Starring:
Clara Bow, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, et al.
Director: William A. Wellman
Review
Wings, the first movie to win an Academy Award for Best
Picture and the only silent film to win, is still remarkably enjoyable to
watch. The story is a fairly conventional one--two flyboys, both in love
with the same girl, go off to fight World War I, and male bonding and
heartbreak ensue. It's a perfectly serviceable plot, except for the key
logical flaw that both young men have inexplicably fallen in love with the
boring girl down the street and have somehow failed to notice that Clara
Bow is the girl next door. Both male leads really flew their airplanes,
and the dogfight footage is still spectacular. The main reason to watch
Wings, though, is to see the difference between an actor and a movie star.
There are many actors in the film, but only two movie stars. Clara Bow is
a treat to watch every minute she's on screen, and young Gary Cooper in a
tiny role nearly walks away with the movie, mostly by standing there and
looking dreamy. It's well worth sitting through a little cheesy organ
music for a movie this much fun. --Ali Davis
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This is the first picture to win the best picture Academy
Award, and, of course, the only silent film to do so. If you've never
watched a silent film before, it will take some effort, since if you take
your eyes off the screen, you will not "hear" what the actors are saying,
that is, you may miss a dialogue box. Also, at two hours and 19 minutes,
the film tends to be long. However, the combat flying sequences are still
some of the best ever filmed, and are well worth the effort.
Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen certainly perform
well. Clara Bow is at her most beautiful; however, in terms of actual
screen time, hers tends to be more of a supporting role. The short Gary
Cooper scene is a bonus and presages the great career to follow.
The film is interesting both substantively and in terms of
its significance in film history; it is worth the investment in time.
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