Only Angels Have Wings

Play trailer

Only Angels Have Wings

Released May 12, 1939

2h 1m

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A two-fisted adventure tale set in South America, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS stars Cary Grant as the tough-talking head of an air freight service operating in the dangerous Andes Mountains. Jean Arthur co-stars as a vacationing showgirl competing with Rita Hayworth for Grant's affections. A potent combination of humor, romance and action, the film was directed by Howard Hawks, the legendary director responsible for Red River, His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, and the original Scarface. A triumph of casting, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS is one of the best examples of Columbia chief Harry Cohn's skill in developing talent. Cary Grant had just been released from his contract with Fox when Cohn, sensingthat the handsome leading man was poised for stardom, turned him into Columbia's most durable star. Jean Arthur was an unexpected veteran of 50 films before Cohn "discovered" something in her that previous studios had overlooked. Teaming her with director Frank Capra, he created one of the finest comediennes in Hollywood history. And Rita Hayworth, Cohn's personal protegee, was a pure product of the studio system. Groomed for stardom from the first, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS offered her a chance to learn from the best in the business. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The flying effects, obviously, have dated, but everything else crackles with chemistry and class.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 28, 2018

Full Review

Matthew Thrift

Little White Lies

Pure cinematic catnip.

Rated: 5/5

May 15, 2015

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

This is the quintessential Hawks movie, combining spectacular aerial sequences with the fatalistic barroom machismo of the pilots off duty.

Rated: 5/5

May 14, 2015

Full Review

Dave Giannini

InSession Film

In this film, the action is high wire and keeps you on the edge of your seat, but the romance keeps you wanting all of these men to arrive home safe, even when they can't admit to themselves that they want it too.

Feb 20, 2024

Full Review

Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

One of the greatest of all films, period.

Feb 4, 2024

Full Review

Marion Aitchison

Tampa Bay Times

Superlative performance on the part of principal and supporting players, alike, coupled with a tensely melodramatic story, make [Only Angels Have Wings] one of the outstanding pictures of the year.

Jan 13, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alec B

Hawks emphasizing character over plot has the effect of enhancing the danger of the flying sequences. You're just never sure who is going to survive.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Gaylan M

A high quality movie, especially for its day. Not your typical Cary Grant movie with the Atlantic accent and one liners. Jean Arthur shines as always. Rita Hayworth and other known starts fill out the cast. Well worth seeing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

Full Review

Liam D

An true classic drama with an director and stars at the top of their games

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

steve d

Grant is the only reason to watch but he is enough.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Entertaining Cary Grant and Jean Arthur adventure, somewhat predictable, but the chemistry between the two stars keep you interested.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/07/22

Full Review

paul d

Howard Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings is a sprawling, ambitious melodrama with lots of character development and a very strong, effective sense of place. The movie's special effects are obviously dated, but the flying scenes are still so interesting that I can easily imagine how much they thrilled audiences in 1939. The cast is great, with a magnetic Cary Grant and Thomas Mitchell in great form. Jean Arthur is her usual bright, optimistic presence, but some of the writing around her character and dialogue seems forced. Rita Hayworth makes a very strong debut.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Howard Hawks

Director

Cary Grant

Geoff Carter

Jean Arthur

Bonnie Lee

Rita Hayworth

Judith 'Judy' MacPherson

Richard Barthelmess

Barthelmess

Thomas Mitchell

Kid Dabb

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Lost Horizon

93%

82%

Lost Horizon

Watchlist

The Devil at 4 O'Clock

80%

55%

The Devil at 4 O'Clock

Watchlist

Test Pilot

67%

68%

Test Pilot

Watchlist

The Bedford Incident

86%

75%

The Bedford Incident

Watchlist

King Solomon's Mines

100%

39%

King Solomon's Mines

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

On DVD This Week: The Forest, Heroes Reborn, and More

Five Favorite Films with John Carpenter

View more photos

Synopsis

A two-fisted adventure tale set in South America, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS stars Cary Grant as the tough-talking head of an air freight service operating in the dangerous Andes Mountains. Jean Arthur co-stars as a vacationing showgirl competing with Rita Hayworth for Grant's affections. A potent combination of humor, romance and action, the film was directed by Howard Hawks, the legendary director responsible for Red River, His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, and the original Scarface. A triumph of casting, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS is one of the best examples of Columbia chief Harry Cohn's skill in developing talent. Cary Grant had just been released from his contract with Fox when Cohn, sensingthat the handsome leading man was poised for stardom, turned him into Columbia's most durable star. Jean Arthur was an unexpected veteran of 50 films before Cohn "discovered" something in her that previous studios had overlooked. Teaming her with director Frank Capra, he created one of the finest comediennes in Hollywood history. And Rita Hayworth, Cohn's personal protegee, was a pure product of the studio system. Groomed for stardom from the first, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS offered her a chance to learn from the best in the business. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Howard Hawks, Jules Furthman, William Rankin, Eleanore Griffin
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Home Video
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 1939, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2013
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

Most Popular at Home Now