Flying Leathernecks (1951): cast, story & where to watch
1951 · Film · ★ 6.1
Released in 1951, Flying Leathernecks is an action, drama and war film directed by Nicholas Ray, running about 102 minutes. “From Guadalcanal to Okinawa...the Marine air-devils blazed a trail of glory...while the women they left behind fought battles of their own!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers just before they are about to go into combat. While the men are well meaning, he finds them undisciplined and prone to always finding excuses to do what is easy rather than what is necessary. The root of the problem is the second in command, Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin. Griff is the best flier in the group but Kirby finds him a poor commander who is not prepared to make the difficult decision that all commanders have to make - to put men in harm's way knowing that they may be killed.
Who’s in it. Flying Leathernecks stars John Wayne as Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby, Robert Ryan as Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin, Don Taylor as Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe and Janis Carter as Joan Kirby, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.1/10, Flying Leathernecks has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Flying Leathernecks page.
If you liked it. Fans of Flying Leathernecks tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Flying Leathernecks (1951)?
- In US, Flying Leathernecks is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Flying Leathernecks worth watching?
- Flying Leathernecks holds an audience score of 6.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Flying Leathernecks?
- Flying Leathernecks stars John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter and Jay C. Flippen.
- When was Flying Leathernecks released?
- Flying Leathernecks was released in 1951, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.