Hell's Angels (1930)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  I'll give you all a memory of Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR, for those sane souls who have seen it. Think back to the first forty minutes, in which Howard Hughes, the biographical subject portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, was going crazy over his 1930 production, HELL'S… More
  I'll give you all a memory of Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR, for those sane souls who have seen it. Think back to the first forty minutes, in which Howard Hughes, the biographical subject portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, was going crazy over his 1930 production, HELL'S ANGELS: hand painting the completed film, ordering Air Force planes down to the precise bolt he preferred, hiring and firing...you get the picture. I was hesitant to watch this film after being informed of how insane this guy was. I knew I couldn't expect much, as this was Hughes's first feature film as director, and he had to have been caught up in some of his other careers, such as entrepreneurism and aviation. How wrong I was. It all goes to prove that as long as you don't go over the top, obsessing over a film production has to lead to a mighty outcome. Okay, there was one thing that this billionaire DID go a bit far with: hand painting the film here and there, an effect that only worked in one or two scenes of this early use of color. Other than that, I couldn't name one flaw to you if it depended on my life. The plot, premise, acting, and characters are all so well-done. Maybe the historical value also makes HELL'S ANGELS worth a watch. It remained for quite a while the most expensive film production. The budget would approximate to almost $100 million in today's currency. Contrary to popular belief, even GONE WITH THE WIND, from nine years later, failed to exceed this whale of an amount of money. If we adjust for inflation, we'd see this would be one of the better ways to put money to use. Lots of today's big-budget pieces have been strictly visual action hounds such as TRANSFORMERS, JOHN CARTER, and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. In so many ways, it makes us long for a time 80 years ago when even madmen like Howard Hughes had some sense. READ MORE ABOUT THIS SPLENDID PICTURE: http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/review-hells-angels/

• jay n

  
  Of interest more as a historical landmark than a great film. The aerial scenes are very impressive especially those in rudimentary color but the acting of the leads keeps the film from being remarkable. An 18 year old Jean Harlow is very green as a high society jezebel but holds the… More
  Of interest more as a historical landmark than a great film. The aerial scenes are very impressive especially those in rudimentary color but the acting of the leads keeps the film from being remarkable. An 18 year old Jean Harlow is very green as a high society jezebel but holds the screen with the magnetism of a star plus it is the only chance to see what she looked like in color which in a strange way makes her more real even if the color is garish. The same can not be said of her co-stars. Both Hall and Lyon have moments that register however by and large they are stiff and dull, you have to wonder how much better this would have been with Gable & Spencer Tracy or James Cagney in the leads. John Darrow is good as Karl but his part is small. It's easy to see why this was a big hit on release just as talkies were dawning but now it is more of an artifact of time and place that a compelling viewing experience.

• William D

  
  I can't believe how well this movie has held up over almost 100 years. One of the earliest sound pictures, and it still fairly explodes off the screen. Everyone talks about the gripping aerial sequences, which deserve their sterling reputation. But I was also floored by Jean… More
  I can't believe how well this movie has held up over almost 100 years. One of the earliest sound pictures, and it still fairly explodes off the screen. Everyone talks about the gripping aerial sequences, which deserve their sterling reputation. But I was also floored by Jean Harlow's almost demonic portrayal of a sex-crazed woman with no allegiance to anything but her own pleasure. I can see why there were calls for censorship shortly after this picture was released. Also captivating were some of the dramatic sequences, such as the murder of the German soldier dangling from the zeppelin. Director Howard Hughes demonstrates mastery of story-telling in some of these sequences. The final sequence involving the lead character shooting his own brother was immensely powerful. Anyone who cares about cinema's history has to put "Hell's Angels" on their must-see list. It is shocking that it didn't receive a Best Picture nomination in 1930. Preposterous. Hollywood must have felt incredibly jealous of Hughes, just as they were jealous of Orson Welles 10 years later. I am sure Welles considered Hughes a hero and inspiration.

• Saskia D

  
  Seen it a while back, can't remember anything about it, so it wasn't that special. What's really cool, is the true story behind the movie. Howard Hughes (the director) could've been considered a wealthy madman, a narcissist with what they call a Compulsive Disorder… More
  Seen it a while back, can't remember anything about it, so it wasn't that special. What's really cool, is the true story behind the movie. Howard Hughes (the director) could've been considered a wealthy madman, a narcissist with what they call a Compulsive Disorder these days. Can't wait to start on that book about him: Howard Hughes - His Life and Madness.

• Matthew Y

  
  Famous Howard Hughes production that was the most expensive film of it's day. Scorsese's The Aviator gives a fantastic look at the set difficulties and how Hughes's obsessive personality caused delays, re-shoots, re-cuts and the bloated budget. The film itself is not… More
  Famous Howard Hughes production that was the most expensive film of it's day. Scorsese's The Aviator gives a fantastic look at the set difficulties and how Hughes's obsessive personality caused delays, re-shoots, re-cuts and the bloated budget. The film itself is not as good as a biography of the production or simply of Hughes himself. Jean Harlow plays an early femme fatale in a role that some associate with laying the groundwork for the iconic cinema character. Mostly the film is woodenly acted and the screenplay isn't compelling enough to hold our interest for it's entire runtime. The aerial dogfights aren't as compelling as one would hope either considering their complex shooting and the lose of two pilots lives.