Letters From Iwo Jima Wiki

Letters from Iwo Jima is a 2006 Japanese-American war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, starring Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya. Battle of Iwo Jima - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Many films were made about it for example Flags of our Fathers and Letters from. The 36-day Iwo Jima battle caused more than 26,000 American casualties. Letters from Iwo Jima is a 2006 American war movie directed by Clint Eastwood, featuring Battle of Iwo Jima and describes this battle mainly from the Japanese point of view. It is a companion film to Flags of Our Fathers.

1. Letters From Iwo Jima Movie

Letters from Iwo Jima (硫黄島からの手紙Iōjima Kara no Tegami) is a 2006 American war film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood, starring Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya. The film portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanesesoldiers and is a companion piece to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, which depicts the same battle from the American viewpoint; the two films were shot back to back. Letters from Iwo Jima is almost entirely in Japanese, although it was produced by American companies DreamWorks, Malpaso Productions, and Amblin Entertainment. After Flags of Our Fathers underperformed at the box office, Paramount Pictures swapped the United States distribution rights to Warner Bros., who had the international rights.

The film was released in Japan on December 9, 2006 and received a limited release in the United States on December 20, 2006 in order to be eligible for consideration for the 79th Academy Awards. It was subsequently released in more areas of the U.S. on January 12, 2007, and was released in most states on January 19. An English-dubbed version of the film premiered on April 7, 2008. Upon release, the film received critical acclaim and did slightly better at the box office than its companion.

• 3Production
• 4Reception
  • 4.1Critical response
  • 4.2Awards and honors

Plot[edit]

In 2005, Japanese archaeologists explore tunnels on Iwo Jima, where they find something in the dirt.

The scene changes to Iwo Jima in 1944. Private First Class Saigo and his platoon are digging beach trenches on the island. Meanwhile, Lieutenant GeneralTadamichi Kuribayashi arrives to take command of the garrison and immediately begins an inspection of the island defenses. He saves Saigo and his friend Kashiwara from a beating by Captain Tanida for 'unpatriotic speeches', and orders the men to begin tunneling underground defenses into Mount Suribachi. Kuribayashi and Lieutenant ColonelBaronTakeichi Nishi, a famous Olympic gold medalistshow jumper, clash with some of the other officers, who do not agree with Kuribayashi's defense in depth strategy: Kuribayashi believes the US will take the beaches quickly, and that the mountain defenses will have a better chance for holding out.

Poor nutrition and unsanitary conditions take their toll; many die of dysentery, including Kashiwara. The troops begin using the caves. Kashiwara's replacement, Superior Private Shimizu, arrives for duty. Saigo suspects that Shimizu is a spy from the Kempeitai sent to report on disloyal soldiers.

Soon, American aircraft and warships begin to appear and bombard the island, causing significant casualties. A few days later, the U.S. Marines land. The American troops suffer heavy casualties, but the beach defenses are quickly overcome, as Kuribayashi predicted, and the attack turns to the positions on Mount Suribachi. While delivering a request for more machine guns from his commander to the Suribachi garrison, Saigo overhears Kuribayashi radioing orders to retreat. The commander, however, ignores the General and instead orders his company to commit suicide. Saigo runs away with Shimizu, convincing him to continue the fight rather than die. They find two other soldiers, but one is incinerated by an American flamethrower, and they witness a captured Marine being bayoneted to death.

Saigo and the soldiers in Mount Suribachi try to flee with Lt. Colonel Oiso at night, but they run into Marines, who wipe out all except Saigo and Shimizu. They flee to friendly lines, but are accused by Lieutenant Ito of desertion. Ito raises his katana to execute them for cowardice, but Kuribayashi arrives and saves Saigo again by confirming his order to retreat.

The Japanese attack US positions but take heavy losses. The survivors are told to regroup with Colonel Nishi while Ito heads to the US lines with three mines, intending to throw himself under a tank. Nishi converses in English with a captured Marine, Sam, until Sam eventually dies from his wounds. Later, blinded by shrapnel, Nishi orders his men to withdraw and asks Lieutenant Okubo to leave him a rifle. Upon leaving, the soldiers hear a gunshot from Nishi's cave.

Saigo plans surrender, and Shimizu reveals that he was dishonorably discharged from the Kempeitai because he disobeyed an order to kill a civilian's dog. Shimizu escapes and surrenders to Americans, but is later shot dead by his guard. Meanwhile, Ito, desperate and malnourished, breaks down and, when found by the US Marines, surrenders. Okubo is killed as he and his men arrive at Kuribayashi's position. Saigo meets up with Kuribayashi, and one last attack is planned. Kuribayashi orders Saigo to stay behind and destroy all documents, including his own letters, saving Saigo's life a third time.

That night, Kuribayashi launches a final surprise attack. Most of his men are killed, and Kuribayashi is critically wounded, but Kuribayashi's loyal aide Fujita drags him away. The next morning, Kuribayashi orders Fujita to behead him; however, Fujita is shot dead by a Marine sniper before he can do so. Saigo appears, having buried some of the documents and letters instead of burning them all. Kuribayashi asks Saigo to bury him where he will not be found, then draws his pistol, an American M1911 — a gift Kuribayashi was given in the US before the war — and commits suicide. A tearful Saigo then buries him.

Later, a US patrol find Fujita's body. One Marine officer finds Kuribayashi's pistol and tucks it under his belt. They search the area and find Saigo with his shovel. Seeing the pistol in the Marine lieutenant's belt, Saigo becomes furious and attacks the Americans with his shovel. Too weak to fight, he is knocked unconscious and taken to the POW beach. Awakening on a stretcher, he glimpses the setting sun and smiles grimly.

Back in 2005, the archeologists complete their digging, revealing the bag of letters that Saigo had buried, and open it. As the letters spill out, the voices of the Japanese soldiers who wrote them resound.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The film was originally entitled Red Sun, Black Sand.^{[citation needed]} Although the film is set in Japan, it was filmed primarily in Barstow and Bakersfield in California. All Japanese cast except for Ken Watanabe were selected through auditions.^{[citation needed]} Filming in California wrapped on April 8, and the cast and crew then headed back to the studio in Los Angeles for more scenes before Eastwood, Watanabe and a skeleton crew made a quick one-day trip to Iwo Jima for some on-location shots.^{[citation needed]}Principal photography finished in late 2006.^{[citation needed]}

The filmmakers had to be given special permission from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to film on Iwo Jima,^{[citation needed]} because more than 10,000 missing Japanese soldiers still rest under its soil. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operates a naval air base on Iwo Jima, which is used by the United States Navy for operations such as nighttime carrier landing practice. Civilian access to the island is restricted to those attending memorial services for fallen American Marines and Japanese soldiers.

The battleship USS Texas (BB-35), which was used in closeup shots of the fleet (for both movies) also participated in the actual attack on Iwo Jima for five days. The only character to appear in both Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima is Charles W. Lindberg, played by Alessandro Mastrobuono.

Sources[edit]

The film is based on the non-fiction books 'Gyokusai sōshikikan' no etegami ('Picture letters from the Commander in Chief')^[3] by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (portrayed on screen by Ken Watanabe) and So Sad To Fall In Battle: An Account of War^[4] by Kumiko Kakehashi about the Battle of Iwo Jima. While some characters such as Saigo are fictional, the overall battle as well as several of the commanders are based upon actual people and events.

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

In the United States[edit]

The film was critically acclaimed, and well noted for its portrayal of good and evil on both sides of the battle. The critics heavily praised the writing, direction, cinematography and acting. The review tallying website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 180 out of the 198 reviews they tallied were positive for a score of 91% and a certification of 'fresh.'^[5] Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, and Richard Schickel of Time were among many critics to name it the best picture of the year.^[6][7][8] In addition, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune both gave it four stars, and Todd McCarthy of Variety praised the film, assigning it a rare 'A' rating.^[9]

Letters From Iwo Jima Movie

On December 6, 2006, the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named Letters from Iwo Jima the best film of 2006.^[10][11] On December 10, 2006, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association named Letters from Iwo Jima Best Picture of 2006. Furthermore, Clint Eastwood was runner-up for directing honors.^[12] In addition, the American Film Institute named it one of the 10 best films of 2006. It was also named Best Film in a Foreign Language on January 15 during the Golden Globe Awards, while Clint Eastwood held a nomination for Best Director.

CNN's Tom Charity in his review described Letters from Iwo Jima as 'the only American movie of the year I won't hesitate to call a masterpiece.'^[13] On the 'Best Films of the Year 2006' broadcast (December 31, 2006) of the television show Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper listed the film at #3 and guest critic A. O. Scott listed it at #1, claiming that the film was 'close to perfect.' Roger Ebert awarded the film a perfect score (4 out of 4 stars) and raved about it as well. James Berardinelli awarded a 3 out of 4 star review, concluding with that although both 'Letters' and 'Flags' were imperfect but interesting, 'Letters from Iwo Jima' was more focused, strong and straightforward than its companion piece.^[14]

On January 23, 2007, the film received four Academy Award nominations. Eastwood was nominated for his directing, as well as Best Picture along with producers Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The film took home one award, Best Sound Editing.

The film also appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2006.^[15]

In Japan[edit]

The film was far more commercially successful in Japan than in the U.S., ranking number 1 for five weeks, and receiving a warm reception from both Japanese audiences and critics. The Japanese critics noted that Clint Eastwood presented Kuribayashi as a 'caring, erudite commander of Japan's Iwo Jima garrison, along with Japanese soldiers in general, in a sensitive, respectful way.' ^[16] Also, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shinbun noted that the movie is clearly 'distinguishable' from previous Hollywood movies, which tended to portray Japanese characters with non-Japanese actors (e.g., Chinese-Americans, and other Asian-Americans). Consequently, incorrect Japanese grammar and non-native accents were conspicuous in those former films, jarring their realism for the Japanese audience. In contrast, most Japanese roles in Letters from Iwo Jima are played by native Japanese actors. Also, the article praised the film's new approach, as it is scripted with excellent research into Japanese society at that time. According to the article, previous Hollywood movies describing Japan were based on the stereotypical images of Japanese society, which looked 'weird' to native Japanese audiences. Letters from Iwo Jima is remarkable as the movie that tries to escape from the stereotypes.^[17] Owing to the lack of stereotypes, Letters from Iwo Jima was appreciated by Japanese critics and audiences.^[18]

Since the film was successful in Japan, a tourist boom has been reported on the Ogasawara islands, of which Iwo Jima is part.^[19]

Nicholas Barber's review in the UK's The Independent on Sunday, argued that the movie was 'a traditional film wearing the uniform of a revisionist one' which proved Hollywood could be 'as mawkish about other country's soldiers as it can about its own', and that the Japanese characters were 'capable of being decent, caring fellows, just so long as they've spent some time in the United States'.^[20]

Despite favorable reviews, the film only grossed $13.7 million domestically in the United States. Foreign sales of $54.9 million helped to boost revenue over production costs of $19 million.^[2]

Awards and honors[edit]

Won[edit]

• 79th Academy Awards:
  • Best Sound Editing (Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman)
• Berlin Film Festival:
  • Cinema for Peace Award
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 13th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 64th Golden Globe Awards:
• 32nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Picture
• 78th National Board of Review Awards:
  • Best Picture
• 11th San Diego Film Critics Awards:
  • Best Director (Clint Eastwood)
  • Best Picture
• Japan Academy Prize:

Nominated[edit]

• 79th Academy Awards — Best Picture - Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg & Robert Lorenz
• 79th Academy Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 79th Academy Awards — Best Original Screenplay - Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis
• 64th Golden Globe Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards — Best Film
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Picture
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Original Score
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Screenplay, Original - Iris Yamashita
• 2007 MPSE Golden Reel Awards — Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film: Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement
• 2007 MPSE Golden Reel Awards — Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects and Foley for a Feature Film

Other honors[edit]

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

• 2008: AFI's 10 Top 10:
  • Nominated Epic Film^[21]

Home media[edit]

Letters from Iwo Jima was released on DVD by Warner Home Video on May 22, 2007. It was also released on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Furthermore, it was made available for instant viewing with Netflix's 'Watch Instantly' feature where available. The film was rereleased in 2010 as part of Clint Eastwood's tribute collection Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Bros.The Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition DVD is also available in a Five-Disc Commemorative Set, which also includes the Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition of Flags of Our Fathers and a bonus fifth disc containing History Channel's 'Heroes of Iwo Jima' documentary and To the Shores of Iwo Jima, a documentary produced by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The English dubbed version DVD was released on June 1, 2010.^[22] This version was first aired on cable channel AMC on April 26, 2008.^[23]

References[edit]

1. ^'LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (15)'. British Board of Film Classification. January 2, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
2. ^ ^abc'Letters from Iwo Jima'. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
3. ^Kuribayashi, T. (Yoshida, T., editor) 'Gyokusai Soshireikan' no Etegami. Shogakukan, Tokyo, April 2002, 254p, ISBN4-09-402676-2(in Japanese)
4. ^Kakehashi, K. So Sad To Fall In Battle: An Account of War (Chiruzo Kanashiki). Shinchosha, Tokyo, July 2005, 244p, ISBN4-10-477401-4(in Japanese) / Presidio Press, January 2007, 240p, ISBN0-89141-903-9(in English)
5. ^'Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)'. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
6. ^Schwarzbaum, Lisa (January 7, 2007). 'The year's best films: Lisa Schwarzbaum's list'. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
7. ^Turan, Kenneth (December 17, 2006). 'Bypassing the escape clause'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
8. ^Corliss, Richard (December 20, 2006). '10 Best Movies - TIME'. Content.time.com. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
9. ^McCarthy, Todd (December 7, 2006). 'Review: 'Letters From Iwo Jima''. Variety. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
10. ^'Eastwood's 'Letters' named 2006's best'. CNN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2006.
11. ^'Awards for 2006'. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. Archived from the original on January 10, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
12. ^'Awards for 2006'. Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
13. ^'Review: 'Letters from Iwo Jima' a masterpiece'. CNN. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
14. ^Berardinelli, James. 'Letters from Iwo Jima'. ReelViews. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
15. ^'Metacritic: 2006 Film Critic Top Ten Lists'. Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
16. ^'Letters from Iwo Jima'(PDF).^{[permanent dead link]}
17. ^{{Asahi Shinbun, December 13, 2006: それまでのアメリカ映画では、日本を描いた作品や日本人の設定でありながらも、肝心の俳優には中国系や東南アジア系、日系アメリカ人等が起用されたり、日本語に妙な訛りや文法の間違いが目立ち、逆に英語を流暢に話すといった不自然さが目立つことが多かったが、本作品ではステレオタイプな日本の描写（文化や宗教観等）や違和感のあるシーンが少なく、「昭和史」で知られる半藤一利も、細部に間違いはあるが、日本についてよく調べている.}}
18. ^'キネマ旬報社'. Kinejun.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
19. ^映画「硫黄島2部作」で…硫黄島ブームArchived December 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine 小笠原新聞社 2006年12月19日
20. ^Barber, Nicholas. 'Review: 'Letters from Iwo Jima.' The Independent, 25 Feb. 2007. Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155755/http://arts.independent.co.uk/film/reviews/article2298399.ece
21. ^'AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
22. ^'Letters From Iwo Jima (Ws Sub Dub Ac3 Dol Ecoa) (2006)'. amazon.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
23. ^'Clint Eastwood's Iwo Jima Now in English (2008)'. AMC (TV channel). Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.

Further reading

• Eliot, Marc (2009). American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood. Harmony Books. ISBN978-0-307-33688-0.

External links[edit]

• Letters from Iwo Jima on IMDb
• Letters from Iwo Jima at Rotten Tomatoes
• Letters from Iwo Jima at Metacritic
• Video interview with Letters from Iwo Jima special effects artist Vincent Guastini at Interviewing Hollywood
• Gerow, Aaron (2006). 'From Flags of Our Fathers to Letters From Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwood's Balancing of Japanese and American Perspectives'. Japan Focus. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
• Ikui, Eikoh (2007). 'Letters from Iwo Jima: Japanese Perspectives'. Japan Focus. Retrieved May 29, 2009.

Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The film also features John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker, was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant, and directed by Allan Dwan. The picture was a Republic Pictures production.

Sands of Iwo Jima was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (John Wayne), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Recording (Daniel J. Bloomberg) and Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.^[3]

• 2Cast

Plot[edit]

Note: the story is told from the viewpoint of Corporal Robert Dunne (Arthur Franz).

Tough-as-nails career Marine Sergeant John Stryker (John Wayne) is greatly disliked by the men of his squad, particularly the combat replacements, for the rigorous training he puts them through. He is especially despised by PFC Peter 'Pete' Conway (John Agar), the arrogant, college-educated son of an officer, Colonel Sam Conway under whom Stryker served and admired, and PFC Al Thomas (Forrest Tucker), who blames him for his demotion.

When Stryker leads his squad in the invasion of Tarawa, the men begin to appreciate his methods. Within the first couple of minutes of the battle, the platoon leader, Lt. Baker (Gil Herman), is killed only seconds after he lands on the beach, PFC 'Farmer' Soames (James Holden) is wounded in the leg, and PFC Choynski (Hal Baylor) receives a head wound. The marines are aggressively pinned down by a pillbox.

Able Company commander Captain Joyce (John McGuire) takes charge and he begins to send out marines to silence the pillbox. As a result of three unsuccessful attempts to reach the pillbox, two demolition marines and a flamethrower operator are killed and PFC Shipley (Richard Webb) is left mortally wounded in the line of fire. Sgt. Stryker takes action and demolishes the pillbox. Shipley would eventually die of his wounds in front of his best friend Regazzi (Wally Cassell).

Later on, Thomas becomes distracted from his mission, and 'goofs off' when he goes to get ammunition for two comrades, stopping to savor a cup of coffee. As a result, though he brings back coffee for his squadmates, he returns too late — the two Marines, now out of ammunition, in the interim are shown being overrun; Hellenopolis (Peter Coe) is killed, Bass (James Brown) badly wounded.

On their first night, the squad is ordered to dig in and hold their positions under the cover of darkness. Bass lies wounded from a distance and begs for help. Conway considers Stryker brutal and unfeeling when he decides to apparently abandon Bass to the enemy.

After the battle, when Stryker discovers the truth, he forces Thomas into a fistfight. This is seen by a passing officer (Don Haggerty) but Thomas, to Stryker's surprise, deflects the officer's intention of pressing charges against Stryker for violation of military rules in striking a subordinate by claiming that he was merely being taught judo by his superior. Subsequently, ravaged by his conscience over the fate of his fellow Marines, Thomas breaks down and abjectly apologizes for his dereliction of duty.

The squad receives three new recruits: Stein (Leonard Gumley), Fowler (William Self), and McHugh(Martin Milner). Stryker reveals a softer side of his character while on leave in Honolulu. He picks up a bargirl (Julie Bishop) and returns with her to her apartment. He becomes suspicious when he hears somebody in the next room, but upon investigation, finds only a hungry baby boy that his intended paramour is supporting the best way she can. Stryker gives the woman, whose child's father was 'gone,' some money and departs. The woman had earlier noted that there were 'worse ways to make a living than fighting a war,' in reference to her current lot in life.

Later, during a training exercise, McHugh drops a live hand grenade. Everybody drops to the ground, except Conway, who is distracted reading a letter from his wife. Stryker knocks him down, saving his life, and then proceeds to bawl him out in front of the platoon.

Stryker's squad subsequently fights in the battle for Iwo Jima. Stryker shouts 'Saddle Up!' as they prepare to take the beach. The squad suffers heavily within the first couple of hours, losing Soames, McHugh, Harris (George Tyne), and Frank Flynn (Richard Jaeckel). Stryker's squad is selected to be a part of the 40 man patrol that will charge up Mount Suribachi. During the charge, Eddie Flynn (William Murphy), Stein, and Fowler are killed. While the remaining men were resting during a lull in the fighting, Stryker is killed by a Japanese soldier emerging from a spider hole. Bass quickly locates the spider hole and kills the Japanese shooter. The remaining squad members (Conway, Thomas, Dunne, Regazzi, and Bass) find and read a letter on his corpse, a missive addressed to his son and expressing things Stryker wanted to say to him, but had never actually managed to. Moments later, the squad witnesses the iconic flag raising. Conway, reminiscent of Stryker, walks away shouting 'Saddle Up!'

Cast[edit]

• John Wayne as Sgt. John M. Stryker
• John Agar as PFC Peter T. 'Pete' Conway
• Adele Mara as Allison Bromley
• Forrest Tucker as PFC Al J. Thomas
• Wally Cassell as PFC Benny A. Regazzi
• James Brown as PFC Charlie Bass
• Richard Webb as PFC 'Handsome' Dan Shipley
• Arthur Franz as Corporal Robert C. Dunne/Narrator
• Julie Bishop as Mary (the bargirl)
• James Holden as PFC 'Farmer' Soames
• Peter Coe as PFC George Hellenopolis
• Richard Jaeckel as PFC Frank Flynn
• William Murphy as PFC Eddie Flynn
• Martin Milner as Pvt Mike McHugh
• George Tyne as PFC Hart S. Harris
• Hal Baylor as Pvt J.E. 'Ski' Choynski (credited as Hal Fieberling)
• Leonard Gumley as Pvt Sid Stein
• William Self as Pvt L.D. Fowler Jr.
• John McGuire as Captain Joyce
• Gil Herman as Lt. Baker (uncredited)

Actual Marines[edit]

Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, and John Bradley, (until 2016, Bradley was incorrectly identified as being a flag-raiser) the three survivors of the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who were credited with raising the second flag on Mount Suribachi during the actual battle, appear briefly in the film just prior to the re-enactment. Hayes was also the subject of a film biography, The Outsider, and Bradley the subject of a book by his son James, Flags of Our Fathers.

Also appearing as themselves are 1st Lt. Harold Schrier, who led the flag-raising patrol up Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima and helped raise the first flag, Col. David M. Shoup, later Commandant of the Marine Corps and recipient of the Medal of Honor at Tarawa, and Lt. Col. Henry P. 'Jim' Crowe, commander of the 2nd Battalion 8th Marines at Tarawa, where he earned the U.S. Navy Cross.^[4][5]Kannada melody songs.

Actual battle footage is interspersed throughout the film.

Acknowledgements[edit]

Several of the actors were re-united in the 1970 western Chisum (1970): John Wayne, John Agar, Forrest Tucker, and Richard Jaeckel.

The 1982 Academy Award nominated comedy short filmThe Great Cognito makes an implied reference to Sands of Iwo Jima. The only character to be seen onscreen is an entertainment impersonator, who changes into the people and events he talks about in his comic patter, using Will Vinton's technique of stop-motion claymation. In the end, while talking of Iwo Jima, Cognito breaks down in tears and leaves the stage, blubbering about how '..John Wayne gets shot.'

In the television show King of the Hill (1997–2010), this is the favorite film of Cotton Hill, father of main character Hank Hill. Hank recalls that, during his childhood, his father would travel around Texas searching for showings of this film.

The episode 'Call of Silence' (2004) in NCIS's season 2 references the film and a documentary as shared background to Marine history and legacy. The episode shows the NCIS character Timothy McGee watching the documentary To the Shores of Iwo Jima; the character Anthony DiNozzo approaches and, in furtherance of the character's schtick as an avowed and knowledgeable movie buff, begins talking about the theatrical film Sands of Iwo Jima, some scenes of which were taken from the documentary.

The Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers have a song title 'The Sands of Iwo Jima' on their 2004 album The Dirty South. It is sung from the perspective of a young boy who has been exposed to World War 2 through old John Wayne movies. He asks his great-uncle, a World War II veteran, if The Sands of Iwo Jima represents the war properly; the old man smiles, shakes his head and responds, 'I never saw John Wayne on the sands of Iwo Jima.' This may be a reference to the fact that Wayne, despite his many roles as a member of the armed forces, never actually served in the military.

Idiom[edit]

The first recorded use of the phrase 'lock and load' is in this film: twice as a metaphor for 'get ready to fight' and once as a humorous invitation to drink alcohol (get loaded). As a period term, it similarly appears in the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan. Although the original use and implied meaning may be disputed, it typically described preparations for charging the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle^[6] by first locking the bolt back by pulling the charging handle rearward and then loading an 8-round en bloc clip into the now open magazine.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'The Top Box Office Hits of 1950', Variety, January 3, 1951
2. ^'All-Time Top Grossers', Variety, 8 January 1964 p 69
3. ^'The 22nd Academy Awards (1950) Nominees and Winners'. oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
4. ^T. M. P. (1949-12-31). 'Movie Review - Sands of Iwo Jima - At the Mayfair'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
5. ^Suid, Lawrence H. (2002). Guts & Glory: The Making of the American Military Image in Film. University Press of Kentucky. p. 121. ISBN0813122252. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
6. ^http://www.sproe.com/l/lock-and-load.html

External links[edit]

• Sands of Iwo Jima on IMDb
• Sands of Iwo Jima at the TCM Movie Database
• Sands of Iwo Jima at AllMovie
• Sands of Iwo Jima at the American Film Institute Catalog