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Sands of Iwo Jima

Play trailer Poster for Sands of Iwo Jima 1950 1h 50m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Marine Sgt. John Stryker (John Wayne) is despised by his own men for his rough attitude and exhausting training regimen. As the war in the Pacific progresses, though, they begin to respect Stryker's hard-edged outlook on war and his brutal training methods, as it has helped them prepare for the harsh realities of the battlefield. They'll need all of Stryker's battle tactics if they want to survive what will end up being one of the bloodiest engagements of the war: the Battle of Iwo Jima.
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Sands of Iwo Jima

Critics Reviews

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Frank J. Avella The Contending 04/28/2025
B
The film blends striking real footage of the battle with Dwan’s newly shot scenes. That lends the movie a hard authenticity and makes it quite compelling. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 04/27/2025
3.5/4
This is compelling stuff, distinguished by some of the best battle sequences ever placed on film. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
... a rare role for Wayne to show a darker side of his persona... which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 03/08/2008
5/5
One of John Wayne's best performances, and an entertainment above average on its own. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 01/12/2007
B+
In one of his best roles, Wayne's Stryker is a sergeant disliked by his recruits due to his ruthless training and rigid code of ethics. The film established the two-generational plot as a Wayne staple, here contrasted with John Agar's "soft" soldier. Go to Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis 10/21/2005
4/5
Solid patriotic WWII vehicle for Wayne. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andy F @RT81936104 03/21/2024 Brutally realistic and interspersed with real footage this movie marks a high point in both American war movies and John Wayne's career See more Red T @RT43513976 07/27/2023 A Classic War Movie. This can be summed up as a reverse Full Metal Jacket. The training scenes are solid but most of the recruits besides Conway blend in. Wayne is the best character in this and is very good. The acting overall is very well done though its just they do lack a lot of in depth character save for Wayne & Conway. The music is solid but is pretty generic save for the Marine theme song. The battle scenes are amazing and the stock footage doesn't feel out of place but gives it a very authentic touch. The special effects are amazing and the action is amazing to think this is from 1949. Besides a few corny moments mostly coming from the non battle scenes this is very well done overall and paced very well. Anyone who is a fan of war films or any actors in this will like this a lot. See more SICKS6SIX @sicks6six 10/03/2022 Good film. With a cast of 1000s. Pre CGI so the scenes of 1000s on the beach are real people. Ah them were the days. Real people in real places. The sub stories don't add anything to the film IMO they detract from it. So it's a solid 95% from me. See more william d @acsdoug 07/23/2020 The Sands of Iwo Jima is a guilty pleasure: it's cliched, overwrought, and its attempts at humor fall flat, but I enjoy watching it anyway. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/21/2020 Same old same old from Wayne. See more 06/07/2019 One Of The Dukes Best A Stellar Performance See more Read all reviews
Sands of Iwo Jima

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Cast & Crew

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Allan Dwan

Director

John Wayne

Sgt. John M. Stryker

John Agar

Pfc. Peter Conway

Forrest Tucker

Pfc. Al Thomas

Adele Mara

Allison Bromley

Wally Cassell

Pfc. Benny Regazzi

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Sands of Iwo Jima

Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Marine Sgt. John Stryker (John Wayne) is despised by his own men for his rough attitude and exhausting training regimen. As the war in the Pacific progresses, though, they begin to respect Stryker's hard-edged outlook on war and his brutal training methods, as it has helped them prepare for the harsh realities of the battlefield. They'll need all of Stryker's battle tactics if they want to survive what will end up being one of the bloodiest engagements of the war: the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Director
Allan Dwan
Producer
Edmund Grainger
Screenwriter
Harry Brown, James Edward Grant
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment, Republic Pictures
Production Co
Republic Pictures Corporation
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 1, 1950, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 14, 2014
Runtime
1h 50m