the duke was in a movie where he was temp. paralized, and he could see his big toe from a mirror, , while he laid there. he kept saying i'm gonna move that toe, does anyone know which movie it was, i've been trying to find out for three years now, and thought maybe someone here could help. thanks

Twilitzon,

Welcome to the John Wayne Message Board :D !

You have come to the right place to get an answer to your question.

The movie to which you are referring is The Wings of Eagles, and John Wayne plays the part of Naval Commander Frank 'Spig' Wead. It is based on a true story. It was made in 1957, and co-starred Dan Dailey and Maureen O'Hara.

It is a funny and touching movie.

Chester

thank you thank you thank you, finally, and it's available on vhs too. yes i can see it's the right place.

Hey Chester!

Good call on that movie, one of my favorites. As a trivia note, did you know that Frank Wead , the charater that Wayne played in "Wings of Eagles", also wrote the book "They Were Expendable" that was also made into a John Wayne movie of the same title??

Baron,

Hey, that's very interesting, and I did not know that. They Were Expendable is one of my favorite movies.

Thanks for that bit of trivia. I've learned mountains of stuff since I've been hanging around here :D .

Chester

Regarding the Winds of Eagles is it any good of a movie I have struggled to find a review on it anywhere. Could somone supply a brief critical review(without giving away too much) on it here I would be very greatful.


P.s What did Duke look like in the movie without a toupee was he completely bald
B)

Robbie,

The movie The Wings of Eagles, if I recall correctly, wasn't listed in anyone's list of top ten or twenty movies (I'm talking about on this message board, not anywhere else), if that tells you anything. Now that may be because it is not as well known, or perhaps not as available as some other titles. My personal opinion was that it was an OK movie. I especially enjoyed the airplane scenes, and the interaction between JW and Maureen O'Hara (which is a small part of the whole movie). My wife was disappointed with certain aspects of the plot (on which she says I should not elaborate here, as it may ruin it for someone who hasn't seen it), but overall enjoyed the movie. It's hard to answer your question, "is it any good of a movie?" because what is good to one person is terrible to another. I liked it, you may not.

The following is from the back of the box:

The making of The Wings of Eagles - the true story of Naval Commander Frank 'Spig' Wead - was a labor of love for both its star, John Wayne, and director, John Ford. For Wead was a close friend to both men, and his life story - that runs the gamut from high slapstick to deep drama to heartbreaking tragedy - is the stuff of powerful picture-making.

Naval aviation was Wead's passion, and the film takes off with the hilariously harrowing episode of the brash young pilot's first solo flight - that winds up in an admiral's swimming pool! Over the next three decades, the colorful, headstrong Wead was to become a daredevil airman, successful Hollywood screenwriter, and finally a commander aboard an aircraft carrier in World War II.

Co-star Dan Dailey scores as his cigar-chomping sidekick, while Maureen O'Hara brings fire to the role of Wead's wife. Wayne's performance ranks among his best.

Now, back to my own commentary -

The character JW plays is portrayed from his early years of marriage and military service (probably his character is late twenties or early 30-something), through his later years (late 50's or early 60's, I would 'guestimate'; his actual age when making the movie is 50). So near the end of the movie, when he is the older Spig Wead, his hair is graying and he has a typically receding hairline, but is not completely bald on top.

Other cast members include Ward Bond, Ken Curtis, and a face you'll see in many JW movies, Jack Pennick.

I would encourage you to watch it if you get a chance. If you are able to purchase it used (as I did), at a reasonable price, go for it. Buying it used, I didn't spend much more money than the price of two tickets to the movie theater, but entertained my whole family, and I can watch it again if I want to (and I probably will :) ). Frankly, it's a little more than I am usually willing to spend, but it was a title I haven't seen much and wanted to have.

So, for what it's worth, my two cents . . .

Chester

This is a very underrated movie and a very very fine performance by JW (he was overlooked again!). It gets to me every time a watch it. I think it stands out in the Wayne/Ford collaboration even more because they did a movie about their personal friend. Ford said to Peter Bogdanovich: "I didn't want to do it - but I didn't want anybody else to do it, either!" Did you notice: The USN-jacket Wayne wears through They Were Expandable is the very same jacket he wears in the final scene of Wings of Eagles? Just a personal hommage from director and star even if it was clear that probably nobody would notice. So this was a very personal film for them, that's why I like it - better every time I watch it.
By the way, there's a great Chuck Roberson anectode in his book "Fall Guy" about the stunt in the beginning of the film, when the plane flies over the train. According to Roberson, they were both off for next day's filming. So they went to town. Ford heard about it - and he had them ordered to the set next morning, hang over, when they shot that scene. And Wayne wasn't even in it. So he said: If I have to be here, I could at least drive this train. So he had the train driver explain it to him - and it was actually him driving the train in that sequence.

Itdo,
going though the message boards, As i read down through The Wings Of Eagles I have to agree that it is a very underated movie. I also completely forgot about this movie as far as one of the other postings is concerned.
The ending scene were Commander "Spig" Weed is walking across the flight deck to be sent home quietly as he requested was spoiled when the port elevator rises and all of "Spigs" friends from his past military when he fought for Naval Aviation were standing as his Honor Guard and the crew of the carrier was in wonder who all this high ranking brass is for. And as "Spig" goes over the side down to the DD it comes close to putting a tear in my eyes.
And don't forget "Jug Head" watching from a port hole. Yes a very underated movie.

Brian
Tulalip Wa

My two cents Department:

Wings of Eagles is one of the best of John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara movies made. It is one of two movies base of real life people made by Wayne (Hellfighters is the other). Trust the people on this forum, it is worth having in any decent John Wayne movie collection. Lets hope it gets out of DVD soon! Love to see any of the extras, if any. :)