Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Island in the Sky

Play trailer Poster for Island in the Sky 1953 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
While flying supplies to England during World War II, Capt. Dooley (John Wayne) is forced to crash land his plane in the icy wilds of Canada. Together, Dooley and his hardy crew struggle to survive in uncharted territory -- with the arctic temperature steadily dropping. Meanwhile, back at the army headquarters in Maine, Col. Fuller (Walter Abel) rallies his capable crew in a desperate search for the downed airmen, knowing that every second counts.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Island in the Sky

Critics Reviews

View More
Ian Kane Epoch Times 12/31/2023
4/5
Combined with a tension-filled score, and great writing, this movie proves that you don’t need a frenzied cavalcade of orange fireballs and deafening noises to catch viewers’ attention. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/30/2021
3/4
Solid. Go to Full Review Manny Farber The Nation 11/24/2020
Aerial photography in shivery weather provides some thrills but not enough to make up for Wayne's dreary monologues addressed to himself, the faulty use of stereophonic sound, and the waste of some good actors like Lloyd Nolan and Bob [Steele]. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 11/05/2019
Weakened in spots by touches of cloying sentimentality, this is still an interesting outdoor yarn... Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 08/22/2009
B-
Though not as good as The High and The Mighty, this similarly themed action-adventure of an aircraft crash, survival, and rescue is decently exceuted by the same team, helmer William Wellman and star John Wayne, who also produced through his company. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/19/2005
B-
An easy to take 'boys out in the wilderness' tale. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Hunter R 03/17/2024 The best aviation movie I've ever seen!! See more 02/12/2019 A decent little 'lost in the woods' flick. See more andy f 09/11/2018 An oddball survival movie with lots of strange moments. John Wayne is fantastic though and the aerial shots of Corsairs flying are superb. See more chris h 10/06/2015 I've been flying for over 20 years. The first few minutes of this film are some of the most accurate aviation imagery I have ever seen. They really capture the intensity of an in-air emergency. See more 04/14/2015 Perfect/Priceless!!!! See more 02/02/2015 One of the best films any of these talents was ever involved with (John Wayne, director William Wellman, screenwriter and advisor Ernest K. Gann , and everyone else connected with the production). After decades of legal conflicts, it's delightful to see the restored film made available again. See more Read all reviews
Island in the Sky

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

William A. Wellman

Director

John Wayne

Captain Dooley

Lloyd Nolan

Captain Stutz

Walter Abel

Colonel Fuller

James Arness

Mac McMullen

Andy Devine

Willie Moon

More Like This

View All
With a Song in My Heart 57% 61% With a Song in My Heart Watchlist Inferno 100% 55% Inferno Watchlist The Last Time I Saw Paris 70% 48% The Last Time I Saw Paris Watchlist The Bad and the Beautiful 80% 85% The Bad and the Beautiful Watchlist The Caine Mutiny 95% 87% The Caine Mutiny Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky (1953) Island in the Sky (1953) Island in the Sky (1953) Island in the Sky (1953) Island in the Sky (1953) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis While flying supplies to England during World War II, Capt. Dooley (John Wayne) is forced to crash land his plane in the icy wilds of Canada. Together, Dooley and his hardy crew struggle to survive in uncharted territory -- with the arctic temperature steadily dropping. Meanwhile, back at the army headquarters in Maine, Col. Fuller (Walter Abel) rallies his capable crew in a desperate search for the downed airmen, knowing that every second counts.
Director
William A. Wellman
Screenwriter
Ernest K. Gann
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 3, 1953, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 27, 2013
Runtime
1h 49m
Most Popular at Home Now