1/9/25

Only Angels Have Wings

Directed by Howard Hawks (1939)

Introduced by Grover Crisp, Executive Vice President, Asset Restoration and Preservation at Sony Pictures Entertainment

Howard Hawks’ worldview, comedic timing, and visual craftsmanship, as well as his love and understanding for aviation come together in this South American romantic adventure described by the director as inspired by characters he had met in real life. Scripted by Hawks favorite writer, Jules Furthman, the film stars Jean Arthur as a showgirl whose trip to Panama gets derailed during a stopover in the imaginary port town of Barranca. There, she falls for the head of the local, run down airmail service (Cary Grant), whose pilots routinely defy death while servicing towns amidst treacherous mountains and gusty winds. Both attracted to and repelled by his sense of danger, she decides to stay on, despite his protestations. This masterful and somehow mysterious jewel, featuring Oscar-nominated special effects, high-wire aerial photography, and Rita Hayworth in a small but breakout role, explores Hawks’ recurring themes of masculine codes and the strong-willed women who question them.

Restored in 4K by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Restored from the 35mm Original Nitrate Picture Negative and 35mm Nitrate Duplicate Picture Negative.  4K scanning, inspection and physical repair by Cineric, Inc., New York.  Digital image restoration by MTI Film in Hollywood.  Audio restoration by Chace Audio, sourced from the original 35mm Nitrate Optical Soundtrack Negative. Color grading, conforming, additional image restoration and 4K DCP completed at Sony Pictures Colorworks with colorist David Bernstein. Restoration supervised by Grover Crisp.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Shows with:

A Language All My Own (Fleischer Studios Cartoons, 1935, 6 mins)