Back to trending
The Wings of Eagles

The Wings of Eagles

Drama · War · 1957

The story of Frank W. "Spig" Wead - a Navy-flyer turned screenwriter.

Movie details

The Wings of Eagles

“THE SKY IS THE LIMIT for Fun, Thrills, Excitement!”

1957 Drama · War 1h 50m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

The story of Frank W. "Spig" Wead - a Navy-flyer turned screenwriter.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Wings of Eagles?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Waiting for Anya

Waiting for Anya

Drama · 2020

During the harrows of WWII, Jo, a young shepherd along with the help of the widow Horcada, helps to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain.

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

Drama · 1955

A dramatization of the American general and his court martial for publically complaining about High Command's dismissal and neglect of the aerial fighting forces.

Sink the Bismarck!

Sink the Bismarck!

War · 1960

The story of the breakout of the German battleship Bismarck—accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen—during the early days of World War II. The Bismarck and her sister ship, Tirpitz, were the most powerful battleships in the European theater of World War II. The British Navy must find and destroy Bismarck before it can escape into the convoy lanes to inflict severe damage on the cargo shipping which was the lifeblood of the British Isles. With eight 15 inch guns, it was capable of destroying every ship in a convoy while remaining beyond the range of all Royal Navy warships.

Run Silent, Run Deep

Run Silent, Run Deep

Drama · 1958

The captain of a submarine sunk by the Japanese during WWII is finally given a chance to skipper another sub after a year of working a desk job. His singleminded determination for revenge against the destroyer that sunk his previous vessel puts his new crew in unneccessary danger.

The Battle of the River Plate

The Battle of the River Plate

Drama · 1956

In the early years of the World War II, the Royal Navy is fighting a desperate battle to keep the Atlantic convoy routes open to supply the British Isles, facing the great danger posed by the many German warships, such as the Admiral Graf Spee, which are scouring the ocean for cargo ships to sink.

Red Tails

Red Tails

Drama · 2012

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.

The Last Rifleman

The Last Rifleman

Drama · 2023

A WWII veteran escapes his care home in Northern Ireland and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, finding the courage to face the ghosts of his past.

The Cruel Sea

The Cruel Sea

Drama · 1953

At the start of World War II, Cmdr. Ericson is assigned to convoy escort HMS Compass Rose with inexperienced officers and men just out of training. The winter seas make life miserable enough, but the men must also harden themselves to rescuing survivors of U-Boat attacks, while seldom able to strike back. Traumatic events afloat and ashore create a warm bond between the skipper and his first officer.

Midway

Midway

War · 2019

The story of the Battle of Midway, and the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome massive odds.

Devotion

Devotion

War · 2022

The harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Ford

Written by

Frank Fenton · William Wister Haines · Frank Wead

John Wayne

John Wayne

Frank W. 'Spig' Wead

Dan Dailey

Dan Dailey

'Jughead' Carson

Maureen O'Hara

Maureen O'Hara

Min Wead

Ward Bond

Ward Bond

John Dodge

Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis

John Dale Price

Edmund Lowe

Edmund Lowe

Adm. Moffett

Kenneth Tobey

Kenneth Tobey

Capt. Herbert Allen Hazard

Court is in session

Put The Wings of Eagles on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.