User reviews

This is a flag-waging and patriotic tribute to US marines .Very decent war scenes along with documentary footage that convey us the assault troops establish on the Pacific islands, but like the navy, the US army fought its way from island to island in the Pacific. Striker(Wayne) and his squad(Forrest Tucker, John Agar,James Brown,Richard Jaeckel,James Brown,Richard Webb, among others) are responsible for the capture of the Pacific islands. And, of course, the picture brings to life one of the most famous images of the Second World war- Joe Rosenthal's photograph of US marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima, on the morning of February 23, 1945 and with special appearance of the three living survivors of the historic flag raising of Mount Suribachi. John Wayne is top-notch as valiant but deranged sergeant Striker training rebellious recruits and soldiers in this believable war film . Wayne won his only Oscar nomination, before his obtaining in ¨True grit¨. Supporting cast is frankly magnificent. The motion picture is well directed by Allan Dawn.

The film is based correctly on Iwo Jima battle in a hard-fought US operation, one of the most difficult campaigns of the Pacific theater . US capture of Japanese-held island in the Bonin group , about 1450 km south of Tokyo after intense fighting Feb-March 1945. Fortified by the Japanese, it held two airfields, with a third under construction, and was a valuable strategic target for US forces as it would provide a base for land-based bombers to raid the mainland of Japan. It was assaulted by US Marines 19 Feb 1945 after a prolonged air and naval bombardment. The 22000 Japanese troops put up a fanatical resistance but the island was finally secured 16 March. US casualties came to 6891 killed and 18700 wounded, while only 212 of the Japanese garrison survived.The film is dedicated to the United States Marine Corps whose exploits and valor have left a lasting impression on the world and in the hearts of their countrymen . Appreciation is gratefully acknowledged for their assistance and participation which made this picture possible.

Although Clint Eastwood's recent Flags of Our Fathers has told the real story about the flag raising at Iwo Jima, it hasn't diminished any of the impact that Sands of Iwo Jima has, either back when it was released or viewed today.

In fact because the three surviving flag raisers, Joseph Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes all were in this film it's even more proof of how the symbolic flag raising has become mythologized.

Of course the real heroism was in capturing the island that was less than a 1000 miles from the main islands of Japan and the airfields on Iwo Jima that could be used by our bombers for land based flights. It took about a month to do that, the flag was raised on the fifth day.

I read a history of the United States Marine Corps from it's formation during the American Revolution. Over the course of its history it was interesting to learn that the Marines many times were threatened with extinction, to be folded into either the army or navy right up to and including World War I.

Right after World War I a very farsighted man named John A. Lejeune became the Marine Corps Commandant and he saw that we would be in a war in the Pacific with the Japanese as our foes. He also saw that the survival of the Marines as an entity involved them training for a very specialized kind of mission, amphibious warfare. He started training them for that and come World War II they were certainly ready.

John Wayne as Sergeant Striker got one of his most memorable parts of his career in Sands of Iwo Jima. Striker is a tough as nails Marine Corps lifer whose got a job to whip a lot of recruits into shape for the later Pacific landings after Guadalcanal. He's also got one lousy personal life as his wife's left him and taken their son.

Wayne got his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor in this part. There's a couple of other films he should have gotten a nomination for, but that's another story. Among his competition in 1949 was Kirk Douglas for Champion, Richard Todd for The Hasty Heart, and Gregory Peck for Twelve O'Clock High. Note three of the nominees were for World War II related films. But the winner that year was Broderick Crawford for All the King's Men. At least Peck and Wayne both got Oscars later in their careers.

John Agar who was trying to carve out a reputation as being more than Mr. Shirley Temple back then plays the son of a former commander of Wayne's who has a problem with his Dad and takes it out on Wayne attitude wise as a surrogate father. Julie Bishop and Adele Mara play women drawn to both Wayne and Agar respectively.

Of the supporting cast who play members of Wayne's platoon, my favorite is Wally Cassell, the wisecracking city kid who finds a tank to help his platoon out during a sticky situation.

Flags of Our Fathers teaches us about how the flag raising symbolism became part of the Marine Corps heritage. Sands of Iwo Jima exploits that symbol in the best sense of the word. After almost sixty years, it's still a fine film with a grand performance by the Duke.

I don't know about currently, but some years ago this film was being shown at the Marine Corps Basic School where second lieutenants are hatched. It's an unexcelled example of military life imitating art: a symbiotic relationship between the Corps' timeless self image and, by extension, that image reinforcing the reality of the Corps itself.

SOIJ is still one of the better WW II combat films, even 55 years after its release. The one factual glitch is the impossibility of a Tarawa unit (2nd Marine Division) being ashore on Iwo (3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions.) Otherwise, I don't think I've never known a marine who had serious reservations about it.

This film takes place in the Pacific Theater during World War II with a U. S. Marine rifle company led by a man named "Sergeant John M. Stryker" (John Wayne). As it so happens, having experienced combat firsthand he is extremely determined to train and fine-tune his company into being as capable and ready as possible. Needless to say, his hardline approach is not welcomed by everyone in the company with one particular person named "Al Thomas" (Forrest Tucker) having had a personal quarrel with him in a previous assignment. Additionally, another man by the name of "Robert Dunne" (Arthur Franz) also has a dislike for him but for an entirely different reason. Yet even so, Sgt Stryker realizes that he cannot let their personal animosity deter him from his mission-especially since they are bound to see ferocious combat in the very near future. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I found this to be a pretty good World War II picture due in large part to the serious plot and the acting of John Wayne who essentially carried this film. That being said, I recommend this film for those interested and have rated it accordingly. Above average.

Having watched and been disappointed by Eastwood's FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, I was eager to try another Iwo Jima story and this John Wayne one came up. The ultimate film detailing that battle is, of course, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA which portrays the Japanese perspective, but for the American viewpoint, SANDS OF IWO JIMA is the one to go for.

This is an engaging and compelling portrayal of the battle full of realistic and gripping battle sequences full of fire, destruction, and explosion. It says something that the newsreel footage mixed in with the filmed footage doesn't stand out at all and it's very difficult to tell the two apart, so authentic-looking are the battle scenes in this.

The plot is simplistic stuff, with a squad of soldiers working their way through the campaign, bickering and losing men as they do so. It's held together by John Wayne as the gruff Sergeant Stryker. Wayne plays one of his most likable characters in this film and he's a real delight, mixing sensitivity and brawn in a believable way. The supporting cast, including the likes of Forrest Tucker, are fine too. SANDS OF IWO JIMA is a film that doesn't feel dated at all despite the time that has elapsed since release and for an exploration of the American perspective in WW2 it does its job very well.

I first saw this film at the age of 5 and it has been my favourite ever since. This led to my following of the greatest actor of all time JOHN WAYNE. The film follows Sgt John M Stryker, taking a platoon of mostly raw recruits and training them to be mean, tough, and ready for anything Marines, by any way possible, loathed by the squad but by the end of the picture admired by them as they realise what and why he is the way he is.

The film mixes battle scenes with actual footage from the landings and allows for character development instead of just a bunch of guy's grouped together. Wayne deserved his Oscar nomination for his role but you cant leave out the supporting cast. John Agar in possibly his best role and Forrest Tucker as his old adversary also Cassell/Brown and Webb proving equally up to the rolls and a young Richard Jaeckel all playing there parts with zest.

When you look at the events it was based on, the Island hopping of hard bitter fighting the slaughter of both sides on Iwo Jima its self 4,000+ U.S. casualties and 21,000 Japanise you can see why this film is compulsory viewing for all new Marine recruits.

I also believe that this film would have been a masterpiece had it been made without the restrictions of the time compared with the films of today like "Saving Private Ryan".

Whatever your own thoughts are on the film when you next watch it just remember those who fought there and REMAIN there................

In "Sands of Iwo Jima," I experienced a challenging dichotomy. On one hand, the film stands as a testament to the technical prowess of its creators, particularly director Allan Dwan. Through skillful direction, Dwan effectively blends staged battle sequences with authentic documentary footage, creating a seamless and immersive viewing experience. The incorporation of real war footage enhances the film's realism, transporting audiences to the heart of the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Cinematographically, the film showcases dynamic camera work, including zooms and tracking shots, that heighten the intensity of the battle scenes. The use of montages and gradual dissolves adds depth to the storytelling, effectively conveying the passage of time and the emotional stakes of the characters.

Additionally, the film's special effects, while showing some age, remain effective in capturing the scale and scope of the conflict. From the sprawling beach landings to the intense hand-to-hand combat, the visual effects contribute to the film's immersive atmosphere.

Furthermore, the performances of the cast, particularly John Wayne in the role of Sergeant Stryker, elevate the film's impact. Wayne's commanding presence and nuanced portrayal of the grizzled Marine leader anchor the narrative, drawing audiences into the emotional journey of the characters.

On the other hand, "Sands of Iwo Jima" presents a challenging dichotomy as it balances its portrayal of wartime heroism with problematic character dynamics. The film revolves around a hot-headed sergeant, played by John Wayne, whose penchant for physical conflict with his soldiers raises eyebrows and questions about the credibility of the narrative.

The repetitive nature of the sergeant's altercations with his subordinates, coupled with the unrealistic portrayal of the aftermath of these fights, strains the film's credibility. Indeed, the lack of repercussions for the sergeant's behavior undermines the seriousness of the subject matter and veers into the realm of fetishism.

Moreover, the film's reliance on Hollywood wartime propaganda further diminishes its impact, as it prioritizes machismo over authenticity. The glorification of physical dominance and the absence of realistic consequences for the sergeant's actions detract from the overall narrative and contribute to a sense of disappointment.

While John Wayne delivers a solid performance, the film suffers from weak supporting acting and a reliance on stock footage, which diminishes its effectiveness. The juxtaposition of studio sets with real-life footage also detracts from the film's cohesion and authenticity, further highlighting its shortcomings.

Despite its technical merits and occasional moments of authenticity, "Sands of Iwo Jima" ultimately falls short of its potential. The film's over-reliance on clichés and its failure to address the problematic dynamics within its narrative undermine its status as a classic war movie.

As a retired Marine, I can say this movie does the Corps justice! After making it through Vietnam and Desert Storm, I believe I am over qualified to render the comment that this movie does the Corps justice! It is one of the few movies out there that get you right in the gut while watching the combat footage. For those who have been there and faced the enemy realize just how accurate this film really is, after all, most of the combat footage is from actual combat footage from the camera men who were there.

In summation, if this movie is guaranteed to give you one helluva "Gut Check"!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with unpredictability. In fact, being unpredictable usually makes a movie worth watching. "Sands of Iwo Jima" IS unpredictable - at least in the sense that the title sets you up to expect a movie that's largely about the Battle of Iwo Jima. That turns out to be not what you get, though. This is really about a squad of US Marines led by Sgt. Stryker (played by John Wayne) and it traces their development into a fighting unit at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima actually takes up little of the movie. Almost the first hour and a half is about the squad itself and about some of its adventures and exploits. There's a fairly long look at the Battle of Tarawa, before Iwo Jima. Some of the lead-in is interesting enough, especially some of the portrayal of the personal tensions within the squad. Stryker has a history with some of the men. He's not liked - especially by Conway (John Agar) and Thomas (Forrest Tucker.) Stryker is battling demons of his own on the home front - a broken family and a 10 year old son he never hears from, which lead him to get drunk whenever he's given leave. Wayne's performance in this was actually pretty good. I'm not his biggest fan, but he did well with this role.

The thing I didn't like in this was too much melodrama. I realize that those who made this were trying to give us insights into the lives of the men, but there was too much of it, at the expense of the war, to be frank. I found that especially the case with Conway, who meets a girl (Adele Mara) while on leave in New Zealand and ends up married to her pretty quickly. I can see how that would happen in wartime, but I really didn't find it an especially noteworthy addition to the story. I also found it strange that when the men were on leave in New Zealand all the girls they met spoke with American accents? (The studio couldn't find someone who sounded at least a bit like a New Zealander, or who could at least pretend?)

Interestingly, I didn't find this to be as much of a flag-waver as I expected it to be. It's just a pretty solid study of this particular squad of Marines. (6/10)

While the film itself is pretty formulaic, by 1940s standards, it's given some honesty and strength by some very capable cast members, including Forrest Tucker, John Agar, Marty Milner, James Brown and many others--but especially JOHN WAYNE. It's directed in rugged fashion by the very adept Allan Dwan, by no means a household name and yet a director whose career spanned over 300 films.

Ironically, it was Dwan who directed one of Shirley Temple's last teen movies, YOUNG PEOPLE ('40), and here nine years later directing her future husband John Agar in one of his early screen roles as the soldier who despises his sergeant (Wayne).

The story is given good background treatment in the training of marines under hard-edged sergeant Wayne who has to get the men into shape so that he can lead the platoon into battle. Most outstanding in the cast is FORREST TUCKER, the husky blond actor who never quite made it to major stardom but appeared in numerous films of the '40s and '50s, usually in strong supporting roles. Today most fans remember him from AUNTIE MAME (as Roz Russell's Beauregard) or the TV comedy "F Troop". He acquits himself well in a good supporting role.

Wayne has some of his best scenes opposite Tucker, who resents him over a past incident but soon comes to respect his leader's courage and determination to make something out of the soldiers under his command. It's one of Wayne's finest performances--steely-eyed with determination in the close-ups and always sure in handling his characterization to give it more than one dimension. He's sad, tender, tough, gritty, determined and courageous--but a man who admits his own faults and doesn't pretend to be a hero. In short, he's terrific. Watch for the subtlety in the scene where he's so drunk he can hardly stand.

The flag waving element is understandable, given the context of when this was filmed, and the final rousing shot of the men raising the flag over Iwo Jima is very effective. The only real drawback I can think of is that we seldom get even a glimpse of the Japanese these men are presumably fighting--an enemy that is rarely seen. And there is an overuse of real war footage not always blended in realistically with the studio shots.

For John Wayne fans and war movie buffs, this is a must see.

Like most young boys I watched this movie thinking how brave John Wayne was supposed to be. Many years later as a grown man and combat veteran,I realized and learned, he avoided going to war to be on the screen. Once he realized this was a publicity nightmare, he tried to get his friend, director John Ford to find him a military spot to allow him to save face. I must admit, it broke my heart to learn of this information but I am also remember the way I was treated when I came back from Vietnam. As they say... war is hell.. I wish it on no one and remain a John Wayne fan.

Rip-roaring re-creation of WWII in the Pacific. It's more a tribute to Marine Corps fighting spirit than a traditional flag waver, even though it duplicates probably the greatest flag raising scene in US history. Wayne's perfect as the veteran Sgt. Stryker who must ready his squad for combat. At this career stage, Wayne is not yet an icon. Thus he shows his under-stated acting skills that were largely replaced by his sheer iconic presence later on. As a result, his thespic talent is too often under-rated by critics. The storyline, aside from combat, involves Stryker's difficulties with two of his men, played by Agar and Tucker. Tucker is something of a physical rival, while Agar does his duty to a Marine Corps father while rejecting the Corp's spirit. There's also brief time with girls while the guys are on leave, and I especially like the sensitive way Julie Bishop's status as a reluctant hooker is insinuated along with a lot of subtle heart.

Of course, the film's dramatic centerpiece is the lengthy combat footage. Budget-minded Republic went all out here. They blend effectively real war footage along with well done studio set-ups and location re-creations. The latter is largely thanks to the Corps cooperation which involves hundreds of real marine troopers. In fact, that beach-head footage of the assault on Tarawa may be the most intense of any post-war combat film. It's truly scary, as it should be.

Anyway, after seven decades the film may have lost some of its topicality, but the human elements remain, along with a fine turn by America's favorite cowboy, this time as a steadfast and heroic soldier.

Tension simmers between a tough-as-nails sergeant and the soldiers who he eventually leads into battle at Iwo Jima in this iconic World War II drama. John Wayne is very good as the moody sergeant with a beating human heart behind his tough exterior and John Agar is excellent as the private who clashes personalities with him the most. The son of a legendary military leader, Agar has to wrestle with the fact that he feels obliged to fight regardless of personal preference. He also has a touching scene in which he waxes poetic about marriage and fatherhood as ways to prove that one's life meant something. None of the other characters or performances are on the same level as Wayne and Agar (though Forrest Tucker has the occasional strong moment) and considering how blatantly flag-waving a film it is, it is understandable that 'Sands of Iwo Jima' might not appeal to some viewers. The two main characters have more dimension than the typical patriotic soldiers out there though, and the film is technically well produced. There are some great montages and gradual dissolves and the film seamlessly incorporates actual battle footage into the filmed action. With lots of zooms and tracking shots, the film is hardly static either. Some of the special effects (backdrops as Wayne drives along) show their age, but this stacks up rather well all things considered.

Sgt John M. Stryker is a battle hardened Marine who's job it is to prepare his new charges for the realities of war. With no care for making friends, Stryker does what ever it takes to make these men tough and ready for the Pacific conflicts to come.

Sands Of Iwo Jima is unashamedly proud in its jingoistic fervour, and rightly so. Iwo Jima, and the now immortal portrait of weary American soldiers hoisting the flag atop Mt. Suribachi, has become a bastion of bravery, a beacon of triumph if you will. So it's no surprise to find Allan Dwan's film has no intention if deviating from boasting its colours, and hooray to that. Here as Stryker we find John Wayne giving a bit more to his character portrayal than merely some beefcake winning the war. Wayne puts depth and sincerity into Stryker, an air of believability shines through as he shows vulnerability, we believe he can win this war with his men, but we also see tenderness and it lifts Sands higher than your average war picture.

Wise old director Dwan (432 directing credits to his name), weaves the picture together with admirable restraint. Fusing actual newsreel footage with his own tightly handled action sequences, Sands plays out as the tribute and rally call that it has every right to be, even finding place in the film for three of the soldiers who hoisted that now famous flag. Ira Hayes, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley are the three gentlemen to look out for. The rest of the cast don't really have to do much outside of respond to Wayne's two fold performance, but keep an eye out for a fresh faced Richard Jaeckel as Pfc. Frank Flynn, while I personally enjoyed the brief, but important contribution from Julie Bishop as Mary.

Wayne received a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards (too bad for him that 49 contained brilliant shows from the winner Broderick Crawford & a blunderbuss turn from Gregory Peck), with other nominations going to the Best Story, Editing and Sound categories. Ironically it was a role Wayne didn't fancy doing, but some encouragements from war veterans humbled him into starring.

Lock and load and saddle up for a top entry in the WWII pantheon. 8/10

One of John Wayne's better films, Sands of Iwo Jima provides him with one of his most well-rounded roles. His drill sergeant is not just a stereotypical patriotic tough guy. He also has deep character flaws regarding alcoholism and his relationship with his family. If you are a fan of John Wayne, this is a must see.

I've not seen every war movie ever made, nor have I seen every performance of John Wayne's, but I remain convinced that this is the best war movie ever made, and Wayne's best performance. Wayne is Stryker, John M., tough-talking Marine sergeant, in charge of a squad of men, and determined to keep them alive, which proves somewhat difficult as these Marines storm the beaches at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima. Stryker is a man of intense personal longing, first, for his family at home, and then for the men he is charged with leading. And, what makes Sands memorable is we see this longing etched on the face of Wayne in every scene where he appears. This is not one of his B-western walkthroughs. It helps that the lines are so good. There are the usual clichés in any war movie, but the movie also rings true in many scenes. There is an especially poignant one between Stryker and a woman trying to raise an infant son alone. But, most of all, the battle scenes are believable. The famous flag-raising was not one of those scenes, however. This was pure Hollywood, though it was re-enacted by three of the men who did it for real: John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes. Two memorable scenes:

1) Two soldiers talking:

First: This is the poorest soil I've ever seen Second: That's war. First: What's war? Second: Trading real estate for men.

Worthless real estate at that.

2) The second scene is of a Jewish soldier who is fatally wounded, whose last words are, "Shema, Yisroel. Adonai elohenu adonai echad." This is part of Deuteronomy 6:4 in Hebrew, and memorable because Hollywood is not a place known for its expression of conventional religious spirituality ..

yes saw the film about 10 times in all and have mixed thoughts being a former Marine myself not quite what i expected but i had already been in combat in Vietnam before i first saw the film in 1979 and probably just judged it on not being scary enough for after all combat is terrifying and should be shown as such and not just for political purposes. but apart from that the film tries to show the spirit of the Marine Corps and who better to play that part than the man himself John Wayne

"Semper Fi"

Bob Cairns Delta 1/5 Hue 1968

The newspaper editor in the final scene of 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' famously declared 'print the legend'. For many years Hollywood tenaciously repeated the legend that the Second World War had been won by non-combatants Errol Flynn and John Wayne; while neither Audie Murphy or Neville Brand who genuinely came back with chests full of medals really looked the part. So for years afterwards no war film with aspirations to status felt complete without Wayne's presence.

Although the film is pretty conventional Wayne is extremely good and received his first Oscar nomination; but Victor Young's score is as usual too noisy.

I once saw a documentary about John Wayne and something surprised me . Not the fact John Wayne never saw active service because we all know that while James Stewart was bombing the heart out of Nazi Germany as a squadron leader and Rod Steiger lied about his age to join the US Navy the Duke decided to help the allied war effort by making films in Hollywood which if one is to be honest had the same effect on destroying fascism the battle of Stalingrad and the atomic bomb combined . In April 1945 when Hitler herd Big John was going to make yet another flag waver he pulled out a gun and blew his brains out . There's no evidence of this but it's an established fact and who needs the Red Army when you've got John Wayne making movies . So no what surprised me about this BBC documentary is that the proud United States Marine Corps show THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA to all recruits as part of basic training ! A bit puzzling but it could be worse and could have shown them THE GREEN BERETS instead . I'm also guessing the marine recruits are a bit thankful to escape beastings for a couple of hours and enjoy some escapist fantasy cunningly disguised as a war drama

Sorry old boy but this limey thinks this while not being a bad film doesn't really perceive it as being a good one either . It crams in as much cliché as is humanly possible . I suppose the cliché of a tough as nails almost inhuman drill sergeant with a heart of gold might have been less unconvincing in 1949 but since it's been used so often since then it's almost seems a war film isn't complete without one . There are also a few jarring scenes where the action cuts from an obvious studio set to real life footage . This jarring quality also extends to real life marines who fought in the battle playing real life marines . Their courage is beyond comprehension but their acting skills are lacking and are every bit as wooden as the Duke . One wonders if the praise this film constantly receives might be down to jingoism . You don't like this film ? Does that mean you hate the USMC , Uncle Sam and capitalist democracy itself ? I don't think it does but I do know a mediocre movie with a wooden film star when I see one and this is one of them