Its plot follows the manager of an air freight company in a remote South American port town who is forced to risk his pilots' lives while vying for a major contract.

It features supporting performances from Thomas Mitchell, Richard Barthelmess, Noah Beery Jr., and Rita Hayworth in her first major role.

Bonnie becomes infatuated with Geoff, despite his fatalistic attitude about the dangerous flying, and stays on in Barranca (not at his invitation, as he insists on telling her).

MacPherson cannot find work in the United States because he once bailed out of an airplane, leaving his mechanic—the brother of "Kid" Dabb, Carter's best friend—to die in the ensuing crash.

However, with mere hours to spare on the trial period, the weather clears and Geoff has to rush off to secure the all-important contract.

She watches as Geoff and another pilot who have just two good arms between them lift a Travel Air high-wing monoplane off the soggy runway to deliver the mail across the Andes, knowing she will be there when they return.

[3] While he was scouting locations several years earlier, for the filming of Viva Villa!, Hawks had been especially inspired by the stoic aviation personnel that he had met in Mexico.

[6] He cast Jean Arthur in the leading role of Bonnie Lee after appraising her acting in several films directed by Frank Capra.

[9][N 1] Shooting of Only Angels Have Wings began on December 19, 1938, at the Columbia Studio Ranch[9] and Hawks shot the film in chronological sequence whenever possible.

[13] The "cast" also starred a Ford Trimotor as well as a Hamilton H-47 Metalplane, and Travel Air 6000 single engine monoplanes.

In 2007, one of the prop models used in the simulated flying scenes for the Hamilton aircraft surfaced on an episode of the U.S. version of Antiques Roadshow; its owner had been able to screen match it, confirming its authenticity.

[14] The Travel Air was used in the exciting mine rescue flying scene, while the Ford Trimotor was featured in another dramatic landing that ends in a fiery crash.

Midway through the film, Paul Mantz flew a Boeing Model 40 biplane in a spirited aerobatic performance, reprising his earlier scene in Flight from Glory.

It was heavily promoted by Columbia Studios and ended up making $143,000 on its initial two-week run at radio City Music Hall, and earned over one million dollars overall.

[16] Only Angels Have Wings received good reviews on its release, with Abel Green of Variety comparing it favorably to Flight From Glory and praised Barthelmess's performance.

Frank S. Nugent in his review for The New York Times focused on the excitement found in the aerial scenes, also recognizing the talents of the star-studded cast, "Mr. Hawks has staged his flying sequences brilliantly ...

He has made proper use of the amiable performing talents of Mr. Grant, Miss Arthur, Thomas Mitchell, Mr. Barthelmess, Sig Rumann and the rest.

The film's principal actors, Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Rita Hayworth, Richard Barthelmess and Thomas Mitchell all reprised their roles.