At a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is forced to risk his pilots' lives in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stop... Read allAt a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is forced to risk his pilots' lives in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stops in town.At a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is forced to risk his pilots' lives in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stops in town.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
- Tex
- (as Donald Barry)
- The Singer
- (as Maciste)
- Lily
- (as Milissa Sierra)
- Tourist
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Jules Furthman
- Howard Hawks(uncredited)
- Eleanore Griffin(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaHoward Hawks had known a real-life flier who once parachuted from a burning plane. His copilot died in the ensuing crash and his fellow pilots shunned him for the rest of his life.
- GoofsToward the beginning of the movie, when Tex the lookout radio guy says, "OK, it's open," you can see the whole mountain range in the background slightly shift to the right. (Apparently, somebody was moving the set backdrop or bumped into it while the scene was being filmed.)
- Quotes
Kid Dabb: The boat doesn't stop at Santa Maria this trip.
Geoff Carter: Why not?
Kid Dabb: They have no bananas.
Geoff Carter: They have no bananas?
Kid Dabb: Yes, they have no bananas.
- ConnectionsEdited into Goodbye to Language (2014)
- SoundtracksGwine to Rune All Night
(aka "De Camptown Races") (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
[Piano background music played in the restaurant]
"Only Angels Have Wings" is the story of mail carriers who fly often in bad conditions through a perilous mountain pass. They thrive on the excitement and danger. Their boss is Geoff Carter (Cary Grant). Jean Arthur is Bonnie Lee, a chorus girl passing through who decides she can't leave - like a lot of women in the past, she's falling for Carter. One woman who fell for him turns up as the wife (Hayworth) of a new pilot (Barthelmess) who once parachuted out of a plane and left Kid Dabb's (Thomas Mitchell) brother to die. With fliers out of commission or dead, Carter has to use him, but warns him he's only getting the most dangerous missions.
This is a testosterone-heavy movie, very much the kind of thing John Wayne would do. The romantic part of the story, between Carter and Bonnie Lee is lethargic, with fine actress Jean Arthur left standing around worrying. Hayworth, with a decidedly different hairline, has a small but showy role. The meaty roles belong to the men. Grant is terrific as a devil-may-care boss who hides his emotions, and Barthelmess, who would retire after World War II and end his long career, is very good as the disgraced pilot in a role that suited him perfectly. Underplayed, one sees the pain of his past decision on his face. Thomas Mitchell played so many great roles - this time, he's a pilot who has to face his anger as well as a physical problem. Very poignant.
Though a little disjointed and a little too long, "Only Angels Have Wings" has great atmosphere and some spectacular flying sequences and effects. Released in that golden year of 1939, it's another example of Hollywood at its apex.
- blanche-2
- Jun 5, 2006
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Howard Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $8,554
- Runtime2 hours 1 minute
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1