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"Only Angles Have Wings"
Another example of a good story with well-written, three-dimensional characters holding up over time (despite the silliest looking pants Cary Grant has ever worn). Because the heroes aren't perfect, the villains not all bad - which should be rule one for any story writer as it reflects life and, thus, people relate to it - you understand and recognize these people even though almost none of us has any connect to the crazy world of late-'30s flying for a postal route in Latin America.
Additionally, the acting is solid as Jean Arthur doesn't over play the cute or sassy factor, Grant dials back the suffering hero just when he needs to and Barthelmess transitions well from aggrieved villain to redeemed man. It is also fun to see Rita Hayworth before Hollywood figured out how to adjust the dials on her looks and acting to create "Gilda," and, in truth, from then on, RITA HAYWORTH.
Clearly the budget was limited as the sets are almost comically cheap as were the models used for most of the flight sequences, but what little money they had, they spent on a few very impressive real flight scenes that still look good today. The juxtaposition of the cheap model scenes with the real footage is jarring, but my guess, not a big deal in '39.
A good story and real characters - a formula that works today and worked in '39.
Another example of a good story with well-written, three-dimensional characters holding up over time (despite the silliest looking pants Cary Grant has ever worn). Because the heroes aren't perfect, the villains not all bad - which should be rule one for any story writer as it reflects life and, thus, people relate to it - you understand and recognize these people even though almost none of us has any connect to the crazy world of late-'30s flying for a postal route in Latin America.
Additionally, the acting is solid as Jean Arthur doesn't over play the cute or sassy factor, Grant dials back the suffering hero just when he needs to and Barthelmess transitions well from aggrieved villain to redeemed man. It is also fun to see Rita Hayworth before Hollywood figured out how to adjust the dials on her looks and acting to create "Gilda," and, in truth, from then on, RITA HAYWORTH.
Clearly the budget was limited as the sets are almost comically cheap as were the models used for most of the flight sequences, but what little money they had, they spent on a few very impressive real flight scenes that still look good today. The juxtaposition of the cheap model scenes with the real footage is jarring, but my guess, not a big deal in '39.
A good story and real characters - a formula that works today and worked in '39.
