Sands of Iwo Jima

1950

Sands of Iwo Jima

Critics Consensus

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100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

80%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,798

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Movie Info

From director Allan Dwan, Sands of Iwo Jima is a drama set during the Second World War and follows John Stryker (John Wayne), a relentlessly tough Marine sergeant as he trains a squad of naïve, rebellious recruits at a New Zealand military station in 1943. Recently left by his wife, Stryker has become exceedingly bitter and tough, leading his contemporaries to question his behavior and his men to dislike him for his harsh training methods. The wisdom of Stryker's ways, however, is demonstrated when they fight in the legendary battle of Iwo Jima. Using footage of real WWII battles, the Sands of Iwo Jima features John Wayne's first Academy Award-nominated performance, though Broderick Crawford ultimately won the 1950 Best Actor prize. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Cast

John Wayne
as Sgt. John Stryker
John Agar
as Pfc. Peter Conway
Wally Cassell
as Pfc. Benny Regazzi
Adele Mara
as Allison Bromley
Forrest Tucker
as Pfc. Al Thomas
Richard Webb
as Pfc. Shipley
Arthur Franz
as Cpl. Robert Dunne/Narrator
Julie Bishop
as Mary
James Holden
as Pfc. Soames
Peter Coe
as Pfc. Hellenpolis
Richard Jaeckel
as Pfc. Frank Flynn
William Murphy
as Pfc. Eddie Flynn
George Tyne
as Pfc. Harris
James Brown (II)
as Pfc. Charlie Bass
Hal Baylor
as Pvt. `Ski' Choynski
John McGuire
as Capt. Joyce
Martin Milner
as Pvt. Mike McHugh
Leonard Gumley
as Pvt. Sid Stein
Bill Self
as Pvt. L.D. Fowler, Jr.
William Self
as Pvt. L.D. Fowler Jr.
H. Hayes Bradley
Dick Wessel
as Grenade Instructor
I. Stanford Jolley
as Forrestal
David Clarke
as Wounded Marine
Gil Herman
as Lt. Baker
Dick Jones
as Scared Marine
Don Haggerty
as Colonel
Bruce Edwards
as Marine
Dorothy Ford
as Tall Girl
John Whitney
as Lt. Thompson
Col. D.M. Shoup U.S.M.C.
as Himself
The Three Living Survivors of the Fla
as g Raising: Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon Pfc.
Lt.Col. H.P. Crowe U.S.M.C.
as Himself
Capt. Harold G. Schrier U.S.M.C.
as Himself
Rene A. Gagnon
as Himself (as Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon)
Ira H. Hayes
as Himself (as Pfc. Ira H. Hayes)
John H. Bradley
as Himself (as PM 3/c John H. Bradley)
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Critic Reviews for Sands of Iwo Jima

All Critics (10)

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Sands of Iwo Jima

  • Mar 11, 2014
    A film that plays on lingering patriotism after the war. It is considered to be one of the best John Wayne although it is a very straight forward effort with no nuance.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 10, 2010
    Probably the most influential WW2 movie ever made, you can see ever other movie proceeding it to have similar scenes and characters. Maybe it's because this uses stock footage from the real war, was made so close to the war and has The Duke playing the lead; this is one of the best war movies ever made. No, it's not as well made as Apocalypse Now! or as realistic as Platoon, but this has it where it counts and was made a full 30+ years before either was made. John Stryker is one of the most iconic soldiers in any movie, he represents the true tortured soul and sympathetic tough guy. When a movie like this can still be powerful today, you know they did something right.
    Conner R Super Reviewer
  • Jan 25, 2009
    one of the best old war films and one of the best films starring john wayne. until viewing this the horse soldiers was my favourite performance by the duke. don't get me wrong... he's the usual man we know but here he does it better with gumption. he's very well supported too with good performances mostly by all concerned
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
  • Aug 31, 2008
    Wayne is giving a surprisingly excellent portrait of a fascist sergeant,preoccupied in reforming thoughts and supposedly liberal ideas.Impressive battle sequences and social morality yet if Patton was and is an overrated piece of militarism,I believe am really soft rating it with an extra half for the decent neutrality of Iwo Jima events,despite the usual historical patriotism.
    Dimitris S Super Reviewer
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