The Wings of Eagles

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The Wings of Eagles

1957,

1h 50m,

Biography

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Watchlist

33%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Frank Spig Wead (John Wayne) is a pilot trying to improve the Navy's aviation program. His military posts often require him to move his wife (Maureen O'Hara) and children. On the night he decides to spend more time with his family, Spig falls down the stairs and breaks his back. During his recovery, buddy Jughead Carson (Dan Dailey) convinces Spig to start writing pro-military films. Although he is successful, the Pearl Harbor bombing moves Spig to rejoin the Navy despite his paralysis.

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 15, 2025

2/4

Perhaps the weakest of all John Ford-John Wayne collaborations.

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 11, 2019

Coming from a director as esteemed as John Ford, this is a disappointing entry-a loud, long and shamelessly corny biography of a naval airman...

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Jan 16, 2015

A bizarre, but touching, comical biopic.

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Christopher Lloyd

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Apr 25, 2011

2.5/5

Wants to be epic in scope but ends up feeling like ham-fisted CliffsNotes version of a man's life. The film loiters way, way too long on Frank Wead's early days as a hell-raising test pilot, then skips ahead through long sections of his life.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 15, 2008

B

Though sentimental as a biopic of Navy hero Frank (Sig) Wead, John Ford's film has old-fashioned charm, a result of John Wayne's lead performance and his chemistry with Maureen O'Hara.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Feb 8, 2005

C

This routine sentimental biopic is directed with much feeling by John Ford.

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Leia S

Mar 19, 2018

Fairly average approach to an unusual studio movie. This one is a biopic about a successful Hollywood screenwriter, known for his post WWII war films which often starred John Wayne. In this film the Duke portrays the man who helped him break out of the Western genre - this time as a hotshot pilot who finds new ways to remain useful even after being paralyzed/crippled. That's right... the Duke plays a man who's both physically & emotionally crippled! A great supporting cast as well, so watch for familiar faces.

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Harry G

Jun 5, 2017

Wayne's over-the-top acting fits this film, about a true character

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

Frank W. "Spig" Wead

Maureen O'Hara

Min Wead

Dan Dailey

"Jughead" Carson

Ward Bond

John Dodge

Ken Curtis

John Dale Price

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Synopsis

Frank Spig Wead (John Wayne) is a pilot trying to improve the Navy's aviation program. His military posts often require him to move his wife (Maureen O'Hara) and children. On the night he decides to spend more time with his family, Spig falls down the stairs and breaks his back. During his recovery, buddy Jughead Carson (Dan Dailey) convinces Spig to start writing pro-military films. Although he is successful, the Pearl Harbor bombing moves Spig to rejoin the Navy despite his paralysis.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Charles Schnee
Screenwriter: Frank Fenton, William Wister Haines
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 50m

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