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Sands of Iwo Jima
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Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
DVD
January 1, 1953 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $10.50 | $1.72 |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | Military & War/World War II, Military & War/Drama |
Format | Black & White, Multiple Formats, NTSC |
Contributor | John Wayne, Richard Jaeckel, Adele Mara, James Brown, Arthur Franz, John Agar, Richard Webb, Wally Cassell, Julie Bishop, Allan Dwan, Forrest Tucker See more |
Language | English |
Runtime | 1 hour and 49 minutes |
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Product Description
John Wayne earned a 1949 Best Actor Academy Award nomination for one of his most iconic roles, as the battle-hardened leader of a squad of recruits, in Allan Dwan's SANDS OF IWO JIMA. Haunted by his personal demons, Marine Sgt. John Stryker is both hated and feared by his men, who see him as a cold-hearted sadist. But when their boots hit the beaches, they begin to understand the reason for Stryker's rigid form of discipline, as he leads them into one of the most treacherous battles in the Pacific. Emotionally gripping, punctuated with intense battle scenes, all bound together by Wayne's larger-than-life performance, Sands of Iwo Jima is the quintessential WWII film.
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 ounces
- Item model number : OLV819DVD
- Director : Allan Dwan
- Media Format : Black & White, Multiple Formats, NTSC
- Run time : 1 hour and 49 minutes
- Release date : November 11, 2014
- Actors : John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara, Forrest Tucker, Wally Cassell
- Studio : Olive
- ASIN : B00MGBS6VG
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,148 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #1,539 in DVD
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2010An absolutely great film! It is set against the backdrop of WWII in the Pacific, with new 'boots' (recruits) being assimilated into a rifle squad led by one of the toughest Marines they'd ever want to meet (John Wayne plays Sgt John M. Stryker). He has his failings (an estranged wife and an alcohol problem), but is deadly serious when it comes to getting them ready for combat. John Agar plays one of Sgt Stryker's recruits, and is a highly intelligent young man who reluctantly joins the the Corps not out of a sense of duty, but because of family ties to the Corps. He is belligerent to Stryker's entreaties to get him to come around to the training and importance of what is at stake, but Stryker will get his squad 'squared away', no matter how much all his recruits hate him. Its 'his way or sickbay'. Sent to fight in the battle of Tarawa, all his charges soon learn how deadly serious combat is. Of note in the Tarawa sequence are the cameos by Gen. David Shoup and Major 'Jim' Crowe, veterans of and leaders at the battle for Tarawa. In a scene were Stryker's given the command to stay put so as not to give away the thinness of their understrength line to the enemy, he shows how far he will go to carry out orders, no matter how terrible the circumstances, or the personal pain or cost. In the Iwo Jima sequence (complete with cameos by three surviving flag raisers on Surabachi), he leads from the front, and though not as graphic as some would want in this era of 'Saving Private Ryan' realism, the human cost and sacrifice is always portrayed. The negative reviewers must put into perspective the time this film was released (1949). For a movie of its day, it was full of about as much realism as was allowed. As a Marine of 24 years of active service, it does say something when, to this day, Marines want to have all the positive virtues of a Sgt Stryker. It is an enduring legacy left to us by the toughest Marines of the past and embodied in this truly iconic film.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2014Great movie with authentic action and some at-the-time war film mixed into real action invasion forces. With the cooperation of the USMC, this film won awards in 1950 and was a boost to the good name and appearance of not only John Wayne but also the USMC.
The video was clear, excellent black & white contrast. The special “making of” feature was with Leonard Malton with interviews with John Wayne’s son, John Agar and others.
It was interesting seeing what the think was at the time regarding the Marines and the war effort at Iwo Jima. Forrest Tucker was especially good as Thomas, a foil against Stryker (Wayne), and John Agar’s character, trying to live up to his father’s fame as a Marine but would rather not.
The death scenes were heart-tugging and authentic. The Japanese were portrayed as pretty evil and heartless, which is what I would expect from a film made only a few years after World War II.
The sideways romance with Agar’s character was played up but was not really a vital part of the film. Wayne’s performance was flawless.
Critics on Amazon seem hard on Wayne for not being in the military which is quite unfair and they should really get their facts straight. In the film, Wayne’s son says his father was a great supporter. The USMC actually reviewed the film and made suggestions for its production, and even provided Camp Pendelton for the invasion scenes.
Recommended.
PS: If you were ever a fan of F-Troop, it is interesting to note Forrest Tucker later becoming a TV comedian. And if you were a fan of the police show Adam 12, a very young Martin Milner makes an appearance.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024Fast delivery and quality better than I expected.
Thanks
- Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2024Great movie...
- Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024How many times I have watched this on TV. And now will continue to watch it even more. As with the other DVD's I purchased, I will spend many days and nights burning up the DVD players.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024wonderful classic John wayne
- Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024Oldie dvd is a favorite in hubby’s collection
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2012"Sands of Iwo Jima" starring John Wayne is a movie that is a little hard-to-find, but well worth the effort.
Wayne plays the classic Platoon Sergeant Stryker character "to the hilt" as he did with his westerns. Hard-hitting, no-nonsense leader who cares much about the men under his command. Training hard as Marines have done for about 170 years (circa point-in-time of WWII) Wayne's character leads his men on many successful missions with a minimum of men lost during the battles preceeding Iwo Jima. He trained his men well.
In the climatic "flag raising" scene, the men who participated in the movie are the actual men who both fought on Iwo Jima and raised the flag for real, including American Indian, Issac Hayes.
Keeping in mind that "Sands of Iwo Jima" was filmed shortly after WWII, the sound is not what we're used to in the 21st century. I would suggest for the music soundtrack & battle scenes to "punch" the Equalizer & sub-woofer to the max.
Can't say for certain, but since "Sands" isn't that available for general sale (brand new), poke around on Amazon.com as I did.
Top reviews from other countries
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Xenophon12Reviewed in France on October 3, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Un grand Wayne et un excellent film qui retrouvent enfin leur jeunesse
Ce Blu-ray l'emporte de loin sur la version DVD. VO, VF, et option VO sous-titrée fr. Il n'y manque que la VERSION anglais/anglais. Et le Supplément, 17 mn de making of, utile, comporte sous-titres français. Bien que tourné un peu après la guerre, Wayne meurt in fine, comme ses illustres devanciers : Alan Ladd (China, avril 1943) et surtout Veronica Lake, as Lt Olivia d'Arcy (la grenade !) dans So proud we hail (septembre 1943 ; voir déjà le DVD avec VF, et à présent Blu-ray 2022, sans VF, mais vrai blu-ray, VO avec option sous-titre anglais). Excellent John Wayne et grand succès du film.
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Gregory VogtsReviewed in Germany on July 13, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Alles Gut.
Alles Gut.
- AmazonSheilaBReviewed in Canada on March 14, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars same movie as my father seen back on the screen in the 1950s
same movie as my father seen back on the screen in the 1950s
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marylineReviewed in France on August 27, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent John Wayne
Bonjour, j'ai bien reçu l'article. Merci
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SearcherReviewed in Germany on February 18, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Spannender Kriegsfilm
Interessanter Film zum 2. Weltkrieg mit guten Schauspielern. Zum heutigen Zeitpunkt allerdings eher etwas für Fans des Hauptdarstellers. Trotzdem sicher sehenswert.