If you’re going to make a movie about marines, you need tough actors.
In 1951, John Wayne was the Go-To actor for Hollywood’s ideal Army Boss: He was 6’4″ and brooked no nonsense.
After Wayne was cast for the 1951 drama, Flying Leathernecks – a film about aviator marines during WWII – director Nicholas Ray needed another tough actor. The role was for Wayne’s second-in-command, a man who becomes the C.O.’s most severe critic.
Ray chose Robert Ryan. According to IMDb, Ray liked that Ryan “had been a boxer in college and [Ray] believed that he was the only actor that could play opposite John Wayne and ‘kick Wayne’s [derrière].'”¹
Flying Leathernecks takes place during the Battle of Guadalcanal, in the summer of 1942. Marine corps aviators are asked to perform an experiment of sorts, by providing low-level air attacks to support ground troops. The marines feel this is too dangerous because (A) planes fly just above treetops, and (B) it could result in too much friendly fire.
Enter Wayne as the new commander of the VMF-247 Wildcats. Wayne’s assignment is to train pilots while proving to Military Brass that low-altitude flying is Useful. It’s a costly way to make a point, but this is War, so there you go.
The squadron is not pleased to see Wayne as the new C.O., because they wanted Ryan to be promoted to the position. Ryan is easygoing and popular with the men; Wayne alienates them by doing everything By The Book.
These two leadership styles are on a collision course, naturally, especially when Ryan’s Career Disappointment sours and becomes bitter.
Turns out there was a lot of off-camera arm-twisting during production, but we think it served to make the film better than it would be otherwise.
For example, although Wayne and Ryan held opposing political views and put aside their differences, their scenes have an undercurrent of palpable tension.
Ryan never yields to Wayne, nor does he let Wayne dominate, which is no small accomplishment. Wayne had charisma and talent, but so did Ryan, and it’s fascinating to watch these two actors simultaneously work with, and against, each other.
Director Ray was on assignment at RKO Pictures when Flying Leathernecks surfaced. He reportedly disliked war films and disagreed with the slant of the script. But, in our opinion, Ray’s reticence saves this movie from becoming a cringing, overzealous propaganda flick.
It’s worth noting Flying Leathernecks is Ray’s first colour feature, and he integrates actual battle footage to give it a documentary feel. Aviation experts say the planes used in the film are not the ones used by the real leathernecks at Guadalcanal, and the battle footage is likely from the Korean War. Even so, these clips are effective; surprisingly, Ray includes shots that are somewhat graphic for 1951 Hollywood.
IMDb has an interesting footnote, if true: RKO studio boss Howard Hughes – a noted aviator enthusiast – supposedly funded this project to “prove his political and professional alliance during the Red Scare.”²
The word leatherneck is a moniker for a U.S. Marine, due to the leather collar that was once part of the marine uniform to protect the soldier’s neck. The leather collar disappeared in the 1870s, but the name stuck.
About the risks of low-level flying: According to Stack Exchange, some of the dangers include increased turbulence, reduced time to perform an emergency landing, and greater risk of colliding with obstacles, such as radio towers or a sudden rise in terrain.
Characters in the film express anxiety about flying close to the ground. One character jokes that Wayne’s former squadron flew so close to the beach the planes scooped up seashells.
Flying Leathernecks is a grade above a standard-issue war movie. Even if you don’t care for American propaganda films, we think you might enjoy this one.
Notes
Flying Leathernecks: starring John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor. Directed by Nicholas Ray. Written by James Edward Grant. RKO Radio Pictures, 1951, Technicolor, 102 mins.
Silver Screenings 
Some very interesting and useful information. Always loved The Flying Leathernecks, but unfortunately, it was done to death by T.V. repeats in the 1960s. A particular favourite around Christmas time, if I remember correctly.
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Thanks! I wasn’t keen to see this one the first time around – I thought it would be a run-of-the-mill war film. But it’s so interesting and so well done, it’s become one of my faves.
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You description forces the person to watch the movie.
I love to watch movies a lot but just not getting enough time. I will definitely tell my husband about this movie and he will make me watch it for sure!!!
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Haha! I hope you get a chance to see it.
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I read an interview with Bruce Springsteen last week. He said that Wayne, despite Wayne’s right-wing politics, has always been one of his favorite actors. He says that’s true to this day.
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I think John Wayne is a terrific actor. He’s skilled at drama or comedy, and he can recite monologues while doing involved tasks, e.g. playing pool – and making his shots.
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Yeah, I’d agree that Ryan was one of the few supporting actors that could stand toe to toe with the Duke and hold his own. Leading men like Kirk Douglas, Bill Holden, and Bob Mitchum did a pretty good job too. Ryan was interesting a fellow. He came from a wealthy Irish Catholic family, went to Dartmouth, and got into acting. Supposedly, the role he played in “The Professionals” as a soft-hearted Horse wrangler, was much closer to the real man than all his tough guy/villain parts. His performance in the 1974 “The Iceman Cometh” is another example of his untapped versatility. As for the movie, it uses the combat footage well, and the Ryan Vs. Wayne dynamic is good, but otherwise, just a standard war flick.
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I don’t see John Wayne as Hamlet or Stanley in “Streetcar Named Desire”, but within his range he was dynamite. Its too bad Eastwood and Wayne never got together and made a movie. From what I’ve read, Eastwood wasn’t really that interested, and thought he could make more $$, as the sole lead. Too bad.
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It is too bad Eastwood and Wayne never did a film together. If only…
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I’ve read several sources who say Ryan was not the villainous type he sometimes played. It shows what a good actor he was. He always gives an audience their money’s worth.
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It’s always interesting to shed light on what went on behind the camera during filming – how the actors really got along. What an interesting story! An also an interesting note about Howard Hughes!
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Wow didn’t know any of that! Thank you it was a fascinating post!
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Thanks so much! This is an interesting movie all around. 🙂
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Wayne had the talent and charisma to overpower others, yet he also had the ability to share the screen perfectly, especially with his leading ladies. In this case, a fine script and a co-star of equal talent balanced perfectly for a more than watchable movie.
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That’s a good point. John Wayne knew how to share the screen with others, and sometimes I don’t give him enough credit for that.
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Robert Ryan excelled in certain kinds of parts and FLYING LEATHERNECKS is a great example of what he did well. In his later career, he seem to play more more disillusioned (or perhaps realistic) characters. I recently saw him in THE WILD BUNCH and THE PROFESSIONALS and he was excellent in both.
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Robert Ryan doesn’t seem very well known these days, outside the classic film community, does he? Which is a true shame.
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So interesting–I always think of him as a “Western cowboy” actor, but this is really cool. Also, I had no idea he was so tall!
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He was a surprisingly versatile actor. Maybe a Shakespearean drama wasn’t his thing, but he was good at adventure or comedy, in my opinion. And yes, he was a tall drink of water!
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Oh yeah. In fact, he barely fit into the jet cockpit; maximum height for jet fighter pilots is 6 foot 5.
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Thanks for this wonderful informative review, I really haven’t seen enough of John Wayne when he wasn’t a cowboy so thanks for the introduction to some of his more different movies.
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I hope you get the chance to see this one. It’s a pretty good cast here.
Thanks for hosting!
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Nice review! To be honest, I didn’t care for the movie. But Wayne and Ryan are great together. It’s an ordinary but entertaining movie thanks to the actors.
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The acting is top-notch, like you said. Shows how actors can make the most of the material.
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Robert Ryan was one of the toughest actors in Hollywood history (part of the tough guy triumvirate of Mitchum, Ryan and Lee Marvin) and one of the coolest as well. As you say it is sad that today he is nearly unknown to the average moviegoer. I haven’t seen Flying Leathernecks yet, I think my favourite Ryan is On Dangerous Ground (with lovely Ida Lupino) also directed by the great Nick Ray.
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I recently saw “On Dangerous Ground” for the first time a couple months ago. I fell in live with it, and the performances. It was great to see Robert Ryan in this kind of role. Like you said, he was tough, but capable of tenderness, too.
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I’ve never thought about John Wayne’s height before.
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He was a tall fellow. No shoe lifts needed there!
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