Part of Nashville: A City On Film
Sun, Sep 28 at 11:30am: Introduction by T. Minton, Belcourt’s public historian and archivist | BUY TICKETS
A breathtaking blend of romance and war, WINGS tells the story of two young men — Jack (Charles “Buddy” Rogers) and David (Richard Arlen) — who leave small-town America to become World War I combat pilots, unknowingly locked in a love triangle with the same woman (Clara Bow). Their friendship is tested in the skies over Europe and in the trenches below, as they navigate the brutalities of war and the fragility of love. Known for her casting as Harold Lloyd’s leading lady, Tennessee-native Jobyna Ralston adds emotional weight in a supporting role as Sylvia Lewis.
Directed by real-life WWI pilot William Wellman and filmed on an epic scale with over 300 planes and thousands of extras, WINGS set the gold standard for aerial realism in cinema. It became the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and remains the only fully silent film to do so.
Connecting this Hollywood milestone back to Tennessee — Ralston’s presence includes notable performances in Harold Lloyd films, including THE FRESHMAN (1925) — films the Belcourt regularly programmed during its silent era (then called the Hillsboro Theater). WINGS is both a landmark in cinema and a proud chapter in Nashville’s cinematic legacy.
“One of the most exciting and innovative Hollywood movies of its era…. Director William Wellman went on to helm some of the toughest, gutsiest Hollywood movies of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, and was already flashing some of that edge in the silent era…. Wellman was also big on two-fisted action. He made his stars take flying lessons, then strapped cameras to their planes to capture aerial stunts as breathtaking now as they were in the ’20s.” —Noel Murray, The A.V. Club “Cinema has come a long way since the 1920s, so there’s no way to compare a product from that time to a similar one from the modern-day with any equitability. WINGS, however, stands the test of time and remains a masterpiece. Wellman beautifully constructed the entire production, from its score to the acting, its effects, and the cinematography.” —Kyle Bain, Film Threat “Don't let its age fool you — WINGS is no rickety antique. Wellman' s aerial battle scenes remain impressive, even in the digital age.” —Jamie S. Rich, Portland Oregonian “A first night audience thrilled to such stirring filmery as has never been given to the public before…. This is a great and glorious movie, and its makers have a right to be proud of themselves!” —Irene Thirer, New York Daily News (Aug 13, 1927)
