review for Island in the Sky on AllMovie

Island in the Sky is a minor but quite effective adventure drama that is rarely seen (due apparently to the wishes of the John Wayne estate). Island falls short of classic status, primarily because it succumbs to cliché in a number of situations and because it tends toward preachiness. In addition, the narration becomes rather annoying and intrusive at times, although it does add to the pseudo-documentary flavor of the movie. If the viewer can put these flaws aside, however, he will likely find himself caught up in the action, due in no small part to William Wellman's taut direction which does a fine job of combining bleakness and despair with an indomitability of spirit. Wellman is helped by his first rate cast, with Wayne turning in the kind of powerful "anchor" performance that this kind of film needs. He gets more than capable support from Lloyd Nolan and Andy Devine, as well as a young James Arness. Island exerts a real pull, and is the kind of film that stays with the viewer longer than might be expected.