The Wings of Eagles

Wings of Eagles (1957)

  • 62% of users liked it
    (4,153 ratings)

The Wings of Eagles is filmmaker John Ford's paean to his frequent collaborator--and, it is rumored, drinking buddy--Cmdr. Frank "Spig" Wead. John Wayne stars as Wead, a reckless WW1 Naval aviator who (it says here) was instrumental in advancing the cause of American "air… More

Unrated,
Directed By
Written By
Frank Fenton, William Wister Haines
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1957 Wide
WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES

Critic Reviews

  • Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

    Wants to be epic in scope but ends up feeling like ham-fisted CliffsNotes version of a man's life. The film loiters way, way too long on Frank Wead's early days as a hell-raising test pilot, then skips ahead through long sections of his life.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Though sentimental as a biopic of Navy hero Frank (Sig) Wead, John Ford's film has old-fashioned charm, a result of John Wayne's lead performance and his chemistry with Maureen O'Hara.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    This routine sentimental biopic is directed with much feeling by John Ford.

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)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Ken S


    John Ford's follow-up to The Searchers is surprisingly un-remarkable. A biopic of Frank "Spig" Wead, a solider turned cripple turned screenwriter, "The Wings of Eagles is an impeccably crafted piece of fluffy propaganda.

  • Dean M


    An excellent and often-moving biopic about navy-flier-turned-screenwriter Frank "Spig" Wead, this film features fine dramatic performances from John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Features the usual John Ford elements of sentimentality and brawling slapstick, but… More

  • Conner R


    A movie that's powerful enough to make a grown man cry. John Ford tells the story of Frank Spig like no one else could have. With a combination of great action sequences and intimate character moments, this becomes more than just an average movie. John Wayne delivers a powerhouse… More

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