"Hell's Angels" is a movie about WW I aviators. From what I understand, it was originally meant to be a silent film, but, after the introduction of sound, many scenes were re-shot.What makes this movie stand out is that the dogfight scenes are authentic. Apparently, many of the pilots who flew the planes were themselves war veterans, giving authenticity to those parts of the film.It clearly influenced a number of later movies, such as "The Dawn Patrol" (featuring Errol Flynn and David Niven) and "Twelve O'Clock High" (starring Gregory Peck). Even 1986's "Top Gun" used many of the same techniques for its flight scenes.As for the story itself, I found it to be rather ho-hum. The plot drags at times and the acting was often wooden. One should remember, though, that sound in movies was still a new feature and studios were learning how to incorporate it into the films that they were making.Despite those shortcomings, "Hell's Angels" is still worth watching as it pioneered a number of special effects techniques.

Famous and Infamous Early Talkie that has about as Much Background Scuttlebutt as any Movie Made, and Deservedly so. After All, it was Produced and Directed by Hollywood Maverick and Eccentric Billionaire Howard Hughes. The Playful Playboy seemed to Invite and Revel in Controversy and was One Unique, Uncompromising Individual.The Common Knowledge is that…this was the Most Expensive Film Ever Made at the Time...…it was first shot as a Silent than Retooled with the advent of Sound…...made Jean Harlow a Star…...uses Tint and Two-Strip Technicolor for some Stunning Contrast, Effect, and Entertainment…...Stunt Pilots were Killed while Filming the Dangerous Aerial Battles…...there was a 250 to 1 Film Footage Shot and then Used in the Final Cut…...Director James Whale is Credited as "staging the dialog" a Year before He made Frankenstein…...although the Movie Lost Money because it was so Expensive it was a Hit (takes a lot of dimes).The Film Holds-Up with its Remarkable Cinematography, Dogfights, and a Zeppelin Sequence that is Masterful. The Actor Scenes may seem Somewhat Dated and Stiff but are better than Typical of the Day. The Pre-Code Slinky Female Attire and Promiscuous Attitudes about Sex, and the Brutality of Battle and the Language of War is Welcome and Realistic.Overall it is a Compelling Movie that Delivers and is Rich Enough in Concept and Character to be a Stimulating Melodrama about War and its Participants. it Contains Many Memorable Scenes and is One of the Best Early Sound Movies and is First Rate Entertainment.

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 but 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.

I first heard of this film while watching Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" and had wanted to see it ever since - I finally obtained a copy of a restoration. What makes this movie interesting is that you can actually see the cusp on which it lies between Silent and Sound. The use of sound in this film is entirely a novelty, as it can be viewed and understood totally without a soundtrack.Ironically, Director Hughes made this film primarily to prove that a good film could be made totally outside of the existing studio system- But in the process, he created a masterpiece and a blueprint for action/adventure films for years to come.When viewing the amazing aerial sequences it is difficult to imagine that every visual effect was created practically. In the first half of the film we have a huge Zeppelin being crashed into by a biplane, and this looked like no miniature, as the wreckage descends you can see the flaming fuselage of the biplane also descending. When the dirigible hits the ground, the effect is massive. The superstructure of the zeppelin is visible within the flames of the wreckage, which appears to fall on a crashed biplane and real actual life-sized human actors are running from it.Upon seeing this film one has to admit that Howard Hughes, eccentric as he was, was a very fine director, not only in the action/aerial battle sequences, but also in the establishing scenes at the beginning of the film- This, I was NOT expecting, and I was happy to be able to sit down and enjoy this massive work. Thankfully, the ridiculous HAYES code was not being strictly enforced at the time of this film's release, and so we can enjoy mild language, blood oozing from gunshot holes, blatant sexual scenes, and low cut, VERY low cut, clothing on a very young Jean Harlow.I do not think I have seen any of the actors in this film in any other works, except for Harlow - They were all unknown faces. Thankfully, Harlow did not stay obscure and unknown for long.