[FilmReview]OnlyAngelsHaveWings(1939)7.2/10

Anavidaviatorhimself,ONLYANGELSHAVEWINGSarguablyisHowardHawks’mostaccomplishedoneamonghisaviationfilms,withprobablyTHEDAWNPATROL(1930)flappingcloselyinthesecondplace.ThemoviestarsCaryGrantasGeoffCarter,apilotandcommandantofasmallairmailcompanyinthefictionalSouthAmericanporttownofBarranca,andJeanArthurasBonnieLee,anoffshoreentertainerwhohappenstopassbyenroutestatesideandtakesashinetoGeoff,inspiteoftheprecariousnatureofhisvocation.GranthasscarcelysteppedintotheshoesofamachotypelikeGeoff,whohasanalmostfatalisticobsessionwithhisjob,whichisill-equippedwithlow-endaircraftsandfrequentlyengulfedbyanunsafeenvironmentforflying,mortalityrunshighamongthehigh-flyingpilots,anopeninggambitshowshowBonnieviscerallyexperiencesanemotionalrollercoasterfromleery,chippertoutterlydistressinginasuccinct20minutes,andisshecutoutforawomanonterrafirmawhoisabletoperenniallywaitandprayforthesafetyreturnofherderring-do-obsessedmanonadailybasis?SurelyBonnietossesandturnsaroundthisrub,yetshebarelycangetanaffirmationfromGeoff,whohasbeenoncebittenandtwiceshy,purportsthathewillneveraskanywomantofitinthatparticularrole,sotheconnotationisclear:itistotallyattheperilofanygalwhoacceptsthetaskonherownvolition,andonlyamalecreaturebuiltlikeCaryGranthasthatenormityofallureandpersuasionforthatwhopperoffemalesubjugation.Tellingly,thismachismogenderpolicyaside(a21-yearoldRitaHayworthisunceremoniouslymanhandledanditisamisfiredgunshotfromawomanwhichisdeployedasafacileplotdevice,etc.),ONLYANGELSHAVEWINGSassertsitselfcogentlyasasophisticateddramaaboutcollegialregulation,unsentimentalconfraternity,hard-nosedredemption(boastingstrong,rip-snortingperformancesfromsupportingplayerslikeastony-facedBarthelmessandapleasurableMitchell)andthejudiciousdivergencebetweentakingnecessaryrisksandsubmittingtoacrazedoccupation,nottomention,thefilm’svintagemattebackgroundsanddioramichandicraftsaretop-notchstuffsofitstime,nowonderitsspecialeffectsisnominatedforanOscarincompanywithJosephWalker’sshipshapeBWcinematography,andthat’sfairlyenoughtopiqueinterestincinephilesforallcomers.referentialentries:Hawks’IWASAMALEWARBRIDE(1949,5.8/10);BRINGINGUPBABY(1938,7.4/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。