Director Nicholas Ray
Screenplay Beirne Lay Jr., James Edward Grant, Edmund Grainger
Flying Leathernecks
Tagline: From Guadalcanal to Okinawa...the Marine air-devils blazed a trail of glory...while the women they left behind fought battles of their own!
Release Date: 1951-08-28
Duration: 102 minutes
Synopsis
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.
Casting
- John WayneMaj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
- Milburn StoneFleet CIC Radio Operator (uncredited)
- Don TaylorLt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe
- Robert RyanCapt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin
- Chuck Courtney3rd Pilot Replacement (uncredited)
- Douglas HendersonLt. Foster (uncredited)
- Carleton YoungCol. Riley
- Keith Larsen
- Maurice JaraShorty Vegay
- Janis CarterJoan Kirby
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