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+--- Thread: Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Howard Hawks (/showthread.php?tid=5649)
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Howard Hawks - cranefly - 08-25-2020
In a banana port settlement in Peru, Geoff (Cary Grant) is head pilot of a small mail carrier operation that serves remote settlements. The runway is precipitous, the weather conditions insane, but the mail must get through, because there's an upcoming election and the very soul of the country is at stake...
Where was I?
So, Jean Arthur shows up, and all the guys hit on her. But she's quite a character and deftly deflects them, except for Geoff, with whom she becomes enamored; but he's cold and all business and not interested. Or is he?
Before long a shady new pilot, MacPherson, shows up. Geoff and the other pilots know him from a past cowardly action, but need him because of a shortage of pilots. MacPherson has brought along his new wife, Judy (Rita Hayworth), who, surprise, surprise, is Geoff's old flame. Needless to say, things get complicated.
While mail is the main service of this operation there's always emergencies or special needs, such as picking up the injured son of some mining owner, or delivering nitroglycerin for excavation, and so on. The timetables are tight, too, leading to high-risk flights in fog or rain.
This is one of Howard Hawks' finest -- which is saying a lot. It works on so many levels. The flying sequences, the local color, bar scenes, subplots, the whole atmosphere, and with all the characters fleshed out.
FYI department: Rita Hayworth had already appeared in a dozen films before this, but with little notice. This was her breakout role (though only a supporting actress).
Well worth watching if you're itching for some old-style adventure.
RE: Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Howard Hawks - Greg - 08-25-2020
I'll put it on the list. I've been doing some Hawks reevaluation recently after hearing him on a podcast.
RE: Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Howard Hawks - Drunk Monk - 08-25-2020
Likewise - what did you watch this on?
RE: Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Howard Hawks - cranefly - 08-25-2020
Hmmm. I watched it on criterion.com. Just checked Kanopy and Hoopla, don't see it. Don't know about Netflix.