Courage in the Air
In telling a good story, Howard Hawks and Cary Grant captured an essential part of what it means to be an American.
Every Cary Grant fan can identify either a favorite role or a favorite aspect of Grant’s persona accentuated on film. Charm, humor, and elegance are all part of the Grant mystique. In his more dramatic roles, like Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 “North by Northwest,” Grant often gently pokes fun at “Cary Grant.” But Howard Hawks’ 1939 “Only Angels Have Wings” stands out as a unique “Cary Grant” film because it’s not just about Cary Grant. Hawks brings out a rough demeanor in Grant but he is not at the center of the action. Rather, Hawks chooses to focus on a group of people thrown together under horrendous difficulties.
“Only Angels Have Wings” tells a story about American airmail service in South America and the pilots who made it happen. Grant plays Geoff Carter, a pilot and head manager of the airmail service. He provides structure, schedules, and discipline for the flyboys who put themselves in danger daily, delivering mail. Grant is rough and masculine, even possibly a bit tyrannical in dealing with the pilots: “The mail goes on schedule, and so do the pilots.” His usual humor is absent, yet he’s not a tortured character. On the contrary, his sensitivity is made of a complete avoidance of emotion.
Joining him is Kidd Dabb (Thomas Mitchell), an older pilot, who doesn’t want to admit he is past his prime. Kidd is Geoff’s right hand man. They have an unspoken friendship that’s only possible between pilots: an understanding that the job is the most important thing and nothing can get in the way of completing the task.
Often, women are purely accidental in Hawks’ films, yet they do end up playing an important role when they appear. He had no time for women who were superficial and what he might consider, empty-brained. He valued straightforwardness in his storytelling and filmmaking, including in women. Jean Arthur plays Bonnie Lee, arriving freshly off the boat in Barranca. She’s an entertainer, not really sure what she’s looking for. This makes her an ideal candidate to join the rough and tumble community of pilots in Barranca. But do they want her?