Hell’s Angels Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich guy makes a movie about planes that crash a lot because he likes planes and crashing, also there’s a lady.

🍿 Hell’s Angels: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Oxford and the Outbreak of War

The film opens with brothers Monte and Roy Rutledge enjoying their time at Oxford. They are joined by their German friend Karl. Monte is portrayed as a womanizer, contrasting with Roy’s more honorable nature. A key scene shows Monte caught with the wife of a German officer, leading to a duel. This establishes the brothers’ differing characters and sets the stage for later conflicts.

Enlistment and Romantic Entanglements

As World War I begins, the brothers enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. Their German friend Karl is compelled to return to Germany and join their air force. Roy becomes infatuated with Helen, a woman who enjoys the attention of many men. Monte also becomes involved with Helen, creating tension between the brothers and highlighting the moral ambiguities of wartime relationships.

Aerial Combat and the Zeppelin Attack

The film showcases daring aerial combat sequences, including a notable attack on London by a German Zeppelin. Karl is aboard the Zeppelin, highlighting the personal connections strained by war. The Royal Flying Corps attempts to intercept the Zeppelin, resulting in a spectacular aerial battle. These scenes are praised for their realism and groundbreaking special effects for the time.

The Bombing Mission

Monte and Roy volunteer for a perilous mission to bomb a German munitions depot using a captured German bomber. The mission is successful, but they are soon pursued by German fighter planes. This sequence is celebrated for its intense action and realistic depiction of aerial warfare during World War I. It showcases the bravery and the cost of war.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Monte Rutledge (Ben Lyon): A womanizing Oxford student who enlists in the Royal Flying Corps and grapples with cowardice and the senselessness of war.
• Roy Rutledge (James Hall): The honorable brother of Monte, who joins the Royal Flying Corps and struggles to keep his brother in line while dealing with his own moral code.
• Helen (Jean Harlow): A promiscuous woman who is involved with both Rutledge brothers and embodies the pre-code era’s liberated sexuality.
• Karl Armstedt (John Darrow): A German Oxford student and friend to the Rutledge brothers who is forced to join the German Air Force and grapples with his loyalty to his friends and his country.
• Baron Von Kranz (Lucien Prival): A German officer, representing the antagonists of the film, who is involved in a duel with the Rutledge brothers.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Helen: “Would you be shocked if I put on something more comfortable?” – A suggestive line highlighting her provocative nature and the film’s pre-code sexuality.
• Monte Rutledge: “What are you fighting for? Patriotism, duty, are you mad? Can’t you see they’re just words?” – Spoken when Monte questions the purpose of the war, reflecting anti-war sentiments.
• Monte Rutledge: “Murder, that’s what this dirty rotten politician’s war is!” – Another line reflecting anti-war sentiments, which was scandalous at the time.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,950,000
• Domestic Gross: $8,500,000
• Worldwide Gross: $8,500,000

💥 Hell’s Angels Reviews

Personal Review

I watched this because of ‘The Aviator’, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The aerial scenes are genuinely incredible, especially considering when it was made. The story is a bit melodramatic, and the acting isn’t always great, but it’s worth watching just for the sheer spectacle of those dogfights and the Zeppelin sequence. I found myself completely captivated by the aerial scenes, they’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen from that era.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic war films.”
  • “Aviation enthusiasts interested in early depictions of aerial combat.”
  • “Those interested in the history of filmmaking and early sound technology.”
  • “Viewers who appreciate Jean Harlow’s early performances.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “War violence and depictions of aerial combat.”
  • “Mild language and suggestive content typical of pre-code films.”
  • “Themes of infidelity and moral ambiguity.”
  • “Potentially offensive stereotypes of German characters.”

Professional Reviews

• IMDB: “The aerial combat scenes are, quite simply, the most astounding ever. Some scenes show DOZENS of REAL airplanes roiling in a frighteningly tight ball like a cloud of gnats, and barely missing each other. Some of the movie is melodramatic and dated, but some human scenes are brutally harsh, powerful, and would never get filmed today because they’re TOO chilling.
• IMDB: “Hughes as director had his limitations, but he was at his best in making possible the great combat and special effects scenes. The Zeppelin scenes are so realistic it is difficult to believe it was all model and special set work. Hughes’ inexperience as a director shows up at its worst in his handling of the cast. Even allowing for the difficulties of ‘Dawn of Sound’ filming, Hughes tolerated some of the worst acting ever seen in a major film.
• IMDB: “Howard Hughes produced and directed this 1930 aerial extravaganza, whose plot is both hackneyed and largely irrelevant, since one is merely waiting for the heavy melodrama to end so as to feast one’s eyes on Jean Harlow and aerial combat scenes. The photography is magnificent, and one gets a kind of God’s eye view of reenactments of World War I dogfights.

Audience Reactions

The aerial combat scenes are simply the best ever filmed; no CGI can compare to the real danger and excitement.: The aerial footage is groundbreaking and still holds up today.

The movie gives a feeling of the dawn of the talkies, and the dawn of flight with the pilots struggling to operate the aircraft.: This film is an amazing piece of aviation and movie history.

Overall Consensus: While the plot and acting can be dated, the aerial combat sequences remain breathtaking and a testament to Howard Hughes’ vision.

Awards

1. National Board of Review (Top Ten Films)- 1930

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Howard Hughes directed the aerial sequences himself, as he was a skilled aviator. He even crashed one of the planes while filming, resulting in injuries.”
• “Three pilots died during the making of the film, highlighting the real dangers involved in recreating aerial combat at the time.”
• “Jean Harlow’s appearance in ‘Hell’s Angels’ marked her breakthrough role and catapulted her to stardom. It also contains the only color footage of her that exists.”

🖥️ How to Watch Hell’s Angels?

As a classic film, “Hell’s Angels” availability can vary. Check streaming services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and other on-demand platforms to see if it’s currently available for streaming or purchase. You can also often find the film available for digital rental or purchase through these services. Physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray can be purchased from major online retailers like Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Hell’s Angels, you might like these similar films:

• Wings (1927): Another silent-era aviation epic set during World War I, featuring stunning aerial photography and a love triangle.
• The Dawn Patrol (1930): Released the same year, another WWI aviation film exploring the psychological toll on pilots and the high casualty rates.
• Flyboys (2006): A more recent film depicting American pilots in World War I, focusing on aerial combat and camaraderie, although utilizing modern special effects.
• All Quiet on the Western Front (1930): Although not focused on aviation, it shares a strong anti-war message and depicts the brutal realities of World War I.

🛒 Hell’s Angels Related Products

• Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness: A biography delving into the life of Howard Hughes, the eccentric director of Hell’s Angels, offering insights into his aviation passion and filmmaking process.
• WWI Aircraft Models: Scale models of WWI biplanes featured in the film, such as the Fokker D.VII and Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, perfect for aviation enthusiasts and collectors.
• Jean Harlow: Platinum Blonde: A collection of Jean Harlow’s films, showcasing her platinum blonde charisma and acting talent, including Hell’s Angels.
• War Thunder – Aviation Combat Game: Online multiplayer game featuring WWI aircraft battles, allowing players to recreate the aerial dogfights seen in Hell’s Angels. Choose from the featured aircraft and battle online

🎧 Soundtrack

Hell’s Angels features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Symphony No. 5 Opus 64: 2nd movement” – performed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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