Made as the Cold War was escalating, Flying Leathernecks pitted the liberal sensibilities of Ray and star Robert Ryan against the right-wing jingoism of John Wayne (who ended every political argument on set by barking, “You're all full of shit!”). But Hollywood professionalism prevailed, and the result could hardly be more exciting. Griffin, the captain of a squadron of Marine fighters in the battle of Guadalcanal, is determined that his men not be expendable. Martinet major Kirby feels otherwise. The struggle between the two gnarly antagonists is set against lush landscapes (California standing in for the Solomon Islands) and astonishing documentary footage of aerial combat. With its asides about psychiatry, allusions to Donne's poetry, blazing, realistic battle scenes, and sense of defeat (rather than heroics), Flying Leathernecks may seem Ray all the way despite its conventional scenario, which was cobbled from many sources.