Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘The Wings of Eagles’?

The Wings of Eagles (1957)

My Rating

Movie Info

The Wings of Eagles is filmmaker John Ford's paean to his frequent collaborator--and, it is rumored, drinking buddy--Cmdr. Frank "Spig" Wead. John Wayne stars as Wead, a reckless WW1 Naval aviator who (it says here) was instrumental in advancing the cause of American "air power". In private life, Wead becomes estranged from his wife Minnie (Maureen O'Hara) after the death of their baby. Drinking heavily, Wead tumbles down the stairs of his home, and as a result he is apparently paralyzed for

Jun 6, 2006

Cast

All Critics (7) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (2) | DVD (2)

Wants to be epic in scope but ends up feeling like ham-fisted CliffsNotes version of a man's life. The film loiters way, way too long on Frank Wead's early days as a hell-raising test pilot, then skips ahead through long sections of his life.

April 25, 2011 Full Review Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune | Comment

Though sentimental as a biopic of Navy hero Frank (Sig) Wead, John Ford's film has old-fashioned charm, a result of John Wayne's lead performance and his chemistry with Maureen O'Hara.

July 15, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

This routine sentimental biopic is directed with much feeling by John Ford.

February 8, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Wings of Eagles

John Ford's follow-up to The Searchers is surprisingly un-remarkable. A biopic of Frank "Spig" Wead, a solider turned cripple turned screenwriter, "The Wings of Eagles is an impeccably crafted piece of fluffy propaganda.

May 7, 2007
kenstachnik

Super Reviewer

An excellent and often-moving biopic about navy-flier-turned-screenwriter Frank "Spig" Wead, this film features fine dramatic performances from John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Features the usual John Ford elements of sentimentality and brawling slapstick, but there's also an underlying poignancy that makes this a treat.

December 16, 2007
deano
Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

The Wings of Eagles Quotes

No quotes approved yet for The Wings of Eagles. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for The Wings of Eagles

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,568 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,445 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,158 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,653 taken
created 15 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Escrito bajo el sol (ES)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile