Wings (1927)

97% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(2,838 ratings)

Wings, the first feature film to win an Academy Award, tends to disappoint a little when seen today. Too much time is afforded the wheezy old plotline about two World War I aviators (Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen) in love with the same woman (Jobyna Ralston), while the comedy relief of El Brendel is… More Wings, the first feature film to win an Academy Award, tends to disappoint a little when seen today. Too much time is afforded the wheezy old plotline about two World War I aviators (Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen) in love with the same woman (Jobyna Ralston), while the comedy relief of El Brendel is decidedly not to everyone's taste. But during the aerial "dogfight" sequences, the film is something else again: a grand-scale spectacular, the likes of which has never been duplicated, not even by more expensive efforts like Hell's Angels (1930) and The Blue Max (1965). Twenty-eight-year-old director William Wellman, himself a wartime aviator, was fortunate enough to have the full cooperation of the US War department at his disposal (even though his legendary temper nearly lost him that cooperation on more than one occasion!) Brilliantly handled though the aerial scenes may be, they are matched by the Earthbound combat sequences, including the now-famous shot of a long trench caving in on hundreds of unfortunate doughboys. The storyline is as follows: Jack Powell (Rogers) and David Armstrong (${Powell}) hate each other during basic training, grow to like each other, and fall out again while competing for the affections of Sylvia Lewis (Ralston). Mary Preston (Clara Bow) sacrifices her own nursing career to save a drunken Powell from disgrace, Powell goes on a rampage when he believes his pal Armstrong has been killed, inadvertently shoots down Armstrong while decimating the German air corps, and is finally reunited with the nurse. Wrapped up in nurse's garb throughout most of the film, the ebullient Clara Bow is permitted a sequence in which, disguised as a Parisian floozie while trying to rescue a revelling Rogers, she displays a great deal of epidermis. One of the film's chief claims to fame is its "introduction" of Gary Cooper (who'd actually been in films since the early 1920s), in a brief but crucial role as veteran flyer with a cheerily fatalistic attitude. When originally released, Wings included a sequence lensed in the wide-screen "Magnascope" process; even when seen "flat", however, the film contains some of the best flying sequences ever captured on celluloid. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 19 min.
Directed By: William A. Wellman
Genres: Classics, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Aug 12, 1927 Wide
On DVD: Jan 24, 2012
Studio: Unknown

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
The audience gulped down the plot as conventional but reliable stuff, watched with waning interest while spinning, swerving, dodging planes grew into confused monotony against a background of unpicturesque ether.
Sid Silverman, Variety
There not being so much of Clara Bow in the picture, or a straining for her to turn on that 'it' personality, she gives an all around corking performance.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
It won the first Academy Award for best picture back in 1927, establishing a tradition of silliness that hasn't been broken to this day, but there is some thrilling flying footage and impressively expensive spectacle.
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
This feature gives one an unforgettable idea of the existence of these daring fighters.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Admittedly, this movie has not aged as well as many of its contemporaries, but it's not hard to understand why it was accorded the Oscar (a term that, by the way, had not yet been coined).
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Not a very unique, nor an especially artistic production, for sure, but it is one heck of an outstanding picture.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
...the last of the grand studio epics of the silent film era.
Dan Lybarger, KC Active
The main reason to see 'Wings' is some of the most jaw dropping areal footage ever shot. Keep in mind, these folks didn't have CGIs.
Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine
A good hand, played well. Given the likelihood of The Artist's forthcoming Oscar ascendancy, Paramount knew what they had, what to do with it, and when to do it.
Josh Bell, Filmcritic.com
It's exactly the kind of movie the Academy still loves today.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
its unadorned sense of realism sets Wings apart from so many special-effects-laden action movies today that exchange pixels for stuntmen and computer logarithms for physical reality
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...viewed for its action, dogfights, and combat sequences alone, 'Wings' is a remarkable achievement. (Blu-ray edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...as big as they came in 1927, with a host of extras in the battle scenes and aerial footage that is often stunning.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The first Oscar winner for Best Picture was also the only silent film to win the Oscar.
, Empire Magazine
Clara Bow is mesmerising in this ahead-of-its-time air force drama.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Rather predictable but still quite watchable.
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
Above par effects (for the time) matched with decent performances make for a modestly entertaining picture.
, Time Out
Long touted as a classic by cinema historians, and justifying almost every adjectival extravagance.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Wings, the first Oscar winner, enjoyed the administration's support on the condition that it projects a positive image of the Air Force, thus emphasizing camaraderie and heroism.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

Part of what makes this film so important is that it was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Since I haven't seen the other films it was up against, I can't really say if it deserved it or not, but it is still a decent film. Part of its impact is lost… More
Part of what makes this film so important is that it was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Since I haven't seen the other films it was up against, I can't really say if it deserved it or not, but it is still a decent film. Part of its impact is lost on modern audiences, namely because this is from 1927, it's silent, and in sepia tones, as opposed to being modern, cgi-heavy, in color, and loaded up with balls to the wall sound effects. It's got a nicely hauntng and appropriate pipe organ score, but that's it as far as sound goes. The story is really basic, and something of a Top Gun for the 20s. it follows two WWI aviators and the girl they're leaving behind as they go off to fight the war. The plot isn't what makes this film special. That honor belongs to the awesome (even now) aerial combat scenes. They are staged well, look cool, and really make you appreciate the ahrd work and effort that goes into practical effects, as well as the touch of movie magic that is all but absent in this day and age. This is sappy and overlong, but still very entertaining and overwhelmingly charming. Clara Bow, the "It" girl of that era gets top billing, but that's misleading sicne she's not really the focus. She does good with what she's given though. The film belongs to Richard Arlen and Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and they're decent. THere's also a nice and important cameo from Gary Cooper, so that's cool. All in all, a good film, but maybe not the epic masterpiece some have hailed it as being. Well, maybe not a masterpiece in this day and age, but still pretty good.
Jameson W

For my first silent film ever, Wings more than met my standards, it blew me away. Winner of the very first Best Picture Academy Award, this film is one that every movie buff should see. It really is one of the gems of the silent-film era. I went into this this having never experienced… More
For my first silent film ever, Wings more than met my standards, it blew me away. Winner of the very first Best Picture Academy Award, this film is one that every movie buff should see. It really is one of the gems of the silent-film era. I went into this this having never experienced a silent movie before and I absolutely loved it. For a simple story, this film still packs a powerful punch of emotion. The fact that the film has no dialogue makes the viewer have to try to connect to the story and characters. This makes the audience not only experience the emotion of the characters, but it also allows them to experience it in a way that modern film can't that often. The performances also added to this....Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Allen....they deliver good performances. The small appearance by Gary Cooper was also very nice. A thing that surprised me were the special effects. There was never a time in the film where I felt the battle scenes looked fake. They were in no way as real as in today's films, but for 1927, they were very nice. The music is very nice, too. Wings is a gem that everyone should see! See this film because it's the very first Oscar winner, but also because it represents one of the most influencial eras in film history. Do not let the 1927 release date keep you away, it's fantastic! I recommend this film to everyone.
AJ V

I can't believe I forgot to rate this movie! I saw it a long time ago on TV, and I just loved it. I want to see it again, though, since I don't remember much of it.
Dillon L

So this was the original Best Picture winner...not a bad start. Some of the special effects in this film were very well made, and the story isn't bad either, as far as war epics go.
Byron B

When I first started my goal of seeing Oscar winning movies I started at the beginning. If this had not been so good, I probably would not have made it too far. I did not expect a film this old to be so action packed, but with bombs exploding and aerial dogfight maneuvers from WWI… More
When I first started my goal of seeing Oscar winning movies I started at the beginning. If this had not been so good, I probably would not have made it too far. I did not expect a film this old to be so action packed, but with bombs exploding and aerial dogfight maneuvers from WWI this is an exciting pic. Yes, there's a melodramatic love triangle too. This is the only film I've seen with Clara Bow, but let me say, she really stands out.
Lauren D

I really liked it, surprisingly. A few bits dragged on and the bubbles scene was really lame though. I liked the chemistry between the two guys; I 'felt' their friendship.
Lord N

I plan to review all of the films that won Best Picture. it's best to start at the beginning so here it is. I really have never been able to not be bored during silent films. the only exception is the 1925 version of the Phantom of the Opera. this movie really did bore me. that… More
I plan to review all of the films that won Best Picture. it's best to start at the beginning so here it is. I really have never been able to not be bored during silent films. the only exception is the 1925 version of the Phantom of the Opera. this movie really did bore me. that is simply because I'm used to the movies of later eras. this is not to say that I could not appreciate this film and the achievement that it was. there were some decent special effects (for 1927). it was all in all a decent film that I could appreciate but it still bored me. Final Verdict: I dunno I can't think of anything to replace this with. I'll say yes then.
Lizzy B

Very long, very old, lots of bubbles

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Clara Bow as Mary Preston

            Charles 'Buddy' Rogers as John "Jack" Powell

            Richard Arlen as David Armstrong

            Jobyna Ralston as Sylvia Lewis

            Gary Cooper as Cadet White

            El Brendel as Patrick O'Brien

            Arlette Marchal as Celeste

            Richard Tucker as Air Commander

            "Gunboat" Smith as Sergeant

            Julia Swayne Gordon as David's mother

            George Irving as Mr. Powell

            Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Powell

            Thomas Carrigan
            
            Nigel De Brulier as Peasant

            Dick Grace as Aviator

            Carl von Hartmann as German Officer

            Roscoe Karns as Lt. Cameron

            James Pierce as M.P.

            Rod Rogers as Aviator

            Henry B. Walthall as David's father

            Gloria Wellman as Peasant Child

            Margery Chapin Wellman as Peasant Woman

            Charles Barton as Doughboy Hit by Ambulance

            William Wellman as A Doughboy

            Frank Tomick
            
            Dorothy Coonan Wellman
            
See full cast

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