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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Turner Home Ent
Salesrank: 18038
Released: May 22, 2007 |
| Our Price: $5.52 |
| Used Price: $3.39 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
It's World War II. Major Dan Kirby (John Wayne) is hard on his marines. His subordinate Captain Carl Griffin thinks the Major is overdoing it. But Kirby proves that there is a method to his madness after all.
Description of Flying Leathernecks:
John Wayne and Robert Ryan co-star in Flying Leathernecks, Nicholas Ray's intense 1951 war movie that managed to appeal to RKO studio chief Howard Hughes's passion for thrilling aerial footage while supplying Ray's own fascination with the human psyche under near-inhuman duress. Wayne plays Major Dan Kirby, commander of a Marine Flying Corps squadron in the South Pacific of World War II. After witnessing the slaughter of men under his command at Midway, Kirby is battle-hardened and in no mood for the familiar style of his executive officer (Ryan). Emotions are further strained as Kirby's pilots are picked off one by one in grueling missions, leading to a crisis that ultimately forces each man to reevaluate his attitude toward sending men to their likely doom. The drama is built around extensive, startling documentary footage of battle action in the sky, but what makes Flying Leathernecks unique is its literate, psychologically probing script. --Tom Keogh
Flying Leathernecks Reviews:
Marine Aviation of WWII 
2009-06-17 - It's Marines, Marines and more Marines in this action adventure of WWII. John Wayne and Robert Ryan star as the commander and executive officer of VFM 247 fighter squadron assigned to fight it out on the island of Guadalcanal with close air support for ground troops, but Wayne and Ryan are constantly at odds as to how to manage this group of young college aviators. The movie resembles the story of Pappy Boyington and the Black Sheep squadron, VMF 214, but with more antagonism and less humor. There is plenty of action in this movie and lots of authentic combat footage.
Wayne and Ryan are not at their best in this movie for they simply do not fit the profile of typical Marine officers and the story line tends to drag. If you like action movies with plenty of combat, then this movie will please you. If you are looking for more of a story about historical events then this film may disappoint but its worth a one time see. Overall the film is average and not John Wayne at his best.
NOTE: This movie is available as a double feature set along with "They Were Expendable". Recommend buying it this way instead of singularly.
NICHOLAS RAY, OPUS 6
2008-03-12 - *** 1951. Directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Howard Hughes, RKO's owner at that time. John Wayne and Robert Ryan don't agree with the way to handle the young pilots of the Wildcats squadron during the battle of Guadalcanal. A lot of actual World War II footage, a few air battles but no Nicholas Ray in the picture here except maybe in the scenes between Wayne and Ryan. Average.
Turning the Tide against the Japanese 
2008-03-02 - This movie depicts a time when Pearl Harbor had just been several months ago and Japanese aggression was still on the ascendancy. Major Kirby (John Wayne) is in command of a group of Marine pilots on Guadalcanal. The men are stuck in a miserable jungle, beset by frequent rains. Japanese air raids destroy some of their airplanes on the ground, and too many others are lost in aerial combat. The men are overworked to the breaking point. Besides, their precarious position may be overrun by the Japanese at any time.
While dealing with a rival commander, Major Kirby turns things around. In time, he leads an attack which cripples the Japanese naval forces in the area. He and his fellow pilots also have to fend off Japanese kamikaze attacks.
Kirby's excellent performance results in his elevation in rank to Lieutenant Colonel. He returns to the US, where he gets to see his wife and son. The American High Command has new plans for him...
Flying Leathernecks
2007-05-07 - I love all of the Dukes movies. This is in my collection but it is not one of his best. If you are a John Wayne fan, buy it anyway.
One of his better war films
2007-02-25 - John plays a hard-nosed squadron commander in this war film who isn't well received or looked upon by the members of the squadron. But, over time the reasons for his treatment of the fliers as well as why he tackles the problems and situations at hand come to be respected and understood by all. In the end, he becomes the hero and and the tactics and stratagies of the squadron are successful and become the standard for all flying squadrons. A must see for John Wayne fans!
