Flying Leathernecks ** (1951, John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Janis Carter, Don Taylor, Jay C Flippen) – Classic Movie Review 6996

Director Nicholas Ray’s 1951 wartime action drama stars John Wayne and Robert Ryan as airborne commander Major Daniel Xavier Kirby and executive officer Captain Carl ‘Griff’ Griffin, who fight it out over whether Major Kirby should be so strict with his squadron of US Marine fliers. But of course later the Leathernecks find that after war comes, the toughness pays off when Kirby leads The Wildcats squadron into the battle of Guadalcanal.

Ray’s 1942-set World War Two action movie is boosted by manly performances, amusing support from Jay C Flippen as the sly Line Chief, Master Sergeant Clancy, and fine battle sequences. But really this material isn’t Ray’s forte.

Also in the cast are Janis Carter, Don Taylor, Jay C Flippen, William Harrigan, James Bell, Carleton Young, Brett King, Maurice Jara, Steve Flagg, Britt Norton, Adam Williams, Lynn Stalmaster, Barry Kelly, Sam Edwards, James Flavin, Harlan Warde, Harry Lauter, James Dobson, John Mallory, Michael Devery, Douglas Henderson, Ralph Cook, Adam York, Gail Davis, Gordon Gebert, Melville Robert and Elaine Robert.

Flying Leathernecks is directed by Nicholas Ray, runs 103 minutes, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by James Edward Grant, is shot in Technicolor by William E Snyder, is produced by Edmund Grainger, is scored by Roy Webb, and is designed by Albert S D’Agostino and James W Sullivan.

US Marines were called Leathernecks as their early uniforms had leather collars to protect their throats from knife wounds.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6996

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