Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- propulsive
- masculine
- patriotic
- classic war movie night
- aviation film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the spectacular, fast-paced aerial combat and vivid Technicolor presentation while finding the ground-level character drama clichéd and poorly written.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Major Kirby challenges Capt. Griffin's reluctance to make decisions that may put pilots in fatal danger.
The film emphasizes brilliant Technicolor skies, fast flying assaults, and spectacular combat footage.
Kirby takes command of an undisciplined squadron while Griffin's exceptional flying ability conflicts with his weaknesses as a commander.
The story centers on Marine fliers preparing for combat in the Pacific, presented through a masculine postwar Hollywood idiom.
Films like Flying Leathernecks, and why
Task Force
Pacific War aviation action, command conflict, and masculine military drama
The Flying Tigers
World War II fighter-pilot combat, aerial spectacle, and leadership under pressure
Twelve O'Clock High
classic war aviation, tense command decisions, and psychologically conflicted officers
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicholas Ray
- Release Date
- 1951-08-28
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (75)
Cast
- John Wayne
- Robert Ryan
- Don Taylor
- Janis Carter
- Jay C. Flippen
- William Harrigan
- James Bell
- Barry Kelley
- Maurice Jara
- Adam Williams
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Flying Leathernecks about?
- A hard-driving Marine commander must transform an undisciplined Pacific fighter squadron while confronting the lethal moral cost of leadership.
- What is Flying Leathernecks like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Flying Leathernecks as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Flying Leathernecks violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Flying Leathernecks as graphic.
- What did critics think of Flying Leathernecks?
- Critics broadly praised the spectacular, fast-paced aerial combat and vivid Technicolor presentation while finding the ground-level character drama clichéd and poorly written.
- Which films are like Flying Leathernecks?
- Films with a similar feel include Task Force, The Flying Tigers, and Twelve O'Clock High.
- How long is Flying Leathernecks?
- Flying Leathernecks runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Flying Leathernecks?
- In United States, Flying Leathernecks is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
