John Wayne is a genre all to himself. The silent type with the gruff exterior but the hidden heart of gold was the patented John Wayne part like Sergeant Striker in SANDS OF IWO JIMA. Yet beyond syrupy WWII era propaganda, few John Wayne films have very much stuffing to them.
The story is parallel to the script of Dawn Patrol.
Flying Leathernecks along with Flying Tigers and Horse Soldiers are an exception. In command is John Wayne in his patented character type, silent and distant Major Daniel Xavier Kirby. Major Kirby's goal is simple: accomplish the mission.
There are shades of General Savage from 12 O'Clock high in this film but Major Kirby unlike General Savage does not have the political dimension of proving Americans to be the equal of the British RAF.
As a perfect counterpoint to the forbidding figure of Major Kirby is Robert Ryan as Captain Carl 'Griff' Griffin the second in command who argues the case of the men. Together they must get the planes aloft in harrowing close combat support of the mud marines. Can they do it without tearing each other and the marine corps apart? In Dawn Patrol the departing commander deems it poetic justice to force his second into the ultimate responsibility of leadership. What will Major Kirby do?
The story is parallel to the script of Dawn Patrol.
Flying Leathernecks along with Flying Tigers and Horse Soldiers are an exception. In command is John Wayne in his patented character type, silent and distant Major Daniel Xavier Kirby. Major Kirby's goal is simple: accomplish the mission.
There are shades of General Savage from 12 O'Clock high in this film but Major Kirby unlike General Savage does not have the political dimension of proving Americans to be the equal of the British RAF.
As a perfect counterpoint to the forbidding figure of Major Kirby is Robert Ryan as Captain Carl 'Griff' Griffin the second in command who argues the case of the men. Together they must get the planes aloft in harrowing close combat support of the mud marines. Can they do it without tearing each other and the marine corps apart? In Dawn Patrol the departing commander deems it poetic justice to force his second into the ultimate responsibility of leadership. What will Major Kirby do?