Plot: What’s it about?
As a pilot in World War II, Capt. Dooley (John Wayne) had to brave danger and potential death, but he always managed to survive. He is now out of the service and flys transport missions, but he is about face the gravest challenge of his life. On a mission over remote frozen land, Dooley doesn’t expect any surprises on the trek, but he will soon be thrust into a struggle for his own life. His plane has drifted off course and burned so much gas in the process, that fuel is too low to complete the mission. A desperate crash landing manages to get Dooley and his men on the ground, but now more threats surround the men. The ice cold winds are sharp and the men lack the needed clothes to remain warm. Now food is scarce, shelter is limited, and a wicked storm is soon to crash down on the men. A rescue mission is launched, but as each second ticks past, the chance of survival shrinks, but can Dooley keep his men alive until the rescue?
This movie was never released on home video, but Paramount has made sure that for its debut, Island in the Sky was given a lush treatment. An extensive restoration process was undertaken, to ensure the visuals were in the best possible condition for this release. That’s not all however, as we also have a tall pile of supplements, so Paramount has gone to great lengths to provide a worthwhile release. When most people think of John Wayne, they envision him as a cowboy, from his rugged turns in westerns. Or perhaps as a soldier, from one of his many war movies. But Island in the Sky shows that there was more to Wayne than this simple roles, as he could do some solid dramatic work as well. This movie is one of his lesser known works, which is a shame, as his performance is quite good. With this release however, I am sure Island in the Sky will find a wider audience, especially at such a low, low price.
Video: How does it look?
Island in the Sky is presented in full frame, as intended. As I stated before, Paramount has restored this movie and the result is an excellent visual presentation. The print is in superb condition, with minimal age related defects, thanks to the restoration, no doubt. There is some light softness, but this movie is over fifty years old, so some of that is unavoidable. Even with the softness, the image is much clearer and sharper than I expected, so Paramount has done some fine work here. I found the contrast to be solid too, with consistent black levels that never waver in the slightest. I think Paramount deserves a firm handshake for their restoration efforts, as Island in the Sky look terrific here.
Audio: How does it sound?
On this front, the disc includes a mono option and while it isn’t too dynamic, it covers the basics and then some. The track seems very clean and shows minimal age signs, which was a very pleasant surprise, as I expected some wear to be present. The music and sound effects come across well here, despite the limitations of the mono form here. Of course, the elements don’t explode from the speakers, but as far as mono goes, this option is more than adequate in the end. The vocals are crisper than expected and no volume issues arise, which is good. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There is a mammoth list of supplements on the back, but as is often the case, the extras aren’t quite as substantial as you’d expect. A handful or so featurettes prove to be a mixture of good and mediocre, but you have to be glad Paramount put the effort in. A look at aerial cinematography is brief, but a solid watch, while another featurette focuses on writer Ernest K. Gann. The most substantial piece is a general behind the scenes look and while not as in depth as some, it is well worth a scan. The audio commentary track proves to be crown jewel of the extras, as critic Leonard Maltin, director’s son William Wellman, Jr., Darryl Hickman, James Lydon, and Vincent Longo settle in to discuss the movie. The track is loaded with behind the scenes information, with Maltin as a sort of guide through all the insight. This disc also includes Maltin’s introduction, newsreel of the film’s premiere,
