Complete credited 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 | ... | Lt. Cameron | |
Julia Swayne Gordon | ... | David's Mother | |
Arlette Marchal | ... | Celeste | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Rod Rogers | ... | Aviator |
Two young men from the same town but different social classes end up as fighter pilots in WW1. Jack Preston is a keen auto mechanic, building and modifying cars. David Armstrong comes from a wealthy family. They are both in love with the same woman, Sylvia. Her heart belongs to David but she doesn't let Jack know and plays along with his infatuation. Meanwhile, Jack's neighbour, Mary, is deeply in love with him but he just views her as a friend. WW1 interrupts the romantic entanglements as Jack and David enlist in the US Army Air Service (Air Service of the AEF at the time). They are initially bitter enemies, due to them both vying for Sylvia's affections. Over time, however, they become very good friends. They are both posted to the same fighter squadron in France, where being a fighter pilot means every day could easily be your last. Written by grantss
My cousin Clifford M. Blackstone Sr. was the person who filmed the flight scenes in this movie. His son Cliff sent me photographs of his Dad filming this movie as well as a few others with Paramount Studios. Cliff said his Dad was put in an airplane and sent up in the air to crank out all those amazing flight scenes. He said his Dad told him he wasn't even secured in the plane. Cliff Blackstone Sr. is from Mercer County, PA and Cliff Jr. says his Dad was the man who created the zoom lens. Just a side bar, Clara Bow, the lead actress in Wings, had a hairdresser Maryl who Clara introduced to Cliff Sr. Cliff Sr. married Maryl and they had Cliff Jr. It is really a nice story.