The Wings of Eagles (1957)

A biography of Navy flier-turned-screenwriter Frank W. "Spig" Wead.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Frank Fenton (screenplay), William Wister Haines (screenplay)

Stars:

John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Dan Dailey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Frank W. 'Spig' Wead
Dan Dailey	...	'Jughead' Carson
Maureen O'Hara	...	Min Wead
Ward Bond	...	John Dodge
Ken Curtis	...	John Dale Price
Edmund Lowe	...	Adm. Moffett
Kenneth Tobey	...	Capt. Herbert Allen Hazard
James Todd	...	Jack Travis
Barry Kelley	...	Capt. Jock Clark
Sig Ruman	...	Manager
Henry O'Neill	...	Capt. Spear
Willis Bouchey	...	Barton
Dorothy Jordan	...	Rose Brentmann

Storyline

U.S. Navy pilot Frank 'Spig' Wead is a fun-loving and rowdy adventurer, but also a fierce proponent of Naval aviation. His dedication to the promotion of the Navy's flying program is so intense that his marriage and family life suffer. When an accident paralyzes him, Spig finds a new means of expressing his love of flying: screenwriting. Successful and acclaimed, he finds the U.S. entry into World War II to be an irresistible call. Pleading that he be reinstated in the Navy despite his paralysis, Spig finds he has an enormous contribution yet to make.

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Plot Keywords:

flying | u.s. navy | world war two | jet fighter | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

THE LIFE STORY OF COMMANDER "SPIG" WEAD. FUN AND THRILLS! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alas de águila

Filming Locations:

Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,644,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) Perspecta Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Made at a time when MGM was in financial straits and beginning the process of dismantling its assets, nearly every interior of this film was recycled from High Society (1956), released the previous year.

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Goofs

When viewing the rushes for "Hell Fighters," there is a brief discussion about signing 'the kid with Beery.' Gable had been signed earlier and had done nine previous films for Metro.

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Quotes

Min Wead: Why don't you!
Frank W. 'Spig' Wead: Alright, I been thinking what a heel I been about you and my own kids, I do something I go all the way - living, gambling, flying, tap myself out I guess. That's what I wanted to be. Maybe the way I am.
Min Wead: Star-Spangled Spig - damn the marguritte and full speed ahead and don't give up the ship.
Frank W. 'Spig' Wead: Have a drink. Listen, Min, I'm trying to say I been a fool, first grade gold brand
Min Wead: So have I!
Frank W. 'Spig' Wead: [Grabs her] Okay, let's change it. Lets grow up before our kids do
Min Wead: We better hurry up.
[...]

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Connections

Edited into Midway (1976)

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Soundtracks

Aloha Oe
(uncredited)
Written by Queen Liliuokalani
Heard as Spig leaves his carrier

User Reviews

My Absolute Favorite

I, am retired US Navy, from a Navy family. I am also a naval history buff. I can watch this movie time and time again.

I have seen some errors in the cinematography over the years.

1. In the scene where Spig and Jughead give each other the thumbs up.

See if you can find it.

2. When Spig attends the accident board for loosing his aircraft, he is standing at attention holding his hat. The hat is missing the gold band.

Dialog

When Spig arrives at the ship, he refers to: being back with "Joc, and the ole Doc".

The ole doc I assume refers to the senior medical officer at San Diego. who never appears again after the hospital scenes.

Joc, is the CO of the Carrier, but I cannot find him in any scenes prior to the pier side scene at the ship.