15. The Eagle and the Hawk

One of the most decorated pilots in the Royal Flying Corps, Jerry Young (Fredrich March) is at odds with fellow pilot Henry Crocker (Cary Grant). But Young is also at odds with himself. He suffers from all the damage and killing he has done throughout the Great War.

Crocker on the other hand is cocky, suave, and sure of himself. This leads to several confrontations between the airman that boils to the surface when they are forced to fly together.

A haunting, incredible acting and thrilling early war film depicting not only the early years of aviation warfare, but also a sobering look at PTSD. Grant had at this point in his career done a respectable job in the movie business. This film was released in 1933, and Grant arrived in Hollywood the year before, The Eagle and the Hawk I believe announced the arrival of Grant the movie star. Funny, charming with a dark streak Grant’s Crocker is the highlight of a remarkable film. That’s not to say March is a slouch. His tortured performance sucks you in and never lets you go. Although only given the credit as The Beautiful Lady, Carole Lombard brings class and beauty to a small but vital role that gives the film a much needed reprieve from the horrors of war.

The Eagle and the Hawk is a sobering look at the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the Heroes.

The Eagle and the Hawk gets a much deserved high definition upgrade. I have the DVD that was released in a Cary Grant bundle and Kino Lorber gives this nearly 90 year old film new life. Gone is most of the scratches and dirt flecks.  Minor quibbles aside, this is a great looking transfer.

The Eagle and the Hawk zooms by with a great sounding DTS HD Master Audio mono track. Gone from the DVD is the hiss, pops and scratches. Replaced with a clear of distracting imperfections free audio experience.

The Eagle and the Hawk contains a couple of extras that are worth checking out.

Commentary with Film Historian Lee Gambin: Although the track is a little dry due to Gambin reading his notes and not really scene specific, it’s nonetheless an enjoyable listen. Gambin does fire off a lot of knowledge that adds depth to the film.

Theatrical Trailer

The Eagle and the Hawk is a must see for war film, aviation, and Cary Grant fans. Kino Lorber does the film right by bringing it to blu-ray with solid video/audio and a nice commentary.

Film: A

Video: B+

Audio: A-

Extras: B

Overall: A-