Sands of Iwo Jima (1950)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Blistering performances.

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.

Excellent 1949 war film with John Wayne giving a fine performance as Sgt. Stryker, a tough leader in combat, but a man of deep convictions at heart and a kind one in the end. Wayne was nominated for a best actor Oscar here and deservedly lost to Broderick Crawford for "All the King's Men."Basic training was a real experience with Stryker as he used common sense to lead his men into battle.John Agar, first husband of Shirley Temple, shined in the role of an enlisted man, whose father expected more of him and was adored by the Stryker character. The two men learn to respect each other as is the case with Forrest Tucker in his role.

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

I was five years old when the Marines landed on Iwo, my eldest brother however was at Pharmacist Mate 3d (now Hospital Corpsman), with 3rd Marines at Iwo. He seldom ever spoke of it. Was called back in Korea, got a Silver Star with King Co., 3rd Bn., 7th Mar. in the vicinity of Sintanni, Nov. 1951. I enlisted in the Marine Corps, Plt. 344, San Diego, July 1959. Remember seeing the Sands of Iwo Jima on my first liberty from Lima Co., 2nd ITR, CAMPEN, as I'm sure many hundreds of Marines did, especially us new guys, in Oceanside, Ca. I digress: Seems like most of the time in the actions scenes the actors were either wearing field marching packs w/short blanket roll, or light marching pack, no blanket roll. While in the actual scenes, mostly the ones at Tarawa almost all the Marines were with out 782 gear (web gear)? Also Sgt. Stryker told them to hit the "sack". as I recall, and it's been many years, we used the term "hit the rack"? Moot points I'm sure, I'll probably watch it again, if fact I'm sure I will, and maybe have some more info as I recall it. Semper Fi