Review of Only Angels Have Wings (1939) by Edith N — 24 Oct 2009

POSSIBLE SPOILERS: This is becoming one of the quintessential classic films for me. A perfect combination of setting, characters/actors, humor, action and sentiment. There are many sub-plots revolving around the perpetual activities of running a dangerous mail route but the 2hr running time allows enough room to get invested in them.

Cary Grant is a perfect choice as the kind of hardened character with enough humor that it's welcome and believable as he allows himself to be more human, meeting Jean Arthur halfway as she tries to accept the life he leads.

And Hawks lets the fun come across - see Grant light up in the coin toss scene, or the scenes around the piano, or another great little moment where Jean Arthur shares a humorous whisper back and forth with a secondary character whose observations match that of the audience, beckoning her to just try talking to Grant one last time.

Add to this the Richard Barthelmess/Rita Hayworth pairing that is uniquely affecting. He plays a bitter character, lacking the conventional looks and charisma of someone like Grant, but what's great here is that Hayworth really seems committed to him.

The story could easily have introduced tangled love interests, based on the history, but surprisingly, it doesn't. It sticks to the theme of characters repressing and dealing with their emotions and everybody seems to learn something in the process.

And not to forget Thomas Mitchell - he is great here, as are some many of the supporting characters. Plus some South America via Hollywood ambiance and effects ranging from quaint models to surprising aerial photography.

The kind of movie I'll gladly watch again and again.