World War II · Film · 1949
Sands of Iwo Jima
A hard-driving Marine sergeant pushes his resentful rifle squad through training and the bloody beaches of Tarawa, all the way to the top of Iwo Jima.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 4 places.
Stop 1: Wellington, New Zealand
Sergeant Stryker drills his replacements without mercy, and young Conway marries a local girl before the division ships out.
Stop 2: Betio, Tarawa Atoll
The squad wades ashore under fire, loses its lieutenant in seconds, and Stryker blasts a pillbox with a satchel charge.
Stop 3: Honolulu
On leave in Hawaii, Stryker shows a softer side when he meets a young mother struggling to feed her baby.
Stop 4: Mount Suribachi
Key location
The survivors join the patrol that fights its way up the volcano, and watch the flag go up on the summit.
What really happened
The 2nd Marine Division trained in New Zealand before storming Betio, the main island of Tarawa Atoll, on 20 November 1943. In 76 hours about 1,000 Marines were killed, and of some 4,700 Japanese and Korean defenders only 17 Japanese soldiers and 129 Korean labourers were taken alive; the losses shocked the American public.
The film's squad then fights on Iwo Jima, although in reality the 2nd Marine Division did not take part there; the invasion used the 3rd, 4th and 5th divisions. Three surviving flag raisers, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes and John Bradley, appear as themselves, and John Wayne received his first Academy Award nomination for the role.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- Sands of Iwo Jima
- Directed by
- Allan Dwan
- Countries
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Released
- 1949
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Pacific
- Themes
- Combat
