Wings of the Hawk

Wings Of The Hawk is set down in revolutionary Mexico during the teen decade of the last century and casts Van Heflin as an expatriate American mine owner who has his mine appropriated by Porfirio Diaz's local provincial administrator George Dolenz. That doesn't turn Heflin into a revolutionary sympathizer just yet. But when he saves Julie Adams from a gunshot wound with a little doctoring he's convinced of the rightness of their cause. It also helps that Julie fills those riding pants out real nice.

Romantically the problem for Heflin is Rudolfo Acosta who already has a claim on Adams. He's part of the revolutionary band, but has grown over cautious of late.

Abbe Lane plays Adams's sister and Dolenz's mistress. More should have been made of that situation than it was. It might very well have been left on Universal's cutting room floor. Of course we should have also seen more of Abbe Lane on general principles.

Budd Boetticher directed Wings Of The Hawk and it certainly isn't up to the standard of the films he did with Randolph Scott. It's a routine action/adventure film, nothing more. Especially with Viva Zapata coming out the year before, a really great film about the same period.

This western from Budd Boetticher doesn't belong to the golden years of the director; I mean the westerns produced by Harry Joe Brown, written by Burt Kennedy and starring Randolph Scott. This very one which I review today, is just a good Universal Studio product, as it had been made by a Nathan Juran or George Sherman, or any other "home" director, for instance Joe Pevney. This is a good actionner, really worth the watch, not the most known of director Boetticher. No real surprise but never boring. Van Heflin is quite good, so Julie Adams, the Studio female star, remember her in CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.

As my sister says this is maybe the most view master like of all 3D movies. The depth perception is remarkable and well achieved without using many of the usual 3D "tricks" - although the scene where mine explodes throwing rocks to the camera is certainly impressive and the gun descending slowly to Van Heflin's from the roof is breathtaking, just as if could reach it yourself.

The story is about a group of partisans who fight against a corrupt official during the mexican revolution and a gold miner - always excellent Van Heflin - who helps them in order to recover his mine and ends falling in love with a young revolutionary woman - Julie Adams. A young Abbe Lane -who would marry musician Xavier Cugat- appears as Julie Adams' sister in an early role.

A lot of incidents took place while filming the movie, and many specialits got hurt. Miss Adams herself felt from her horse with no major injuries.

As all the originally 3D filmed movies this one greatly improves if watched in 3D, adding a lively touch to the movie.

I am admirer of Budd Boetticher'films,mainly the ones with Randolph Scott,this one being nothing but watchable.

My copy has some color problems being the night or dawn scenes darker than it should be,some action is lost which cause some distress to the viewer. I 've read that the film is in process of restoraration. I look forward to...

Anyway,this one is just a regular western with some good action scenes. Rate 6!

It's not an oscar contender or a big budget Hollywood western so you have to judge it based on that. The cinematography was well done the acting was excellent and if you're lucky the 3d was way beyond it's time I wish they could have used this quality of 3d now it would have been a success. I really enjoyed the story and it's funny how they made caucasians play Mexican characters that was the only downfall for me but I realize its 1953. Ignore the critics that judge based on their own pre conceived western formula. This western works entertaining from start to excellent ending.