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Siivet

Original title: Wings
  • 19271927
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 24min
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
Two young men -- one rich, one middle class -- who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.
Play trailer1:10
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomanceWar

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

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • William A. Wellman
    • Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • John Monk Saunders(story)
    • Hope Loring(screenplay)
    • Louis D. Lighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Clara Bow
    • Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
    • Richard Arlen
Top credits
  • Directors
    • William A. Wellman
    • Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • John Monk Saunders(story)
    • Hope Loring(screenplay)
    • Louis D. Lighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Clara Bow
    • Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
    • Richard Arlen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 103User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    Restored Version
    Trailer 1:10
    Restored Version
    Dogfight Strategy
    Featurette 1:19
    Dogfight Strategy
    More Making of Wings
    Featurette 0:49
    More Making of Wings
    Wings Featurette
    Featurette 1:15
    Wings Featurette

    Photos231

    Clara Bow in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow in Wings (1927)
    Jobyna Ralston and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow in Wings (1927)
    Gary Cooper, Richard Arlen, and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Jobyna Ralston and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers in Wings (1927)
    Wings (1927)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clara Bow
    Clara Bow
    • Mary Prestonas Mary Preston
    Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
    Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
    • Jack Powellas Jack Powell
    Richard Arlen
    Richard Arlen
    • David Armstrongas David Armstrong
    Jobyna Ralston
    Jobyna Ralston
    • Sylvia Lewisas Sylvia Lewis
    El Brendel
    El Brendel
    • Herman Schwimpfas Herman Schwimpf
    Richard Tucker
    Richard Tucker
    • Air Commanderas Air Commander
    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Cadet Whiteas Cadet White
    Gunboat Smith
    Gunboat Smith
    • The Sergeantas The Sergeant
    Henry B. Walthall
    Henry B. Walthall
    • David's Fatheras David's Father
    Roscoe Karns
    Roscoe Karns
    • Lt. Cameronas Lt. Cameron
    Julia Swayne Gordon
    Julia Swayne Gordon
    • David's Motheras David's Mother
    Arlette Marchal
    Arlette Marchal
    • Celesteas Celeste
    Rod Rogers
    • Aviatoras Aviator
    Charles Barton
    Charles Barton
    • Soldier Flirting with Maryas Soldier Flirting with Mary
    • (uncredited)
    Thomas Carr
    • Aviatoras Aviator
    • (uncredited)
    Thomas Carrigan
    Thomas Carrigan
    • Undetermined Roleas Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    Margery Chapin
    • Peasant Womanas Peasant Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Andy Clark
    Andy Clark
    • Undetermined Roleas Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • William A. Wellman
      • Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John Monk Saunders(story)
      • Hope Loring(screenplay)
      • Louis D. Lighton(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —grantss
    world war onefriendshipmilitary trainingbisexualbisexual subtext67 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • An Epic of the Air
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
      • Action
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for war violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was lost for decades until a copy was discovered languishing in the Cinematheque Francaise film archive in Paris, France.
    • Goofs
      The film is set during the years 1917-1918. However, most of the female civilian clothes and hairstyles are contemporary with the late 1920s, particularly the clothes worn by Clara Bow in the home sequences and in the Folies Bergère sequence. Bow and almost all the other female characters have bobbed hair, common in 1927 but almost non-existent during World War One.
    • Quotes

      Sergeant in Mervale: Hey, if youse guys need kissin' *I'll* kiss you - wit' a gun-butt!

    • Alternate versions
      Some showings have trimmed Clara Bow's brief topless scene.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Eagle and the Hawk (1933)
    • Soundtracks
      The Star Spangled Banner
      (credited on 2012 restored score only)

      Written by John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key

    User reviews103

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Remains really well made and impressive!!
    Wings (1927)

    An epic WWI movie that uses all the classic approaches to a war film and has a lot of great battle footage. It's a tale of rivalry over a girl, of fighting for country (and against the Germans), and of facing death. There are several scenes that make death really gruesome--blood spurting from a pilot's mouth, or a man crushed under a tank--that took me by surprise. I didn't know that such a mainstream American film would go there.

    "Wings" is in a way exactly what American movies would look like thereafter--not just war movies, but all of them. By that I don't mean directors studied this movie and it was the inspiration from here on. But just that the story line, the romance, and even the filming, adventurous but straight on, with more attention to characters and plot than visual effect, all of this would be how films would be made for decades. Including many more by the director, William Wellman, who is one of handful of truly expert but never quite daring and inventive directors of classic Hollywood.

    To back this up neatly, compare this film to the other film that jointly won Best Picture this year (the first year the Oscars were given, and the only year when the best picture category had two separate parts). That is Murnau's "Sunrise." Never mind which is better ("Sunrise," easily by most accounts). Notice how this film is utterly conservative and "conventional" in its approach to the art of making movies. It's superbly well done, but well within the rules of the time. Yes, there are moments of inspiration, including some double-exposed stock where a scene takes play in the sky over another scene on the ground. But "Sunrise" shows the lyrical art of the camera, and of editing, and of a less literal kind of storytelling. "Wings" is probably much easier to watch for most people--that's the idea. But "Sunrise" is far more engaging and complex, begging you to watch it twice. I doubt anyone needs to see "Wings" a second time.

    But then, I have to admit the acting makes more sense in this film. The naturalism of the three leads helps you get emotionally involved. The most famous by far is the woman, Paramount's biggest star, Clara Bow. She doesn't get a huge role (the men do the fighting and flying) but at least when she's there she's a treat. The flying is actually done by the actors, and many of the people involved were veterans (including Wellman, who was a WWI pilot himself).

    It's pretty exciting to find this so exciting all these years later. Give it a look. It's been restored really well (there's even a new Blu-Ray release). And it looks great. Don't expect anything new from the story or the filmmaking, but just expect a really well made high drama affair.
    helpful•25
    5
    • secondtake
    • Sep 2, 2012

    FAQ1

    • What is a Bangalore Torpedo?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 1929 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wings
    • Filming locations
      • Tucson, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $746
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 24min
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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