Action. Romance. Handome leading men. Luscious leading ladies. And even a few special effects. It's not the latest from Hollywood -- as much as
that sounds like any major movie being released these days -- but it's certainly one of the greatest. 1927's Wings proves that the more things
change, the more they stay the same. Wings is one of those movies of which they speak when they speak of "the mold," the classic style
that's been refined, but not necessarily bettered, now some 75 years after its initial release. It's a movie that has it all, a prototypical throwback
experience that's satisfying and fresh, a movie that covers the basic themes and covers them remarkably well. It's a movie that encapsulates all that's
good in the medium, and shows that it's the raw elemental ingredients and the superficially simplest yet most inwardly complex of human emotions
that speak to audiences even when the movie doesn't, those things that drove the movies then and drive the movies today, the picture in a way,
then, a time capsule of the universality of how things work on and off this screen then, now, and forevermore. Indeed, Wings betters most
modern movies -- or movies from any era, really -- through its unflinching embrace of fundamental components that drive a visual medium and stir
the heart of those who gaze upon it. And now it's been released on a format that allows new audiences to experience it freshly, both as it was then or
as it is now. Either way, it's a win for all those who choose to soar with its story of courage, friendship, love, and war, either for that magical
first flight
or for a return trip to the clouds.
On the attack.
Small town rivals Jack Powell (Charles Rogers) and David Armstrong (Richard Arlen) are vying for the heart of the same girl, city visitor Sylvia Lewis
(Jobyna Ralston). There's only one problem: Sylvia already loves David, but Jack's too blindly in love to notice. While the playboy David is wooing his
girl, Jack's busy building a custom car with the help of the sweet and kindly Mary Preston (Clara Bow) who is secretly and madly in love with Jack.
She helps him build the car and gives it the nickname "The Shooting Star" in hopes that she'll earn a kiss from her would-be beau; after all, what
else is a man to do but kiss his girl in the presence of a shooting star? Before all can worked out, however, Uncle Sam comes-a-calling, and David
and Jack -- the latter of whom has always dreamed of flying -- are whisked away to military service, both to become aviators in the battle agains the
Kaiser in the first World War. Though rivals in their private lives, David and Jack become inseparable best friends in the service. They've put their
romantic clashes largely
behind them, though Jack carries with him a picture of Sylvia, convinced she loves him, while David secretly carries her handwritten letters that tell
him
otherwise. The two quickly become seasoned Aces in combat, but even with their impressive aerial skills, they'll still have to work out their love
lives, one way or the other.
Wings must make sure to exaggerate -- but not to a fault -- the basic elements of its story to succeed, since all must be drawn from looks
and
actions with but the occasional text card to reinforce key plot points or critical dialogue. The movie shows, whether by design, by default, or simply
within a comparative structure against thousands of other films and hundreds of pictures in its class of excellence (and likely some combination of
all)
that it's not always words, but it is almost always rather deeds that do indeed carry a story, and that holds true both during the film's on-the-ground
dramatic
moments of romance and friendship and high in the sky during blazing-hot action over the battlefields of Europe. By making use of what it has to
work
with and emphasizing more than just a string of spoken words, the film manages to craft a tale that shows character development well beyond
many
modern "talkies." Wings creates an enveloping world and a gripping narrative that sweeps the audience into the story, as simple as it all
may
be, whether in the heat of a dogfight or in the sweetly-constructed moments of cordial and romantic tenderness that play out on the ground.
This is
a fun, well-crafted roller coaster sort of movie that expertly balances both of its main elements -- action and drama -- and is a pure, classic example
of
a movie that has it all in perfect harmony and presentation.
Amidst its interlocking story of adventure, love, and friendship, there's a technical side to Wings that's very impressive, a technical side
which remains evident even decades following its release. The film's aerial battles are complex and well made. The photography captures quite a bit
of juxtaposing in-flight and on-ground visual elements; it's all very cohesive and natural when a camera facing the pilot also picks up running foot
soldiers or devastation on the ground in the form of just-crashed planes. The timing to coordinate all of it is nearly uncanny, and on a very basic
level the visuals are up to par with anything of today in terms of sheer continuity and authenticity. The acting is strong, too, taken in a context
separate
from what would be the norm with the talking film. It's all a little exaggerated and the actors are done up a little more to enhance the film's look,
but
there's a very genuine sense of authenticity across the board, whether seen on the faces of the men dogfighting high up in the sky or the twinkle in
the actress' eyes as they look lovingly towards their men. Story construction and flow best even the finer movies of today; it's elementary to be
sure,
but the picture's heart certainly carries it even when the script seems just a little too concerned with convention. The restored music is
fantastic, covering the same spectrum as the story -- it's sweet, patriotic, militaristic -- and tells the story with its ebbs and flows, becoming itself a
simplistic sort of voice for the entire picture, a voice spearheaded by a catchy and memorable recurring theme. If there's a fault, it's that the movie
drags a little in places when it doesn't seem to realize it's managed to get the point of the scene across. It's a small price to pay, though, for a total
package that's sure to dazzle and satisfy even today's hardened and demanding audiences.
Wings debuts on Blu-ray with a nice looking retro 1080p, 1.34:1-framed transfer that places vertical black bars on either side of the 1.78:1
display to preserve the film's original presentation appearance. The visual experience opens brilliantly, beginning with the current, colorful high definition
Paramount logo which gives way to each previous variant of the same, until reaching the film's original take on the famous stars-and-mountains. The
movie itself produces an image that's generally presented in a sepia overlay. There's a stretch of black-and-white and a stretch of heavier blue shading,
with the only real splashes of color coming in the form of bright oranges that accent firing machine guns and planes on fire. Fine detail is strong;
backgrounds can look a little warped and soft, but foregrounds, clothes, and faces appear nicely resolved, with good clarity and texturing evident in most
every scene, from the aerial battles to a Parisian night club. Some slight banding is evident, and such instances introduce a false arc of green onto the
image. There's certainly a hint of wear and tear here and there, but this is, for the most part, a remarkably clean restoration. A visible grain structure
retains,
and
the cumulative result is a veritable time machine that takes audiences back decades thanks to the horsepower of today's best restorative and projection
video technology.
Wings features a pair of soundtracks, one a DTS-HD MA 5.1 presentation with "re-recorded score composed by J.S. Zamecnik (orchestrated and
arranged by Dominik Hauser; featured pianist -- Frederick Hodges) with sound effects by Ben Burtt" and the other a Dolby Digital 2.0 track that offers
the "pipe organ score composed and performed by Gaylord Carter."
The DTS presentation is spectacular. It offers up a listen that's wonderfully clean and very spacious. Music plays with a crispness and clarity that makes
it easy to distinguish the range of instruments used to re-score the picture. The crisp notes throughout the range and the strong supporting low
cumulatively yield a sonically beautiful presentation. The 5.1 track additionally makes use of the entire soundstage in the implementation of various
sound effects. Whirring propellors slice through the listening area, whether churning on the ground or carrying an aircraft in the sky. Machine gun fire
is crisp and emanates from various speakers depending on the situation. Screaming sirens blare into the stage, explosions are hefty and accurate, and
artillery shells zip around the soundstage during some of the more critical land battle scenes. The effects, however, aren't so unnatural that they pull
the audience out of the movie; there's an authenticity to the experience that benefits the movie and each plays seamlessly in the greater context. The
Dolby Digital "organ" track sounds fantastic, too. It's clean, spacious, and very distinct, and not lacking too far behind the seamlessness of the lossless
effort. However, it lacks the added sound effects. Both tracks provide unique listening experiences; the re-recorded track and effects blend very well
with the visuals, and even the purists might be surprised at how well it works. The easy solution: watch the movie in full with both!
Wings contains a trio of extra very good features.
Wings: Grandeur in the Sky (1080p, 25:56): A strong retrospective feature that examines the cinematic landscape of the 1920s,
the early history of the project, the difficulties in making an aerial combat picture on a large scale, U.S. military support of the picture, shooting in San
Antonio, the work of Director William A. Wellman, casting the major roles, the challenges of the shoot, creating authentic war sequences, the picture's
budget, its success, and much more.
Restoring the Power and Beauty of Wings (1080p, 14:21): A thorough and thoroughly entertaining look at resorting the film's
visuals, recreating and re-recording its score, and adding authentic sound effects.
Dogfight! (1080p, 12:54): A brief piece that looks at the evolution of the airplanes and aerial combat during World War I.
Compare 1927's Wings to 2001's Pearl Harbor; there's a similarity in plot and action that's unmistakable, but
more than that, they're excellent titles to view in succession for a pretty eye-opening look into the evolution of the cinematic landscape over the course
of generations. The technology has certainly evolved greatly, but in a way, the eye candy visuals of today -- not to mention basics like enhanced sound
and color -- don't necessarily make a movie "better" because both films also demonstrate that it largely remains a film's ability to create worthwhile
characters
and involve its audience in the story to the point that the outcome becomes truly important to all watching that both play a major role in a movie's
success. Sights and sounds are fine, but content
remains king. Wings goes to show that storytelling principles and fictional plots remain largely unchanged; it's just the surrounding elements
that have evolved. Wings is a truly wonderful movie that's been lovingly restored and brought to Blu-ray in a package that
only falls short because its supplements are far too few in number for a title of this historical significance. Paramount's Blu-ray does offer fine video and
audio. This is truly a must for cinephiles, collectors, and casual viewers alike; if only it offered more supplements. Still, Wings comes very
highly recommended.
Along with a new, monthly sweepstakes designed to commemorate the studio's centennial, Paramount Home Media Distribution has announced further plans for the studio's 2012 Blu-ray slate. Today's press release also hinted at Clueless, Hondo, Barbarella, and Clue ...
In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount Pictures has revealed that it will release on Blu-ray William A. Wellman's Wings (1927), starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, and Gary Cooper. Wings was the first film, and the only silent film, ...
