Hell's Angels [DVD]

I'd heard about this movie ever since I was a kid, but never got around to see it. Wow what a roller-coaster of a movie. It doesn't get bogged down with a lot of talking, it pretty much gets to the point. A fair representation of World War 1 and how it tore about friendships apart because of war. It's cheesy and corny, but overall it's a masterpiece of old-time film making.

Hell's Angels was a Howard Hughes spectacular.In its day it was quite something, released as it was at the earliest days of talkies this is one movie you can actually date as it was being produced.There are scenes which were clearly filmed at the end of the silent era, then more in higher quality black and white as the excellent print quality of this movie progresses. Suddenly one notices that some scenes are now brownish instead of simply shades of gray - the advent of the first commercial colour print era. Towards the end of the movie colours become stronger and more vibrant.The digitized version I recieved had been taken from either an impeccable original or a superbly restored print.The storyline is typical of the period - watched with that in mind, with that period of acting level anticipated the viewer will not be disappointed.For the technical specialists I'm told there may be some issues with period accuracy, particularly with the aeroplanes, but that didn't impact my enjoyment as wasn't aware until it was pointed out.The flight sequences are spectucular for the age, it's obvious this film was a pioneer of aerial movie photography, and as an almost first blush try without todays superb modern special effects one really has to give credit to the pilots who risked their all in those flimsy machines to preserve the heroics of a byegone era and allow us to watch a reasonable facsimile of it almost a century after the event.Bearing in mind the era, the print, sound, lighting, sets, acting and effects as presented on the timely delivered disc are all of outstanding quality.Your only potential of disappointment comes if you have a need to compare it to productions that are decades younger.

I'm a stickler for authenticity when it comes to airplanes and weapons, so I was impressed by Hughes' use of genuine WWI surplus aircraft in the film. As it was shot only a dozen years after the end of hostilities, it must have been a lot easier to find original planes. Even if shot in high definition with all the gee-whiz effects CGI masters could muster, no one today could make aerial scenes nearly as well. The minor flaws (like the bullet holes appearing so closely together) are minor indeed. It is the only film I can think of that shows the workings of a Zepplin (no, I don't think "Rocket Man" or "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" do Zepplins justice).Seeing Jean Harlow as a young, scantily-clad libertine in a theater one could take a date to must have been a thrill in the early 1930s. After the anything-goes 1960s this isn't shocking any more, and today she just seems like a common slut in the film. Yes, the acting is corny and stereotyped. At least the German characters spoke real German instead of the odd amalgam of German-accented British so common in bad WWII movies.Lucien Prival (the German Count) looked disturbingly similar to Paul Reubens, and I half expected to find out he was Pee Wee Herman's grandfather. I have found no such connection.As long as you are willing to forgive the effects of age on a film transferred to DVD, this is a great film to watch even if just for the air combat scenes. Hughes used the long shot to capture the aerobatics of dogfighting Fokkers and British SE5s, and he skillfully mixed in close shots taken from cameras mounted in individual planes capturing their pilot/actors or the planes they were pursuing. Unless someone can come up with the millions necessary to build dozens of replica WWI aircraft for a future film, no one will be able to match it.

The women in this movie are not so inspiring. This is a very masculine movie about sacrifice in war and sometimes i feel this movie is too quick to diss women as distractions merely or idk not competent… jean looks a little weird to me too… im a lady so this film did the job but left me feeling inferior

"Hell's Angels" will no doubt return to public attention for a time because of the success of Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator," and that attention is well deserved. Howard Hughes' World War I epic is notable on a number of levels, not the least of which is the fact that it introduced Jean Harlow. The flying/action sequences were clearly ahead of their time and still hold up quite well, and this alone puts this film in rare company. There have only been a few notable films about the air war in World War I ("Wings," "Dawn Patrol," "The Blue Max," and maybe "Darling Lili")and this is about as good as it gets. The zeppelin sequence is just simply outstanding. The story and individual acting...well, Huges should have delgated to James Whale who was a part of the production. Harlow does stand out, but that was not difficult. Her peformance was allowed to sizzle (and she did that), and the rest of the cast was not at all memorable. The making of the film is the stuff of legend and that story is becoming known via the hype surrounding "The Aviator" (also a good film). The restored film on DVD is something of a treasure. Rarely do we see films from this era in such good shape. The production evolved in that awkward period between silent film and "talkies" and it shows in places. The dialogue is stilted, and the musical score is only barely serviceable, but the sound effects, like the visuals, are at times unbelievable for the time. A great value at a low price, and well produced and packaged by Universal, this is a must for serious film buffs.

One of the first block-busters to ever hit the silver screen, Howard Hughes “Hell’s Angel’s” (1930) is famous for its troubled history (apparently it took several years to make), spectacular aerial sequences (which claimed the lives of 3 aviators and a mechanic, Hughes himself was seriously injured) and for having introduced to the world a sex-symbol-in-the-making, the teenage Jean Harlow.The plot is set on the eve and during the first World War. It centers around 4 characters- 2 British brothers who surprisingly, have no accents, Roy and Monte Rutledge (James Hall and Ben Lyon respectively), the calculating woman who comes between them, the icy and flirtatious Helen (Jean Harlow) and a fellow German Oxford student Karl (John Darrow). The film deals with troubled relationships, honor and the horrors of war. Trying to view a period piece that is 80+ years old today may be cumbersome to modern audiences. Patience is sometimes needed but these movies do have their merits and historical importance. This film is long, clocking in at approximately 127 minutes, it comes complete with intermission and there are moments that may induce yawns. However, the photography and flight sequences are splendid, especially the zeppelin battle over London and bombing sequences. Some of the scenes are interesting also because they are shot in color, some having a blue-ish hue. A film highlight is a party scene shot using the 2-strip Technicolor process. This sequence is a bit surreal (modern audiences hardly ever get a chance to see footage that is 80+ years old in color) and showcases the appeal of the films leading lady, Harlow, who was just 18 years old at the time. You have to give props to a woman who was able to get away with wearing a dress that was ready-made for a wardrobe malfunction. How did they ever manage to get her dress to stick to her… um … chest? It is the only colour footage that exists of the young star. Although Harlow’s performance here is uneven; during the party scene for instance, she is rather charming, in other scenes, her performance is dull, it is still great to see this early footage of her. Her inexperience shows yet she was a legend in the making. It would take Harlow another couple of years before she finally perfected her craft and develop into a delightful comedienne. The performances from the rest of the cast are good but not exceptional. Having the weight of such a production on these young actor’s shoulders may have been a burden. Hall and Lyon deliver restrained, good performances but they are overshadowed by the film’s action sequences and as mentioned, the coloured sequence where the inexperienced Harlow, despite her lack of acting chops here, overshadows her surroundings.This DVD has no extras which is a shame. I have noticed that a lot of Harlow’s catalogue that has been released on DVD have been lack-luster releases; considering this film’s importance, I was expecting at least some sort of bonus features- a documentary on the making of the turbulent production, actor bios, a photo-gallery, anything. There is a menu with Chapter and Language selection and that’s pretty much it. For the low price, it is worth it. The picture quality and sound are good although not as crisp as I would have liked it but considering the film’s age, I have no complaints with either.Despite the negatives “Hell’s Angels” is an interesting film with an even more interesting history. It may not be the greatest film ever made, and the performances are not as spectacular as one would expect from such a legendary, block-buster production, but it’s history, importance and reputation is reason enough to recommend it. It at least warrants a view. We can also thank this film (and Hughes) for introducing us to that icy blonde who would, within a few short years, become one of the greatest sex symbols of the silver screen. Recommended.

I bought this because it is the stuff of cinematic legend. Howard Hughes' obsessive efforts and cost overruns were a wonder to hear about. I suppose as a story it has some merit, but it was more interesting from my viewpoint, removed by time, to examine the stagecraft and study the lighting, which was "early".If you're looking for an action thriller, well, we in this age move far too fast to be enthralled by the bits and pieces; but for the opportunity to see SE5As actually flying, the occasionally wooden actors are worth putting up with. Jean Harlow? Okay.... What was all the fuss about....Cine buff? Good to have.

Forget the seamless, electronically enhanced movies of today and immerse yourself in the tone of the day. Action, naughtyness, morality rolled into a captivating storyline. The colour insertion is somewhat jarring, but does not detract from the overall movie. Well worth viewing if only for the aerial combat realism as performed by the canvas and wire aeroplanes. The backstory of the film's production is a movie in itself.

wonderful movie, could not wait for her scene after she said " Do you mind if I changed into something more comfortable" in real life I read that she thought the line was corny, she also admitted that she would like to catch the Zeppelin scenes when she was making public appearances promoting Hell's Angels for Howard Hughes. Myself the aerial shot's were breath taking and so was Jean Harlow in her only colored film, ( however brief it was) or photograph..........

The stunt flying in this movie is for real. One reason for buying this classic film.