Wings

Paramount's lavish 1927 war drama will always have a place in film history, winning the very first Academy Award for Best Picture. Love interest Clara Bow takes top billing in this silent drama, although Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen as pals and fellow pilots Jack Powell and David Armstrong are at the center of the film. Even so, the real star of this World War I picture is the amazing aerial spectacle of dogfights over the battlefields. Director William A. Wellman, who was a WWI fighter pilot himself, successfully captures the camaraderie of men in battle while also filling the screen with the thrilling flight of the warriors, including downed planes spiraling through the clouds with a tail of black smoke and yellow flame (color was digitally painted in for flourishes, just like the hand-coloring of the time). All of this was staged and shot for real and the budget soared to $2 million, making it one of the most expensive films of its era. Wings presents a romanticized look at war, but it's also what Hollywood does best, combining a love story, scenes of bonding under fire, and rousing "war is hell" action. Paramount beautifully restored and remastered the film for its debut on DVD and Blu-ray. Both editions offer two musical scores (a new recording of the original orchestral score with sound effects, and an archival organ score by Gaylord Carter) and a featurette on the film. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are two bonus featurettes on the restoration and dogfights. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)