TV and Movies

[Oznell]

11:45 a.m. Eastern--  "Only Angels Have Wings"   Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Rita Hayworth, Thomas Mitchell, Richard Barthelmess, Sig Ruman

Director Howard Hawks ( "Bringing Up Baby", "HIs Girl Friday", "Ball of Fire",  "To Have and Have Not", et al)  has the magic touch.  Here he provides a wonderful showcase for the talents of Grant, Arthur, and Thomas Mitchell.  The wit crackles, the romance throbs.  The movie is funny and sad, by turns.

Cary, never so unattainable and attractive, is a dashing owner of a flying service that delivers mail over the Andes in South America.  Jean is a stranded, ever-so-sharp chorus girl who comes into the orbit of the pilots, and finds herself susceptible to the elusive charms of Cary.

Thomas Mitchell is fabulous as a father figure, and young Rita Hayworth arrives to present even more complications...

Love Grant and Arthur-- each so unique in their screen presences!

[Oznell]

I know from comments past, that, for some reason, this one is not on everyone's radar, while the other Grant and Arthur classics are shown constantly.

It's WELL worth watching!!  A must for fans of classic film, possessing director Howard Hawks' characteristic clever dialog and the crackling ensemble chemistry he invariably generates among his stars.

[TexasMom1]

I love anything with Jean Arthur in the lead! I have several dvds featuring her and I noticed one, "Easy Living" was shown recently on TCM, featuring Jean with Ray Milland and Edward Arnold.  Another of her relatively unkown movies is "If You Could Only  Cook", with Herbert Marshall. These are from the 1930s era. One more relatively unknown movie is "Two Many Husbands", featuring Jean, Melvyn Douglas, and Fred MacMurray.   She was an amazing actress, considering in person, she suffered from horrible stage fright and in her private life, she pretty much became a recluse. She refused interviews and any picture taking, other than what the studio required of her. 

"Only Angels Have Wings" really is a good one! I thought it was not your typical Cary Grant movie, and it showed his many ranges as an actor.

Another favorite of her movies  is one with Jean, Cary Grant, and Ronald Colman..."The Talk of The Town". (1942), directed by George Stevens. Excellent from start to finish!
Not to forget: "The More The Merrier" (1943)...Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn...Charles Coburn won a Best Supporting Academy Award for this one! 
Another one...Jean and William Powell in "The Ex-Mrs Bradford". William Powell is at his most suave best in this one....when is he ever not? Jean has some wonderful fashions and this one is so enjoyable, along with Eric Biore, who played the roles of many butlers and a Man's "Manservant" all through the 30's and the 40's. 

[Oznell]

I knew I could count on you, @TexasMom1 ,  to have the familiarity with these gems and appreciation of their merits!  I remember you as a particular fan of Jean Arthur-- me too.

In light of what you've pointed out about her many insecurities, I'm so glad she was persuaded to return to a great film later in her career in the Fifties,  "Shane".   She was perfect in that with Alan Ladd.

I think I remember reading that later, they tried to craft a TV show for her, one that would showcase her special talents.  Maybe like Stanwyck had another, late career in TV with "Big Valley".    I think Jean played a lawyer in hers, but it was "no go" for some reason....   Too bad-- I'd purchase a DVD of a show like that, for sure!   

[sabatini]

Oh @Oznell, I sure do wish I'd seen your post earlier! I'd love to see this movie again. I too am a Jean Arthur fan.

When I was 18 and in Community College, I took a film class where we were shown films that ran the gamut; from Stagecoach to Jules & Jim, and all the way to a bizarre, surreal film from 1930, Jean Cocteau's 'Blood of a Poet'.

And yes, we saw 'Only Angels Have Wings'. 

OAHW turned out to be my favorite film of the semester, much to the bitter disappointment of my professor,  who decided that I was too unsophisticated to appreciate the freakier films he exposed us to.

[TexasMom1]

Jean Arthur did have a televised series….it aired from September to December in 1966 for only 12 episodes. She played an attorney. What a shame they did not give it a chance!

[TexasMom1]

Oznell, let’s just say I am a huge TCM fan! 🙃

[Oznell]

@sabatini,  being somewhat at odds with a film course professor only cements you further in my mind as a discerning individual and very 'sympatico'.   I've been there too!