WINGS

US, 1927, 141 minutes, Black and white.
Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, Jobyna Ralston, Gary Cooper.
Directed by William A. Wellman.

Wings is famous as the winner of the first Oscar for best film. It also won an Oscar for special effects.

This is a World War One story, conventional in its romance of two friends who are in love with different women – and the different women in love with each of them, but not as they want. They go off to World War One fighting in France in 1917 and become comrades in the air battles. The two men are played by Richard Arlen (who was to have a long career, often as a villainous heavy in westerns of the 50s) and Charles Rogers (who married Mary Pickford and was married to her for forty-two years but who gave up an acting career in the late 40s). Clara Bow, the famous It Girl, is the leading lady. Gary Cooper, very young, appears as a cadet.

The film is impressive with its aerial battle sequences, especially for 1927 and the silent era. There were to be many air films after this including Hell’s Angels in 1930 directed by Howard Hawks. William A. Wellman was to go back to a aerial theme of World War One with his 1950s film Lafayette Escadrille (also the subject of Tony Bill’s 2006 film The Flyboys).

An impressive film from the silent era – showing the technology developments in cinema after thirty years of its existence.

1. The quality of this silent film, Oscar for Best Film? Its impact In 1927 and its styles? Impact now, historically, thematically entertainment?

2. The techniques of silent film styles of acting without words, the cards with dialogue, styles of speaking, musical accompaniment? The effect on audience response?

3. The qualities of the photography, for a silent film, black and white, the aerial photography, the wide scope for the battle sequences etc.?

4. The interest in and appeal of the basic plot, the types and characters? The entertainment plot of so many years ago? Its impact now? The variations over the decades?

5. The film's attitude towards patriotism? Towards war and patriotism? The wings as shown on the dialogue cards?

6. The film as a piece of Americana? America's attitude towards World War One? Its memory and nostalgia for pre-war days, the belief in American heroism of the ordinary boys and girls from the small town? Americana and their help of Europe In World War One? Morale-boosting and achievement?

7. The film's view of World War One? The attitude towards the European powers, the holocaust in terms of soldiers killed, destruction? The view of World War One prior to World War Two? The film being made only ten years after the events?

8. The picture of America in the early twentieth century? The small town and its way of life, rich families, the average family? The quality of family life? The two girls and their contrast? The picture of youth, the comment on laughter and tears cars etc? The showing of the goodbyes?

9. The contrast between Sylvia and Mary? Sylvia as more reflective and compassionate for Jack? Mary as more spontaneous, the ‘girl next door’? The contrast between David and Jack and their family backgrounds? The cars? The exchange of photos?

10. How successful were the comedy interludes with Herman Schwimp? Silent film comedy styles?

11. The scenes of enlisting, the scenes of training? The emphasis on the fight between Jack and David? Their growing in friendship?

12. The impact of the sequence with Cadet White? Gary Cooper's impact, his explanation of Air Force life, Jack and David's response to him, the chocolate, the news of his death?

13. Comment on the impact of the initial patrols, Jack and David's attitude towards their first patrols, the dogfights in the sky, aerial heroism? The visualizing of these air battles? The heroism of the air aces of World War One?

14. The irony of Mary and her enlistment, her being in Paris and seeing Jack drunk? The impact of the Parts sequence, visual techniques, for example the tracking across the tables etc.? The compromise of Mary and Zack being in the one room? The aftermath on each of them? Mary's being sent home?

15. The realities of war, the impact of the Allied advance over the Germans? The scenes of trench warfare? Their vividness?

16. David and his injury? His superstition with his little bear? The clash between David and Jack over Sylvia and her photo? The attitude of hostility the friendship? His injury and his bravery in survival, stealing the plane and destroying the German planes? The irony of his death at Jack's hand?

17. The meaning of war with such destruction, where even friend kills friend? Is the comment that it is war sufficient?

18. How moving, how realistic was David's death scene? The strength of the friendship between the two men?

19. Jack's triumphant return and American morale-boosting? The contrast with his visiting the Armstrongs? Mrs. Armstrong's hatred, moving to compassion? Jack presenting her with David's medal? Sylvia’s sadness?

20. Was the happy ending appropriate? The conversation with Mary about Paris?

21. The achievement in its time of this kind of film as regards technique, themes and values?