Sands of Iwo Jima
by Allan Dwan
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DVD details
Actor: Adele Mara, Forrest Tucker, John Agar, John Wayne, Wally CassellDirector: Allan Dwan
Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 109 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-07-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Republic Pictures
DVD Reviews of Sands of Iwo Jima
DVD Review: One of the Dukes best
Summary: 5 Stars
How can you not like this one it has all of the tried and true heroic John Wayne bits and he even dies in the end. This should be in everyone's library.
The whole cast is good, top to bottom with all of the bases covered. The angry young marine, the young brothers that fight with each other more than the enemy, the old time marine that can't stand the Duke until that moment when it all turns around.
Oh well you all know what this film is.
DVD Review: A near miss
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked this film even though I found it a bit contrived. John Wayne is of course effective in the lead, but as one of the few elligible Movie Stars who did not enter the service in World War II his performance is more Hollywood than Parris Island. Ironically their was a true story that could have served as the basis of a more authentic film. The story of Marine Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone. Basilone won the Congressional Medal of Honor at Guadalcanal but he turned down a commission and insisted on returning to combat "to be with his men". He was killed at Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross. I believe he was the only serviceman ever to receive both decorations. Basilone was the son of Italian American immigrants and was from a large working class family. He may have been too "ethnic" to be the subject of a major Hollywood production. Ethnic soldiers were usually in supporting roles in A budget World War II films of that era. The leads were usually "All American Boys". Perhaps it was better box office.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this film. The Wayne character was shown to have his flaws. The direction was not brilliant nor was the script, but it told the story in an efficient manner which kept things moving to the inevitable conclusion - the raising of the flag on Mt Suribachi, one of the mythic moments of American military history. In my opinion, not as good as "Flags of Our Fathers", but less emotionally draining. A good example of the "Hollywood goes to war" genre.
DVD Review: Great Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Sands of Iwo Jima is a great film. The "making of" extra by Leonard Maltin is fantastic. The film was made at the request of the Marine Corps when abolishing the Corps was being considered. In the regard the film was successful.
Thanks to the input of the United States Marine Corps, Sands of Iwo Jima provides a reasonably accurate account of life in the Corps. The combat footage integrates well with the film. My only complaint is with some of the hokey characters that seem to be a part of war films made in the 40's and 50's.
The "making of" segment on the dvd has some excellent insight into the film.
DVD Review: 2.5 stars out of 4
Summary: 3 Stars
The Bottom Line:
A leaden and slow war picture that's dated and feels like it lasts forever, Sands of Iwo Jima manages to nicely incorporate some actual combat footage but does little else of value over 2 mind-numbing hours.
DVD Review: Great war movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this film for a class that I co-teach on American Cinema. It is a great example of a classic war film movie that takes place during WWII. If you like war films, this is a must have.
Description of Sands of Iwo Jima
SGT. STRYKER, THE HARD-NOSED MARINE SERGEANT WHO MOLDS HIS COMPANY INTO A COMBAT-READY FIGHTING MACHINE. ALSO INCLUDES "THE MAKING OF SANDS OF IWO JIMA" NARRATED BY NOTED FILM HISTORIAN LEONARD MALTIN, OFFERING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THIS WORLD WAR II CLASSIC.John Wayne's old studio home, Republic, made this 1949 drama about the heroic capture of an important island in the Pacific by marines in World War II. Director Allan Dwan (Brewster's Millions), a pioneering filmmaker from the silent days of cinema who easily crossed over into sound, handles the action sequences like a consummate pro, while Wayne works hard as the tough sergeant molding new recruits into fighters. John Agar plays a contentious surrogate son to Wayne, though the relationship is hardly the stuff of Red River. --Tom Keogh
This classic World War II actioner has Wayne as a tough but compassionate Marine Corps sergeant, John M. Stryker. Tough name, too. Stryker's job is to turn a bunch of raw recruits into a fighting machine. His no-holds-barred approach causes a great amount of friction, not to mention a running subplot concerning his personal life that makes him something of an enigma to his men. The mystery of his past is not fully resolved until the very ending, by which point Stryker is decidedly a war hero. The supporting roles of those who hate Stryker's guts, and who are inevitably won over, are played handsomely by John Agar and Forrest Tucker. Veteran film director Allan Dwan helmed this one, and used real war footage and three of the surviving soldiers who raised the flag on Mt.?Suribachi to reenact that momentous event. An engrossing and entertaining war flick all around, boasting one of the Duke's finest, most measured and layered performances. The DVD includes a wonderful making-of featurette hosted by Leonard Maltin, interviewing Wayne's son, John Agar, and some of the military personnel who served as advisors on the film. --Jim Gay
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