Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

A dramatization of the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima.

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Harry Brown (screenplay), James Edward Grant (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Sgt. John M. Stryker
John Agar	...	Pfc. Peter Conway
Adele Mara	...	Allison Bromley
Forrest Tucker	...	Pfc. Al Thomas
Wally Cassell	...	Pfc. Benny Regazzi
James Brown	...	Pfc. Charlie Bass
Richard Webb	...	Pfc. 'Handsome' Dan Shipley
Arthur Franz	...	Cpl. Robert Dunne / Narrator
Julie Bishop	...	Mary
James Holden	...	Pfc. Soames
Peter Coe	...	Pfc. George Hellenpolis
Richard Jaeckel	...	Pfc. Frank Flynn
William Murphy	...	Pfc. Eddie Flynn (as Bill Murphy)
George Tyne	...	Pfc. Harris
Hal Baylor	...	Pvt. 'Sky' Choynski (as Hal Fieberling)

Storyline

Marine sergeant John Stryker seems a martinet and a bully as he trains young Marines for combat in the Pacific war. In the end, as survival in the bloody battle of Iwo Jima depends on the lessons Stryker has drilled into them, his troops discover why he was so hard on them.

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Plot Keywords:

battle | iwo jima | combat | sergeant | tarawa | 

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Taglines:

A great human story... makes a mighty motion picture.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Studios

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Du warst unser Kamerad

Filming Locations:

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Oceanside, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 109 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title "Sands of Iwo Jima" was once seen by this movie's producer Edmund Grainger in a newspaper story. Alas, Grainger thought of the famous American flag raising at Mount Suribachi. He then went off and wrote a treatment with this title and an ending being the famous flag raising scene. Grainger wished the movie would be successful at the box-office as well as accurate representation of the US Marine Corps' valour on celluloid. He also wanted the movie to have an influence on the public's attitude towards the US Marines as at the time the Marines were in fight for survival and needed more financing.

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Goofs

Mary's hands change position when Stryker buys her the drink.

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Quotes

Pfc. Charlie Bass: Don't do it. Just this once, don't do it.
Sgt. Stryker: Don't do what?
Pfc. Charlie Bass: Don't get blind, staggerin' stinkin' falling down drunk.
Sgt. Stryker: Charlie, nobody sets out to get blind, staggerin' stinkin' falling down drunk.
Pfc. Charlie Bass: Yeah, some people do.

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Crazy Credits

Towards the end of the opening cast credits there states: And the three living survivors of the historic flag raising on Mount Suribachi Pfc. 'Rene A. Gagnon', Pfc. Ira H. Hayes and PM3/c John H. Bradley.

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Connections

Referenced in Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

User Reviews

Proud to Claim the title of, "United States Marine"

As a retired Marine, I can say this movie does the Corps justice! After making it through Vietnam and Desert Storm, I believe I am over qualified to render the comment that this movie does the Corps justice! It is one of the few movies out there that get you right in the gut while watching the combat footage. For those who have been there and faced the enemy realize just how accurate this film really is, after all, most of the combat footage is from actual combat footage from the camera men who were there.

In summation, if this movie is guaranteed to give you one helluva "Gut Check"!