Frank ‘Spig’ Wead was a pioneering navy pilot whose determination to advance the cause of U.S. Naval aviation through race victories and record setting made him oblivious to the needs of his family. After an accident at home left him paralysed, he took up writing, giving him the chance to once more promote naval aviation through screenplays. This biopic is typical John Wayne fare, complete with knockabout humour, bar-room brawls and depiction of camaraderie among men. But it shows signs that it could have been so much more.

These are scenes in The Wings of Eagles which feature some of the Duke’s finest acting, and his on-screen chemistry with Maureen O’Hara enhances their domestic scenes. Yet it is here that director John Ford’s friendship with Wead inhibits the movie. There is a suggestion that alcohol abuse played a significant part in the disintegration of the couple’s marriage. Children are left to fend for themselves while their mother goes out for the night, and Spig confides to director John Dodge (read Ford) that he too used to make excuses for drinking in the afternoon. But before any of this can be really explored, we’re off to more familiar John Wayne territory.

This is still an entertaining yarn, but Ford’s struggle between honestly depicting his friend’s life while also paying homage to him is evident in the movie’s uneven pace.