Island in the Sky

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Island in the Sky

1953,

1h 49m,

Drama

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86%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

While flying supplies to England during World War II, Capt. Dooley (John Wayne) is forced to crash-land his plane in the icy wilds of Canada. Together, Dooley and his hardy crew struggle to survive in uncharted territory -- with the arctic temperature steadily dropping. Meanwhile, back at the army headquarters in Maine, Col. Fuller (Walter Abel) rallies his capable crew in a desperate search for the downed airmen, knowing that every second counts.

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Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Dec 31, 2023

4/5

Combined with a tension-filled score, and great writing, this movie proves that you don’t need a frenzied cavalcade of orange fireballs and deafening noises to catch viewers’ attention.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

May 30, 2021

3/4

Solid.

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Manny Farber

The Nation

Nov 24, 2020

Aerial photography in shivery weather provides some thrills but not enough to make up for Wayne's dreary monologues addressed to himself, the faulty use of stereophonic sound, and the waste of some good actors like Lloyd Nolan and Bob [Steele].

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Nov 5, 2019

Weakened in spots by touches of cloying sentimentality, this is still an interesting outdoor yarn...

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Aug 22, 2009

B-

Though not as good as The High and The Mighty, this similarly themed action-adventure of an aircraft crash, survival, and rescue is decently exceuted by the same team, helmer William Wellman and star John Wayne, who also produced through his company.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jul 19, 2005

B-

An easy to take 'boys out in the wilderness' tale.

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Kylo R

Feb 12, 2019

A decent little 'lost in the woods' flick.

Leia S

Sep 11, 2018

An oddball survival movie with lots of strange moments. John Wayne is fantastic though and the aerial shots of Corsairs flying are superb.

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William A. Wellman

Director

John Wayne

Captain Dooley

Lloyd Nolan

Captain Stutz

Walter Abel

Colonel Fuller

James Arness

Mac McMullen

Andy Devine

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Synopsis

While flying supplies to England during World War II, Capt. Dooley (John Wayne) is forced to crash-land his plane in the icy wilds of Canada. Together, Dooley and his hardy crew struggle to survive in uncharted territory -- with the arctic temperature steadily dropping. Meanwhile, back at the army headquarters in Maine, Col. Fuller (Walter Abel) rallies his capable crew in a desperate search for the downed airmen, knowing that every second counts.

Director: William A. Wellman
Screenwriter: Ernest K. Gann
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 1953, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2013
Runtime: 1h 49m

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