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SANDS OF IWO JIMA

      One of the most popular war pictures ever made, SANDS OF IWO JIMA stars John Wayne as a tough Marine vet trying to whip a gang of youn'uns into combat shape.  The film is notable for its effective use of real combat footage, its powerful surprise ending, and a lengthy nail-biter of a scene in which Wayne and his men must decide whether or not the distant cries of a wounded soldier are a trap by the enemy to lure them out of hiding.  Wayne is solid as ever in his first Oscar-nominated performance -- although most critics, as well as the Duke himself, thought his best performance of 1949 was in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON.   - JL