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 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 power". In private life, Wead becomes estranged from his wife Minnie (Maureen O'Hara) after the death of their baby. Drinking heavily, Wead tumbles down the stairs of his home, and as a result he is apparently paralyzed for life. With the help of happy-go-lucky Navy mechanic Carson (Dan Dailey), Wead is able to regain minimal use of his legs, but it seems clear that his Naval career is over. Fortunately, he manages to find work as a prolific Hollywood screenwriter, and after the attack of Pearl Harbor he is called back to active duty to oversee the construction of "jeep carriers". Not one of John Ford's more coherent films--in fact, it's downright sloppy at times--The Wings of Eagles nonetheless contains several highlights, not least of which are the "I'm gonna move that toe" scene with John Wayne and Dan Dailey, and Ward Bond's inside-joke performance as irreverent film director "John Dodge". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Ford
- Written By
- Frank Fenton, William Wister Haines
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1957 Wide
- Studio
- 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
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
John Wayne
as Frank W. "Spig" Wead
-
Dan Dailey
as "Jughead" Carson
-
Maureen O'Hara
as Minnie Wead
-
Ward Bond
as John Dodge
-
Ken Curtis
as John Dale Price
-
Edmund Lowe
as Adm. Moffett
-
Kenneth Tobey
as Capt. Herbert Allen Hazard
-
James Todd
as Jack Travis
-
Barry Kelley
as Capt. Jock Clark
-
Sig Rumann
as Party Manager
-
Henry O'Neill
as Capt. Spear
-
Willis B. Bouchey
as Barton
-
Dorothy Jordan
as Rose Brentmann
-
Tige Andrews
as "Arizona" Pincus
- Veda Ann Borg
-
Danny Borzage
as Pete
-
Olive Carey
as Bridy O'Faolain
-
James Flavin
as Military Policeman at garden party
-
Mimi Gibson
as Lila Wead
-
Fred Graham
as Officer in brawl
-
Sam Harris
as Patient
-
William Henry
as Naval aide
-
Louis Jean Heydt
as Dr. John Keye
-
Stuart Holmes
as Producer
- Cliff Lyons
-
Mae Marsh
as Nurse Crumley
-
May McAvoy
as Nurse
-
Alberto Morin
as 2nd Manager
-
Peter Ortiz
as Lt. Charles Dexter
-
Chuck Roberson
as Officer
-
Evelyn Rudie
as Doris Wead
-
William Tracy
as Air Force Officer
-
Charles Trowbridge
as Adm. Crown
-
Harlan Warde
as Executive Officer
-
Jack Pennick
as Joe McGuffey
-
Janet Lake
as Nurse
- Sig Ruman
