Wings is a 1927 American silent film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Lucien Hubbard. The film stars Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and Richard Arlen, and it portrays World War I combat pilots in a romantic rivalry over a woman. Wings is known for winning the first Academy Award for Best Picture and is considered one of the first important movies about World War I aerial combat.
The combat footage in the film is highly praised, and it is also noted for being one of the first widely released to show nudity. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress and has been re-released for its 85th and 90th anniversaries. Wings is also recognized for its influence on subsequent American movies, setting a standard for storytelling and filming techniques that would be followed for decades.
Plot
Wings tells the story of two young men, Jack and David, who are in love with the same woman, Sylvia. Jack is a middle-class mechanic who dreams of flying, while David is a wealthy playboy who has already learned to fly. When World War I breaks out, both men become fighter pilots in the American Expeditionary Corps and are sent to France to fight the Germans. Their rivalry soon turns into camaraderie as they do aerial battle with the Germans in the skies over France.
Jack and David are billeted together, and their acquaintance is all too brief when their tent mate, Cadet White, is killed in an air crash the same day. The two men endure a rigorous training period, where they go from being enemies to best friends. Upon graduating, they are shipped off to France to fight the Germans. The climax of the story comes with the epic Battle of Saint-Mihiel.
David is shot down and presumed dead. However, he survives the crash landing, steals a German biplane, and heads for the Allied lines. By a tragic stroke of bad luck, Jack spots the enemy aircraft and, bent on avenging his friend, begins an attack. He is successful in downing the aircraft and lands to retrieve a souvenir of his victory.
Watch For Free
Cast
- Clara Bow as Mary Preston
- Charles "Buddy" Rogers as Jack Powell
- Richard Arlen as David Armstrong
- Jobyna Ralston as Sylvia Lewis
- El Brendel as Herman Schwimpf
- Richard Tucker as Air Commander
- Gary Cooper as Cadet White
- Gunboat Smith as Sergeant
- Henry B. Walthall as Mr. Armstrong
- Roscoe Karns as Lt. Walter Cameron
- Julia Swayne Gordon as Mrs. Armstrong
- Arlette Marchal as Celeste
- George Irving as Mr. Powell
- Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Powell
- Nigel De Brulier as French peasant
- Margery Chapin Wellman as French peasant woman
- Gloria Wellman as French peasant child
Director: William A. Wellman
Writer: John Monk Saunders, Hope Loring, Louis D. Lighton, Julian Johnson
Box Office Gross: $746
Genre: War, History, Drama, Romance
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1927
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 16, 2012
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 20, 2012
Themes & Reception
Wings (1927) is a silent film that achieved significant commercial success and critical acclaim.
The film's reception and themes can be summarized as follows:
Reception
- Box Office Success:
Wings was a commercial success, consistently performing well at the box office. It outperformed other films during its first-run booking and continued to sell out almost every performance through the spring of 1928.
- Enduring Popularity:
The film's popularity endured, with steady income reported for theaters showing "Wings." It was noted to have "legs" in show-business jargon, indicating its sustained success.
Themes
- Romantic Rivalry:
The film portrays a romantic rivalry between two young men, Jack and David, who are in love with the same woman, Sylvia. This rivalry evolves into camaraderie as they become fighter pilots in World War I.
- Friendship and Sacrifice:
The story highlights the evolution of the rivalry between Jack and David into a deep friendship, as they endure rigorous training and face the challenges of aerial combat during the war.
- War and Heroism:
The film depicts the experiences of fighter pilots in World War I, showcasing the heroism and sacrifices made during aerial battles, culminating in the epic Battle of Saint-Mihiel.
The film's themes of love, friendship, and the impact of war on individuals contributed to its enduring appeal and critical acclaim.
Challenges Faced
Wings faced the complex challenge of bringing air-combat sequences to the screen, requiring innovative techniques to depict realistic aerial battles. This endeavor was particularly demanding due to the technological limitations of the time and the need to authentically capture the intensity and danger of aerial warfare.
Despite these challenges, Wings successfully overcame these obstacles and achieved critical acclaim, becoming the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film's innovative approach to depicting aerial combat and its compelling storytelling contributed to its enduring legacy in cinematic history.
Visual Styles & Techniques
The 1927 film Wings employed innovative visual styles and techniques that were ahead of its time, contributing to its enduring impact on cinematic history. Some of the notable visual styles and techniques used in the film include:
- Camera Movement: During the last years of the silent era, directors experimented with camera movement. Director William A. Wellman utilized a suspended platform to create innovative shots, such as the famous Paris nightclub shot, showcasing the film's visual creativity.
- Aerial Cinematography: Wings set the foundation for aerial cinematography, using cameras rigged to the plane and strapped to the engine cowling. This pioneering approach laid the groundwork for action cinematography methods used in modern Hollywood productions.
- In-Camera Stunt Work: Director William A. Wellman, a veteran Air Force pilot, championed in-camera stunt work, eschewing conventional techniques of using models or studio shots for dogfights. The film featured practical effects and utilized real planes, contributing to its realistic portrayal of aerial combat.
- Tracking Shots: "Wings" featured impressive tracking shots that were ahead of its time, showcasing the film's technical innovation and visual artistry. These shots contributed to the film's impact and were influential in the development of cinematic techniques.
These visual styles and techniques, including innovative camera movement, aerial cinematography, in-camera stunt work, and tracking shots, contributed to the film's critical acclaim and its lasting influence on the art of filmmaking.
Setting
The 1927 film Wings is primarily set during World War I, depicting the experiences of fighter pilots in the American Expeditionary Forces. The setting encompasses various locations, including training camps, airfields, and the skies over France where intense aerial battles take place. The film also portrays the camaraderie and challenges faced by the characters as they navigate the perils of war.
Additionally, the film features scenes set in the characters' hometowns, providing context for their lives before enlisting in the military. These settings contribute to the development of the characters and their motivations as they become involved in the war effort.
The visual depiction of these settings, including the training camps, airfields, and aerial combat, showcases the film's innovative use of cinematography and its realistic portrayal of World War I. These settings play a crucial role in immersing the audience in the experiences of the characters and the historical context of the war.
Trivia
- Wings was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
- The film features a young Gary Cooper in a small role as Cadet White.
- The aerial combat scenes in the film were shot using real planes and in-camera stunt work, eschewing conventional techniques of using models or studio shots for dogfights.
- The film was noted for being one of the first widely released films to show nudity.
- "Wings" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
- The film's popularity endured, with steady income reported for theaters showing Wings. It was noted to have "legs" in show-business jargon, indicating its sustained success.
- The film's innovative approach to depicting aerial combat and its compelling storytelling contributed to its enduring legacy in cinematic history.