Directed By:Nicholas Ray
Written By:James Edward Grant, Kenneth Gamet, Beirne Lay Jr.
Flying Leathernecks
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
67% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
90
With Mr. Wayne, Mr. Ryan and their charges in the cockpits against the crackling magnificence of Mr. Ray's battletorn sky, the picture is all it should be.
80
Conventional, highly efficient patriotic war drama, made during the Korean War but set in the Pacific during the Second World War. John Wayne as a martinet US Marine Crops squadron leader is confronted by Robert Ryan as a compassionate second-in-command, and the flying sequences are as outstanding as one might expect from a movie produced by ace aviator Howard Hughes. [08 Dec 2002, p.8]
80
Terrific aerial footage and fine performances. [24 Dec 1998, p.F12]
70
Actual color footage of battle action in the Pacific has been smartly blended with studio shots to strike a note of realism.
60
Although a passable war film, Flying Leathernecks must be considered something of a disappointment for fans of Wayne, Ryan, and director Nick Ray.
60
Thanks to the solid performances and fine camerawork, the film is not bad, merely professional.
User score
Mixed or Average
25% Positive
1 Rating
1 Rating
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
25% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Aug 8, 2023
6
Overall, this is kind of backwards moviemaking. The producers got their hands on all this color combat footgage, and decided to make a movie around it. So when movie switches back and forth, between real and staged, it really took me out of the drama. That said, the movie is anchored by the two stars, which makes the film watchable. Especially John Wayne. This is a more hard edged WW2 role for him. He's tough as nails, and has no time to babysit and coddle his young squad, and he frequently calls out their bs. This is contrasted with Robert Ryan. He leadership style is to be one of the guys, be more empathetic, and the two leads clash alot, espcially when lives are lost.
