NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (April 2025): Kino has transferred Allan Dwan's Sands of Iwo Jima to 4K UHD and dual-layered Blu-ray with a maxed out bitrate. It is described as a "Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative". While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet and therefore cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review when possible. So, the below captures are from Kino's 2025 Blu-ray transfer. The Blu-ray disc features a 1080P transfer derived from the same 4K scan as the UHD. Sands of Iwo Jima’s visual style, crafted by cinematographer Reggie Lanning (Woman They Almost Lynched, Hoodlum Empire, Wake of the Red Witch, I, Jane Doe) and director Allan Dwan, is a stark, functional blend of studio polish and documentary grit, shot in black-and-white evoking wartime realism. Filmed at Camp Pendleton, Leo Carrillo State Beach, and other California locations, the film uses rugged terrain to simulate Pacific islands, with wide shots capturing the chaos of battle and training. Lanning’s high-contrast lighting emphasizes texture - sweaty faces, dusty uniforms, rocky beaches - giving the film a tactile immediacy. Battle scenes integrate newsreel footage fairly seamlessly although the higher resolutions easily differentiate. The Blu-ray's 1.37:1 Academy ratio framing mirrors the UHD, showcasing tight squad dynamics and expansive invasions, with deep focus showcasing group cohesion. Key visuals - like the flag-raising, recreated with the actual flag - carry mythic weight, though miniatures and rear projection occasionally betray the era’s limits. The 4K UHD scan from the original negative, presented in 2160p with HDR - Dolby Vision, transforms the black-and-white visuals. Pleasing detail in uniforms, sand textures, and facial expressions (Wayne’s weathered gaze), with HDR enhancing contrast - deep blacks in night battles, bright glints on rifles - without losing grayscale nuance.

NOTE: We have added 62 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their 4K UHD and Blu-ray, Kino uses a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The soundscape complements the film's realism with a lean, effective mix of music, effects, and dialogue. Victor Young's (No Time For Love, Arise My Love, Union Pacific, The Accused, Strategic Air Command, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate, The Ghost Breakers, The Uninvited, Rio Grande, The Country Girl, And Now Tomorrow, etc.) score is understated, using martial brass and strings for training montages and somber horns for losses, with the Marine Hymn recurring to stir pride. Battle scenes roar with layered effects - gunfire, explosions, shouted orders - blended with newsreel audio for authenticity. The Tarawa sequence, with distant screams and artillery thuds, conveys chaos, while Iwo Jima’s relentless barrage immerses listeners. Dialogue, delivered in Wayne’s commanding baritone or Agar’s petulant tenor, is clear with natural reverb in open spaces (beaches, camps) and intimacy in close quarters (bunkers). Ambient sounds - waves, boots on sand, clanking gear - ground the setting, though the mono mix lacks spatial depth. Comic moments, like Regazzi’s banter, use lighter tones, but the sound never oversells humor, maintaining focus on war’s gravity. The lossless ensures clarity and an appreciated perseverance for authenticity. Kino offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE 4K UHD and Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray. 

On their 4K UHD and Blu-ray, Kino offers a new audio commentary track. Filmmaker / Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism author Steven Jay Rubin pair up to provide a detailed look at Sands of Iwo Jima’s production and genre context. Anticipate discussion of Wayne’s career-defining role, Dwan’s efficient direction, and the film’s Marine Corps ties, including real veterans’ cameos. Rubin analyzes its “combat realism” against peers, like 1949's Battleground, while Mitchell shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes, enhancing appreciation for the film’s craft and impact. War buffs will find this particularly revealing. Great job. Relegated to the Blu-ray is The Making of Sands of Iwo Jima, which is hosted by Leonard Maltin. This 18-minute featurette, hosted by critic Leonard Maltin, includes interviews with cast (e.g., John Agar) and Wayne’s son, offering production insights and historical context. Likely ported from earlier DVDs, it explores the Marine Corps’ involvement, filming at Camp Pendleton, and Wayne’s Oscar bid. Lastly, there is the original theatrical trailer for Sands of Iwo Jima, as well as The Horse Soldiers (1959), Hatari! (1962), Donovan’s Reef (1963), Wake Island (1942), Five Graves to Cairo (1943), Attack! (1956), Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), The Train (1964), and Hell Is for Heroes (1962.)

Allan Dwan's Sands of Iwo Jima is a pivotal entry in John Wayne’s career and the WWII film genre, embodying post-war American ideals of heroism, sacrifice, and patriotism while offering a nuanced portrayal of leadership under pressure. Stryker (Wayne) embodies the archetype of the tough but fair leader, whose harshness masks deep care for his men. His methods - endless drills, strict discipline - prepare them for war’s brutality, reflecting the Marine Corps ethos of readiness. His personal sacrifices (a broken family, suppressed emotions) underscore the toll of duty, making his arc tragic yet inspiring. The recruits’ evolution from disdain to respect parallels a coming-of-age narrative. Conway - played by John Agar, husband of "America's Sweetheart" Shirley Temple and a genre star known for roles in The Mole People, Attack of the Puppet People, The Brain from Planet Arous, Tarantula, Journey to the Seventh Planet - transitions from defiance to adopting Stryker’s “Saddle up!” command, embodying the generational transfer of values and reflecting post-war America’s belief in the power of disciplined youth. The film unabashedly celebrates American military prowess, with the flag-raising as its emotional apex. The Kino 4K UHD disc elevates Sands of Iwo Jima’s gritty visuals, with HDR/Dolby Vision revealing nuances in Lanning’s cinematography - crisp uniforms, smoky battlefields - making it a must-own for war film fans. The extras are valuable: Mitchell and Rubin’s commentary offers scholarly depth - the Blu-ray's Maltin featurette adds historical flavor, and the trailer provides nostalgia. The restoration’s quality and focused extras make this a worthy upgrade, especially for Wayne devotees and 4K collectors. Warmly recommended.

Gary Tooze