Opiniones de usuarios

In many ways, I enjoyed this film more than the more expensive HELL'S ANGELS (which Howard Hughes RE-SHOT after its initial completion in order to make it a sound picture)--even though it was a silent film. That's because for a silent movie, it's nearly as good as you're going to find, whereas the primitive sound of Hell's Angels and less engaging plot left me feeling a bit flat--though its flying sequence were clearly better and more spectacular than those in WINGS.

Clara Bow is excellent as the sweet lead of the film whose two friends go off to war. This is a far better showcase of her talents than the equally famous movie "IT" (which did NOT age as well).

Richard Arlen and Buddy Rogers also did fine jobs in the movie, though special recognition must also be given to the cinematography--the movie is just beautiful in spots and the aerial sequences are amazing for 1927! The only down side? Occasionally, there are melodramatic lapses in the pacing--such as the drinking scene where they talk about BUBBLES incessantly. This seems to be due mostly to the style of the day, and for what it was, it was a brilliant picture. I can easily see why it got the first Best Picture award.

You could justifiably criticize WINGS lesser moments: the naive, "gee-whiz" dialog...the less than comedic "champagne" sequence in Paris...any of the romantic scenes...the idealized view of military life.... But as light entertainment, WINGS manages to hold its own, despite the passage of years. The battle scenes, easily the highlight of the film, may not have the intensity of later films, but the narrative is clear and precise. And this was not meant to be the last word in documentary accuracy: it's an adventure film tinged with romance, with engaging aerial fight scenes that capture your attention whenever they occur.

And personally, I felt that the music from the Wurlitzer organ tied together the film's various themes, musical and narrative, quite tidily.

The first movie to win the Best Picture Oscar was this terrific WW1 aviation epic from Paramount Pictures and director William Wellman. Charles "Buddy" Rogers stars as Jack Powell, a small town guy who quickly joins up for the Air Corps when the US enters World War One. He's joined by David Armstrong (Richard Arlen), the town rich kid. Both Jack and David are in love with Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston), although Sylvia only feels the same about David. Top-billed Clara Bow is Mary Preston, Jack's girl-next-door who is secretly in love with him, so much so that she joins the ambulance corps in order to get sent overseas, too. Someone should have pointed out to her just how big France is. Jack and David become close friends in the crucible of war, but life is often short for a fighter pilot.

The aerial photography is truly incredible, and is the real highlight, although the ground warfare scenes are huge in scope and well-choreographed. The performances are all very good. Rogers and Arlen have a real bromance, and both exude star power. Cooper made quite a splash in an early, very small role. Bow is fun, but her scenes almost seem to be from a different movie. The movie also won an Oscar for Best Engineering Effects, a precursor to the special effects award. While this doesn't quite rise to the epic heights of The Big Parade, this is very good, and makes a good companion piece with that film in their depiction of "the Great War". Recommended.

This film is, no doubt, a timeless triumph of the silent cinema. I first saw it three years ago and have seen it at least 30 times since then. I've only looked back to see that I have it in my collection...but not on DVD! These studios need to start thinking back to the days in which movies as good as these were made and stop producing so much garbage that they think will make tons of money without considering whether it's done right or not. This film taught me just how important gesture and body language can be in the acting world, whether it be on film or on stage. I know just how "in-character" an actor is just by looking at their face, their eyes, and how they're written in the script. Don't get me wrong, people can overact and underact in certain parts, but if you do anything without considering your character's expression or mood, regardless of whether or not your voice is unbearable to hear, you will never see success past the sound of crickets hiding in the audience. The industry knew that sound was coming. Most didn't accept this truth, but they knew it alright! "Wings" reminds those who've seen it, as with most classics of the silent cinema, that ACTIONS SPEAK A MUCH GREATER VOLUME THAN THE SPOKEN WORD. I've said all I need to say, and now I'll let this picture speak for itself.

I was fortunate to view this film at the Academy of Motion Pictures' Diamond celebration screening series for all the Best Picture winners last year. A newly restored print in pristine condition was beautifully paired with a live performance of the musical score by an eleven-piece ensemble. As a relative novice to silent era films I was struck by the acting, aerial stunt work, sophisticated camera work and great storytelling. As I was watching I couldn't help but think that this 1927 film has so much more to offer than many contemporary attempts at the war/action genre.

As the trend for releasing forgotten classics on DVD continues, I make a very loud plea to add Wings to the list. This masterful bit of film-making history deserves a much wider audience.

In 1917, Jack Powell (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers) is a young man with passion for cars. His next door neighbor is Mary Preston (Clara Bow), who is in deep love for him, but Jack does not notice her. Jack indeed loves Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston), but she is in love with the rich David Armstrong (Richard Arlen). When USA enters in World War I, Jack and David join the Air Force to fight in France and become pals. Mary joins the Women's Motor Corp, trying to be close to Jack. But it is war, and a tragedy happen between the two friends.

I am very impressed with this amazing awarded epic. "Wings" was recently released on DVD by the Brazilian distributor Continental, and in spite of the Japanese subtitles along the story, it was a worthwhile shopping. The story is fantastic, and the air sequences are awesome. I would like to have an idea of the cost of this ahead of time production, with these anthological battles in the air. I can not imagine how these shootings were achieved, in such angles, considering the cinema technology of 1927. The story raises an anti-war flag with the tragic end, and has realistic sequences that are impressive even in the present days. As a curiosity, Gary Cooper, in the role of Cadet White, has a very short participation, due to his affair with the famous actress Clara Bow. "Wings" is a highly recommended movie, even for audiences that do not like silent movies. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Asas" ("Wings")

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.

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.

Incredibly gritty and accurate war drama, especially for its time. Doesn't glamorize war at all and shows the dangers and bloodshed very well. Helped by some superb action scenes. With no CGI available, the staging of the dogfights and massive land battles must have been a huge undertaking. It is worthwhile in the end as the action scenes are incredibly realistic and engaging.

Solid, emotional plot that ties everything up rather well. While this is almost as much a romantic drama as a war drama, the movie doesn't overdo the schmaltz.

Great work Charles Rogers and Richard Arlen as Jack and David, respectively. Clara Bow shows why she was THE actress of the late 1920s, giving a wonderful performance as Mary. Incredibly gorgeous, while absolutely nailing the free-spirited, self-reliant tomboyishness of Mary.

The cast also includes Gary Cooper in a minor role.

The nuances of silent movies do take a bit of getting used to, initially. You keep expecting to see captions for dialogue, but often none come. This is because, other than for important or scene- setting dialogue, the director leaves it to the viewer to figure out what was being said. The performances are much more physically expressive than what we would expect today, to convey what is being said and what is going on.

Wings won the first ever Best Picture Oscar, in 1929. Technically the award was shared, as in that year (and that year only) Best Picture was split into two categories, Best Picture, Production and Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production.

The film is set during WW1 and follows around the early inception of the US Air Force. The technology at the time to film a movie while flying is what fascinates me about this film. The film follows around Jack and David on their endeavor as pilots. At the time, flying was a dangerous yet adventurous act, let alone to film a movie while doing so. The scenes with the dogfights were my favorite parts of the movie and were probably some of the best re-enacted war scenes even comparable to today's films. As a history guru myself, I was surprised to see how accurate they were. The story line is portrayed intensely for a silent film. Wings is my favorite silent film so far.

Loved this one. It's a blockbuster 1927 style with fantastic war footage, both in the air and on the ground. Clara Bow is a delight, and while her role is on the small side, she lights up the screen every time she appears. Both leading men (Charles Rogers and Richard Arlen) are great, full of screen presence and in Arlen's case especially, conveying the trauma of war with his eyes. Director William A. Wellman spares no expense in the grand scenes with all those extras, but also demonstrates sophisticated camera work, with different types of angles, tracking shots, and one early on in a swing, giving the film a feeling of being ahead of its time. The shots in Paris, including at a nightclub, are fantastic. It was also unafraid to show two male friends in a tender embrace at a critical moment.

The two men are actually rivals for a woman other than Bow (Jobyna Ralston) and hate each other's guts initially, but form a friendship during basic training. It would have been easy for the film to make the guy from an affluent background (Arlen) a jerk, but we see him lovingly say goodbye to his parents and then later demonstrate his courage and honor, an aspect I liked. On the other hand, the film mostly moves along plot lines you can see coming, and there are lots of things you'll have to forgive about it. The plot points that have their lives intertwining once the war starts are highly contrived, and the film stretches on at points, such as all the bubbles in the Paris nightclub or in the war footage at the end. For me, these were not issues, as happy as I was with what I was seeing.

My biggest concern was that the film was going to understate the horror of war or in some way glamorize it, and maybe it does that a little bit, but the final half hour or so certainly doesn't. Countless men die horrible deaths, randomly, and while the film proudly shows the Allied side as victorious, the way Arlen's character dies hints (possibly unintentionally) at the fact that, at a higher level, all men are brothers. The film holds nothing back in showing us parental devastation at learning that their son has been killed, demonstrating the true human cost to war. I also appreciated its depiction of Americans of German descent, showing them as just as patriotic as anyone else despite suspicions against them, and in its depiction of Germans, with one of their aerial aces showing uncommon mercy during a battle scene (even though that's also pretty contrived).

It's all a bit melodramatic and something I would not like as much in a modern film, but to see all this in 1927 was impressive to me, and very enjoyable.

There is a great human-interest story in this film. It gets very emotional at times, especially with the families of the young pilots. The battle scenes are incredibly elaborate. Great acting and directing.

Famous of course for winning the first Oscar for best film, WINGS is also one hell of a good film. Spectacular aerial photography highlights the terrific performances of the three leads: Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, and Richard Arlen. Director William Wellman creates a solid and moving anti-war statement as he shows us the brutality and stupidity of war, its waste of youth, and its power to destroy the lives of all involved.

The film starts with star-crossed lovers in a small town in America. Bow loves Rogers but he loves Jobyna Ralston. Ralston loves Arlen and he loves her but through a mistake, Arlen thinks she loves Rogers. Then the boys go off to war. The outgoing Rogers thinks the war will be an adventure; the shy Arlen goes off, leaving his devastated parents who cannot express their emotions. Bow soon goes off to be an ambulance driver. Ralston stays homes and waits.

The story follows the rivalry and growing friendship of the boys as they head for war. The story ends in yet another bitter mistake. The viewer is as emotionally drained by the end of this film as the parents were at the beginning.

El Brendel provides some comedy relief. Roscoe Karns has a small part. Henry B. Walthall and Julia Swayne Gordon are the parents. And Gary Cooper has one brief scene with Rogers and Arlen. The scene in which he turns and flashes that famous smile as he exits the tent supposedly made him a star.

Clara Bow is solid as the spirited home-town girl who chases Rogers to no avail. She's gorgeous here and she is even moreso in the Paris scene where the matron lets her borrow a snappy and dazzling dress. Few women in film history have been able to be so sexually charismatic as Clara Bow. She's also a good actress.

Richard Arlen and Buddy Rogers give their best performances here. Each takes turns as the center of attention as they become men during the grueling war. Their flight scenes are incredibly well done. Arlen's flight scene as he races toward the American lines is amazing.

Jobyna Ralston has a rare memorable film not working with Harold Lloyd. And Henry B. Walthall is quietly grand as the crippled father.

Wellman's direction and the camera work of Harry Perry are beyond perfection. The aerial battles are breathtaking as are the scenes where they blow up the German blimps. There's also one astounding scene in the beginning of the film where Ralston and Arlen are in a swing. The camera is mounted in a stationary position in front of the actors so we see the scene as though we are in the swing with them. Then suddenly in the background we see Rogers in his jalopy pulling up in the street. The swing stops and Ralston gets out and runs to Rogers (in the background) while we see the close-up of Arlen as he twists in the swing seat and turns to watch them. It's an amazing scene and all one shot.

This film is a must see.

This was a great film that has really stood the test time. I think the most eye opening part of this film is that it was a silent film that did really well when sound films were coming out in the same year. The acting in this film was precise and excellent and has made me appreciate actors for their raw emotions with the omission of sound in this film. I thought the plane scenes in this scene were excellent and really ahead of their time. To get these shots in the air and get them to look so clean seemed like it would be impossible in 1927. The camera work in this film along with the acting I think are what films for many years should be compared to. I would recommend this film for people trying to get into silent films

With no audio (talking-wise) the visuals had to be strong and engaging to make up for this and the film did not disappoint! With not a hair out of place, Jack and David head off to World War I to train as fighter pilots and dislike each other intensely until they bond while beating the crap out of each other during basic training and become best of friends.

The much-hailed world's first on-screen male-male kiss was more bromance than romance, the world was not quite ready for Brokeback Mountain back then. The aerial dog fight scenes were tremendously well done; if they didn't film real flight aerobatics they certainly made it convincing. The special effects with Jack's drunken bubble hallucinations were hysterical as well!

Casting Charles 'Buddy'Rogers as Jack and "It Girl" of the day Clara Bow as the beautiful Mary was bound to create chemistry. Both had winning smiles, and Clara Bow particularly has excellent screen presence and expression. The film showed both the camaraderie and horrors of war...though was light-hearted more often than not, which was perhaps unrealistic but not every war film needs to be depressing.

It really was a wonderful film. It covers action,humour, friendship, romance…and you can watch it on mute at 3am without bemusing your neighbours and house mates!

Wings has the distinctive honor of being the first Best Picture winner ever. It deserves that award. This is an impressive film. Long before the days of green screens or CGI, the aerial stunts and war scenes are realistic and they're absolutely remarkable. This film also has some genuinely good acting and some emotionally charged moments. Wings is well worth a watch.

Silent movies always seem a bit, over the top. I tend to lose interest when all you hear is piano music and see overacting. I saw this was going to be on Turner Classic Movies and thought to myself, "Self, this won the first Academy Award. At least give it a shot." I am so glad I did.

On occasion the acting is over the top, but it seems rare. There is an actually decent soundtrack over the film and sound effects!!! The story line was good and, well, every gelled. To know (due to reading trivia here just before watching the film) that the lead actors actually flew the planes was just the icing on the cake. The aerial scenes were very well done even though at times they were a bit far off, it was countered by real, well done action.

Three things threw me and surprised me, taking into consideration it was made in 1927: At one point when the boys are signing up to be pilots, in the distant room others are taking their physicals. You see a line of naked guys butts. I did a double take.

At another point, you see Richard Arlen (David) with a German on his tail and he clearly mouths "Son of a Bitch!" Later on, you see Clara Bow's boobies. It's very brief and they're slightly obscured, but hey, again, 1927!!! I know, this is before censoring, but all three things took me aback and I think those small things thrown in just seriously kept my attention. Not that these were needed.

And speaking of Richard Arlen, does anyone else see a resemblance to Harrison Ford? Anyone? I'll sum up with this, it's a good movie made by a guy who knew what being a WW1 fighter pilot was all about and his experiences no doubt added to this terrific film and will enhance your experience if you watch it.

Say, is it just me or does the capitalization police around here get a little carried away? Just curious.

Wings is not only the first film to win the academy award for best picture, but it's also a extremely well crafted movie, especially for it's time. The arial cinematography and the acting by the main leads is what kept me invested throughout. With that said, the editing and some of the acting felt extremely out of place. While some actors seemed to be giving their all to this project, others we're acting extremely over the top, and it simply didn't fit. The accompanying track that seemingly played on loop throughout the movie also started to get annoying after a while. In the end, this movie is a technical marvel of it's time, but you can't help but look at it and see how dated it is. If you don't like silent films, stay away from this one. But If you simply want to see what film was like almost a century ago, this would be a perfect place to start. Also, the message that war is stupid and that sending our youth to their impending death, is pretty nuanced for it's time, and I have to commend it for that.

This is a true classic. Nearly a 100 years later and still worth watching. The very first OScar winner. For the time great cinematography, great music, and incredibly well directed. An excellent piece of cinema history!

Set in a WWI setting the first thing I noticed about this film was the amazingly shot flight scenes, they capture what it must have felt like to fly these planes so perfectly it completely immerses you into the time period. The acting on the other hand was a slightly over shadowed by these visuals. The acting was a bit over the top but like I've seen with other silent movies, like Charlie Chaplin's The Circus, this is necessary in order to better portray the emotions of the characters and the overall mood of the scene. However the way the comedy mixes with the dark tone of a war setting is also very well done. With today's standards in movies I'm constantly surprised with how these silent films can make me laugh and feel amazed all in one.

I am in no way, shape, or form a fan of silent films. I am, however, a sucker for a good romance. A couple parts dragged on and on and the bubbles scene was incredibly lame. I did, however, enjoy the chemistry between the two guys; I 'felt' their friendship. After watching, I looked a little further into this movie, and I was incredibly surprised to find out that this was the very first Oscar winner for Best Picture...mainly surprised, because up until this class, I had never heard of this movie before. I will give this movie some credit, though. For its time period, the "special effects" this movie contained were pretty amazing, considering the equipment they had. I also somewhat like how, with movies like this, what you see really is what you get. Everything you're watching is so raw and original, and oftentimes during the viewing of this, I forgot to keep that in mind.