Hell's Angels (film)
"Hell's Angels" is a 1930 war film directed and produced by Howard Hughes, notable for its ambitious aerial combat sequences and its early use of synchronized sound. The film centers around the lives of two British brothers and their German friend during World War I, exploring themes of friendship and tragedy amid the backdrop of air warfare. Hughes, a young multimillionaire at the time, invested nearly four million dollars into the production, showcasing his fascination with aviation and his meticulous attention to technical accuracy, which included the use of vintage World War I aircraft.
The film faced significant challenges during production, including the deaths of two pilots and a mechanic due to Hughes's demanding stunt requirements. Initially shot as a silent film, it underwent reshoots to incorporate sound after the success of "The Jazz Singer." This led to the replacement of the original female lead with Jean Harlow, whose performance became a significant career launchpad despite a rocky start. Upon its premiere, "Hell's Angels" garnered mixed reviews; while the plot was criticized as mundane, the innovative aerial sequences received acclaim. The film ultimately solidified Hughes's reputation for extravagant filmmaking and significantly influenced the portrayal of aviation in cinema, marking a notable point in film history.
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Hell's Angels (film)
Identification Film about aerial combat in World War I
Date Released on May 27, 1930
Producer-director Howard Hughes used expensive and dangerous stunt flying for the combat scenes. After completion of the silent version in 1928, he reshot much of the film to accommodate sound and used innovative color sequences in one of the most expensive Hollywood films to that time.
Even before its release, Hell’s Angels generated public interest. Shooting began in October, 1927, and continued until early 1930. Twenty-one-year-old multimillionaire Hughes was the producer and directed many scenes. He was fascinated by airplanes and spent much of the nearly four-million-dollar budget on risky sequences involving depictions of aerial combat. He placed extraordinary demands on stunt work. Two pilots and one mechanic died during filming. Hughes insisted on technical accuracy and purchased several vintage World War I aircraft. Committed to his own visual preconceptions, Hughes removed the first two directors and directed most of the aerial sequences himself.
Hughes was keenly aware of changes in motion-picture technology. His production of the silent version of Hell’s Angels was near completion when he realized that The Jazz Singer (1927) had revolutionized film. Audiences now expected sound and dialogue. Hughes decided to reshoot the dramatic sequences with sound. The thick accent of the original female star prompted Hughes to replace her with eighteen-year-old Jean Harlow. Though she was awkward at first, Harlow relied on the coaching of the film’s third director, James Whale. Her performance improved, and her appearance in Hell’s Angels launched her career. The premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater was a dramatic event. The audience, including Hollywood stars and moguls, was disappointed by the pedestrian plot that revolved around the lives of two British brothers and their German friend whose lives are interwoven in World War I air combat with tragic consequences. However, the aerial sequences found resounding approval among film-industry professionals.
Impact
Hughes became famous because of his erratic, expensive production methods that resulted in a film that was flawed in plot and performances but admired for its editing and special effects. The popular success of Hell’s Angels confirmed the public’s affinity for films about aviation and pushed the limits for stunt flying and special effects.
Bibliography
Crafton, Donald. The Talkies: American Cinema’s Transition to Sound, 1926-1931. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1997.
Dooley, Roger. From Scarface to Scarlett: American Films in the 1930’s. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.
Higham, Charles. Howard Hughes: The Secret Life. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1993.
Marrett, George J. Howard Hughes: Aviator. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2004.