And the Best Picture goes to....

With its use of aerial photography, it’s easy to understand why “Wings” won Best Picture.  Being produced less than a decade after WWI, it was truly made at a different time, when they had to strap a camera to another plane instead of using a blue screen or other digital special effects that are standard today.  The destruction of the village by the German Gotha plane was pretty spectacular, with bombs being dropped and buildings crumbling to rubble in the resulting chaos.  But where I felt this film seriously lacked was in the plot and its extended running time. 

The story begins with a tangled love affair involving two men and two women, which is quickly sidelined as the men, played by Charles Rogers and Richard Arlen, enlist as fighter pilots. Their camaraderie is complemented by El Brendel’s Herman Schwimpf, who provides some comedic relief amid the tension.

One puzzling question is what purpose did Clara Bow play in this production when the two men were clearly in love Sylvia (Jobyna Ralston)? While her name is synonymous with the silent picture era, it raises questions about why her character is even included. Was casting her a way to add clout to the project? If that was the case, they should have just cast her in the role of Sylvia and reverted to a more traditional love triangle, which, in my opinion, would have been a more plausible route to go.

The plot should have centered on Jack and David and their bond that develops during the war. This, combined with the numerous dogfights, war footage, and the inevitable death scene (since it was clear that one of these boys wasn’t coming home), should have been the story being told.

The scene in the Folies Bergère could have been shortened to reduce the running time, as the bubble special effect goes on for too long. Additionally, are we expected to believe that Jack is so drunk that he fails to recognize his next-door neighbor from back home, even though he looks right at her?

Nevertheless, the film does achieve an epic scope with its vast crowd scenes and stunning battle recreations. Gary Cooper’s brief yet dashing appearance serves as a highlight, marking an early breakout role for the future Hollywood legend. While “Wings” delivers in visuals and ambition, it leaves viewers longing for a tighter story that fully captures the emotional weight of its primary relationships.