Wings- Best Picture Winner, 1927/1928

The Basics

Wings (1927) – Director, William Wellman; starring Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Richard Arlen; Run time – 2 h 24 min. – Drama, Romance, War

Prior Knowledge

Koob: I have actually already seen Wings probably around 12 or 13 years ago.  I remember liking it well enough and as far as the plot, I remember the two main characters become pilots in WWI and wind up in France where one of them falls in love and the main female character played by Clara Bow becomes a nurse helping wounded soldiers.  I don’t remember too many of the details or the ending so I am looking forward to a second viewing.

Kristy: My knowledge of this film is limited to it being about young men signing up for and flying out to war. By the cover image, I assume the following to be essential to the plot: a love story, fantastic makeup and looking forlornly off into the distance.

Fun Facts From IMDB

-The only movie to ever win an Academy award for Best Production. In the Oscars’ first year of existence, two “Best Picture”-type awards were given: This film was awarded Best Production and Sunrise (1927) was awarded Best Artistic Quality of Production. Both awards were discontinued the following year.

– Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers did not know how to fly a plane when production began, but he learned how to do so by the end of it.  For close-up scenes where Jack and David (and other characters) are flying, the actors are actually working the planes themselves. To shoot these scenes, a camera was strapped to the engine cowling.

– Wings was the only silent movie to win the Best Picture Oscar until The Artist (2011) won Best Picture in 2012.

-Paramount was keen to exploit the presence and reputation of Clara Bow in the film by inserting a scene that required her to be topless.

-Contains the first screen kiss between two men (when the French  general is awarding medals and, more notably, at the deathbed of a fallen soldier)

Viewing Source
Watch: Wings (1927) – dir. William Wellman (seminalcinemaoutfit.com)

Viewing Snacks

Sriracha Dry Rub Wings (of course!)

(for two lbs. of wings or 2-4 servings)

Marinade

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup sriracha
• 1 tsp of worcestershire sauce

Drench wings and marinate for 2 hours

Dry Rub

For a saucier wing, leave the marinade on- for a drier wing, dab off marinade with a paper towel

• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp chili pepper flakes
• 2 tsp paprika

Gently coat your wings on both sides, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees, place wings back into your pan and bake for 1 hour

Paired with Rachael Ray’s Green Cabbage Cole Slaw

Post Viewing Responses

Ratings (with 1 star = the worst and 5 stars = the best)

Koob:  2 stars

Kristy:  4 stars

Double Gobble Score: 3 stars

The Takeaway

Watch this film if you are at all interested in early silent films, World War I, spectacular stunt flying or seeing a topless Clara Bow