Howard Hawks is one of my favorite directors, probably my number one favorite. I have this excellent film in my top five favorites of Hawks:
1. Only Angels Have Wings
2. His Girl Friday
3. Scarface
4. Red River
5. Bringing Up Baby
Of course, Howard made a ton of other brilliant films. Where would you rank Red River among the best of Howard Hawks?
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
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Since it is now known that Hawks actually directed the 1951 version of the sci-fi thriller "The Thing", I would put "The Thing" (From Another World) up there with Howard Hawks best works.
shareIt's hard for me to rank Hawks'(s) films, since they're stylistically and thematically all over the map. That said, I'll go ahead and do it to the ten for which my spots are softest:
1. Rio Bravo
2. The Big Sleep
3. His Girl Friday
4. To Have and Have Not
5. Scarface
6. Bringing Up Baby
7. Red River
8. Sergeant York
9. El Dorado
10. Ball of Fire
John Wayne had been around for a while before this film was made, but this is the film that made a believer of those that thought he was a one dimensional actor. Howard Hawks is a fine director and a very entertaining one, all his talents came together in this film. Granted, the ending in this film undercuts all the tension and superb build up. It's hard to believe that the same director for the first 4/5ths of the film actually directed the last 1/5th. I haven't seen all films that Howard Hawks directed, but this one is surely his best.
shareAs 'smurf' said, that's a tough list to sort through due to teh varied styles.
However, I would have to say:
1. His Girl Friday
2. Red River
3. Sergeant York
4. The Big Sleep
There are, of course, a bunch of other films that are a heck-load of fun (Hatari!, Bringing up Baby, as examples)... but I don't think any of them have that quality of "greatness" these do.
Also, I have yet to have opportunity to see 'Only Angels Have Wings.' Fairly high on my cinematic priorities, though.
Only Angels Have Wings is an excellent film. If you watch it back-to-back with To Have and Have Not, you'll see a lot of similarities. I hope you enjoy it.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
Red River is one of Hawks' best but I prefer Rio Bravo among his westerns. I also really like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes which most people ignore probably because they think its just a dumb Marylin Monroe comedy, but its her second best film after Some Like it Hot (not counting All About Eve where she had a small role). The Big Sleep had great acting and atmosphere but I can't say I really enjoyed it due to its confusing story, but perhaps it would make more sense if I watched it again.
shareI like Red River best, but Sergeant York is a great favorite too.
shareTo me, they are like "book-ends". The Big Sky is the best pre-Civil War western and Red River possibly the best post-Civil War Western. Both are about journey and the eddy and flow of relationships as they pass along. Both take the time to tell their story, covering many incidents along the way, rather than cutting things just to increase the pace.
shareImpossible to choose when there are just so, so many great Howard Hawks movies. This list changes a lot...
1. The Big Sleep
2. Red River
3. Rio Bravo
4. Sergeant York
5. Scarface
6. To Have and Have Not
7. Bringing Up Baby
I think that Red River (1948) is at least as memorable as any of them, probably more so. The film carries a significance that transcends itself and even the Western genre, as it set new parameters for the representation and meaning of masculinity on the screen. And to quote myself:
Indeed, the "arrow" moment and the moment when Matt Garth stands up to Tom Dunson over the proposed hanging are two of the most memorable epiphanies in the history of American cinema.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040724/board/thread/11166543?d=32637173#32637173
Let me also give a shout-out to Monkey Business (1952), which I find riotously hysterical, Hawks' comedy at its unabashed best. Bringing Up Baby (1938) is another comedic treat that challenges conceptions of gender. I also love the moody sensuality and atmospheric fluidity of To Have and Have Not (1944) and The Big Sleep (1946).
I agree. "The Big Sky" is really underrated, even though I don't like the acting that much. Elizabeth Threatt is fine, but Kirk Douglas is a little annoying and doesn't seem to fit into a western, and Dewey Martin just stands around most of the time. But the direction! What a beautifully shot film! And look at all the characters and how well developed they are!
share1. His Girl Friday (Cary & Ros learn to talk fast)
2. The Big Sleep (Film Noir at its best - doesn't matter you can't keep track who killed who)
3. Red River (Monty & Wayne)
4. Only Angels Have Wings (Cary Grant doesn't always play Cary Grant)
5. To Have And Have Not (You just put your lips together and... blow)
Agree with you about Grant and Only Angels Have Wings, dgz78. That is a perfect example of Grant's versatility. I can't get enough of Only Angels Have Wings. It's a masterpiece.
For those who haven't seen it, Red River will air on TCM later this month.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."