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John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen ... see more see more... , William Harrigan , James Bell , Maurice Jara , Adam Williams , James Dobson , Carleton Young , Brett King , Gordon Geberl , Michael St. Angel , Gail Davis , Sam Edwards , James Flavin , Douglas Henderson , Barry Kelley , Harry Lauter , Britt Norton , Lynn Stalmaster , Milburn Stone , Harlan Warde , Dick Wessel , Mack Williams , Keith Larsen , John Mallory Asher , Gordon Gebert

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... read more read more... 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

Flixster Users

61% liked it

3,907 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

7 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Nicholas Ray

Release Date: August 28, 1951

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DVD Release Date: May 4, 2004

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Stats: 96 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (96)

  • kenstachnik
    February 26, 2008
    kenstachnik
    I'm not a huge Robert Ryan fan and this isn't my favorite of Wayne or Ray's either.

    Overall it's a pretty typical film of the Gung Ho military genre.

    The action scenes incorporate actual war footage which is pretty cool and Ray's editing is marvelous.
  • flbeachboy
    December 12, 2010
    flbeachboy
    I really liked this movie great performances by John Wayne and the others and there was parts that looked like actual footage from WWII
  • jam233
    August 25, 2009
    jam233
    Fine war drama, but not extraordinary in any way. John Wayne gives his usual adequate performance. Robert Ryan does well. Pretty routine stuff and it is predictable. Good production values.
  • splittailluvr
    October 19, 2006
    splittailluvr
    Very good aerial WWII movie with lots of good actual footage almost but not quite an anti-war movie if you think about it.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
October 23, 2007
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. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
March 9, 2008
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 ... Full Review

October 23, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Overlong but action-filled. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
January 26, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

This is arguably Ray's least distinguished film, a relatively conventional, anonymous WWII drama made for RKO mogul Howard Hughes. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
August 8, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This is the most ordinary film Nicholas Ray ever made. Full Review

Steve Crum
August 1, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Pure WWII jingo and John Wayne. But stylish and heroic nonetheless.

Jeremy Heilman
March 23, 2003
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com

The Flying Leathernecks packs a surprising amount of intelligent insight in with its nationalistic rally cry. Full Review

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