Wings (1927)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

John Monk Saunders (story)
Hope Loring (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 January 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War | Action

Tagline:

An Epic of the Air

Plot:

Two young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.

Plot Keywords:

France | Pilot | WWI | Friendship | Boxing

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins

Cast

Clara Bow	...	Mary Preston
Charles 'Buddy' Rogers	...	Jack Powell (as Charles Rogers)
Richard Arlen	...	David Armstrong
Jobyna Ralston	...	Sylvia Lewis
El Brendel	...	Herman Schwimpf
Richard Tucker	...	Air Commander
Gary Cooper	...	Cadet White
Gunboat Smith	...	The Sergeant
Henry B. Walthall	...	David's Father
Roscoe Karns	...	Lieutenant Cameron
Julia Swayne Gordon	...	David's Mother
Arlette Marchal	...	Celeste

Runtime:

139 min | USA:141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (musical score and sound effects) | Silent

Certification:

UK:A | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Bexar County, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation

Trivia:

The entire score was written, composed, and recorded using a Wurlitzer Pipe Organ.

Quotes:

British Soldier: Hello Yank, welcome to a very merry little war. And now how about a wee drop for the King and Uncle Sam?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)

Soundtrack:

A Midsummer Night's Dream

I Am Very Impressed With This Amazing Awarded Epic

In 1917, Jack Powell (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers) is a young man with passion for cars. His next door neighbor is Mary Preston (Clara Bow), who is in deep love for him, but Jack does not notice her. Jack indeed loves Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston), but she is in love with the rich David Armstrong (Richard Arlen). When USA enters in World War I, Jack and David join the Air Force to fight in France and become pals. Mary joins the Women's Motor Corp, trying to be close to Jack. But it is war, and a tragedy happen between the two friends.

I am very impressed with this amazing awarded epic. "Wings" was recently released on DVD by the Brazilian distributor Continental, and in spite of the Japanese subtitles along the story, it was a worthwhile shopping. The story is fantastic, and the air sequences are awesome. I would like to have an idea of the cost of this ahead of time production, with these anthological battles in the air. I can not imagine how these shootings were achieved, in such angles, considering the cinema technology of 1927. The story raises an anti-war flag with the tragic end, and has realistic sequences that are impressive even in the present days. As a curiosity, Gary Cooper, in the role of Cadet White, has a very short participation, due to his affair with the famous actress Clara Bow. "Wings" is a highly recommended movie, even for audiences that do not like silent movies. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Asas" ("Wings")