained readily available in theaters, on TV and in video stores to the present day. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nicholas Ray
- Written By
- James Edward Grant, Kenneth Gamet
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 28, 1951 Wide
- Studio
- VidAmerica
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Marquee pull of John Wayne and Robert Ryan in the action market has been teamed with a story of Marine fighter pilots.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
This is arguably Ray's least distinguished film, a relatively conventional, anonymous WWII drama made for RKO mogul Howard Hughes.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though John Wayne plays a similar role to that of his other WWII movies (Sands of Iwo Jima), the tough but sensitive commander, this picture is better than the rest due to smooth and crispy direction by Nicholas Ray.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Overlong but action-filled.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This is the most ordinary film Nicholas Ray ever made.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Wayne
as Maj. Dan Kirby
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Robert Ryan
as Capt. Carl Griffin
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Don Taylor
as Cowboy Blithe
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Janis Carter
as Joan Kirby
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Jay C. Flippen
as Master Sgt. Clancy
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William Harrigan
as Lt. Cmdr. Joe Curan
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James Bell
as Colonel
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Maurice Jara
as Shorty Vegay
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Adam Williams
as Lieutenant Malotke
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James Dobson
as Pudge McCabe
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Carleton Young
as Capt. McAllister
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Brett King
as Lieutenant Ernie Stark
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Gordon Geberl
as Tommy Kirby
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Michael St. Angel
as Lt. Jorgensen
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Gail Davis
as Virginia Blithe
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Sam Edwards
as Junior
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James Flavin
as "Mick" Shore Patrol Commander
- Douglas Henderson
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Barry Kelley
as General
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Harry Lauter
as Freddie
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Britt Norton
as Lt. Tanner
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Lynn Stalmaster
as Lt. Castle
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Milburn Stone
as Ground control officer
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Harlan Warde
as Admiral's Aide
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Dick Wessel
as Mess sergeant
- Mack Williams
- Keith Larsen
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John Mallory Asher
as Lt. Black
- Gordon Gebert
