The film John Wayne and John Ford made together right after The Searchers which is as well known as this is not, even though it has some interesting source material: it's a biopic of Spig Wead, a naval flyer who became a writer after being paralysed in an accident, then went back to the navy during WW2. That sounds like inherently depressing material, which is maybe why this movie lost money at the box office.
Surprisingly, the most depressing thing about this isn't the paralysis - this happens half way in, but Wead does recover reasonably well to be able to get around on crutches; he has a lively second and third act in his life, being a successful writer and fighting in the war. The downer is his family life. Wead's child dies in the first ten minutes. His marriage is poor - he neglects his kids, is estranged from his wife (Maureen O'Hara) who has a drinking problem. He's about to get back with his wife when the accident happens and he pushes her away. Then they're about to get back together when Pearl Harbour happens and he rushes off to war. He never gets back to his wife. He never connects with his two surviving kids. The film ends with Wead farewelling the navy after a heart attack (a dodgy ticker would kill him in real life shortly after the war)...
In an attempt to liven things up John Ford throws in a lot of horseplay - rivalry between army and navy officers, comic antics on planes including "funny" crashes, a brawl, Dan Dailey hopping around as Wayne's best friend (who seems to be in love with him), Dailey singing a song, a scene where Dailey encourages Wayne to "move one toe".
But there's no hiding it - it's a downer. The final moments are Wead realizing how important his family is... remembering walking along with his wife, being with the kids... but there's no reunion. He doesn't actually enjoy spending time with him - he loves his work, the men he hangs around with - he actually doesn't like his family that much. A lot of John Ford films are unexpected - this is one.
It's an interesting film - very unsympathetic about it's protagonist. Many writers have said that Ford treated the depiction of Wead in an autobiographical way - someone who loved his work and the military, who loved booze and mucking around, but who neglected his family... felt bad about that but never changed it.
Wayne gives a good performance with many layers. O'Hara's is less sure - though in her defence it's surprisingly short role (She and Wead are so estranged) and she never gets a real chance to sink her teeth into anything much. Dailey is "whatever". Ward Bond is enormous fun as a director based on John Ford, sending up his boss mercilessly - it's a fascinating depiction with so many of Ford's physical characteristics (supposedly) captured.
As a movie, the comic interludes are dull, some of the writing is poor, it's a dramatic mess which varies in tone. It is nicely shot and features two movie stars. But the people who will get most out of it are John Ford fans.
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