Only Angels Have Wings

"Someday I'll get a straight answer from you, and I won't know what to do with it."

Entertainer Bonnie Lee (Arthur) is returning to America when her ship stops in Barranca to deliver the mail.  She gets off the ship and meets a group of American pilots who work at the Barranca Airways.  The company is owned by John "Dutchy" Van Ruyter (Ruman), who also runs the bar, and run by pilot Geoff Carter (Grant).  They are short on funds, the trip is dangerous, and the pilots are constantly battling bad weather and failing planes.  On the night Bonnie arrives another pilot is killed due to poor flying conditions, and she immediately clashes with Geoff.  They are drawn to each other and she decides to stay in Barranca.

Geoff mocks her rash decision and encourages her to leave on the next boat.  Geoff is forced to bench his best friend Kid Dabb (Mitchell) for his failing eyesight and one of the other pilots has a broken arm.  Tough times force him to hire Bat MacPherson (Barthelmess).  Years before MacPherson caused the death of Kid's brother, and he is hated by all the pilots.  MacPherson brings along his wife Judy (Hayworth), an old flame of Geoff's.  They are days away from receiving a big contract to keep the company in business.  With a big storm on the horizon, can they hold together long enough to get the contract?


The film is written and directed by Howard Hawks.  Hawks wrote the story Plane from Barranca based on pilots he met in Mexico while working on the film Viva Villa!.

This film was Hawks second collaboration (of 5) with actor Cary Grant.  They worked together the year before on the film Bringing Up Baby, and for their follow-up together they went with a drama.  This was Rita Hayworth's film premiere.  Richard Barthelmess was a silent film star, and wasn't getting good or big roles.  He had also recently undergone plastic surgery that left him with scars, which Hawks chose to accentuate for the role.  He was considered a controversial choice, but he definitely delivered here.

The aircraft used in the film were from the 1920s and were realistic to the time period.  The effects were well-done and were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Special Effects.  It was also nominated for Best Cinematography.

Only Angels Have Wings (1939) 121 minutes
Director: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant as Geoff Carter
Jean Arthur as Bonnie Lee
Richard Barthelmess as Bat MacPherson
Rita Hayworth as Judy MacPherson
Thomas Mitchell as Kid Dabb
Allyn Joslyn as Les Peters
Sig Ruman as John "Dutchy" Van Ruyter
Victor Kilian as Sparks Reynolds
John Carroll as Gent Shelton
Don Barry as Tex Gordon