Wings (1927) with Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen and Gary Cooper
Directed by William Wellman
Live theater organ accompaniment by Jay Warren with special guest, jazz vocalist Spider Saloff
Wings, the first ever Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, stars Clara Bow as Mary Preston, a tomboy who has set her sights on Jack Powell (Charles "Buddy" Rogers) who is dedicated to getting his old jalopy running. He hardly notices Preston but instead prefers Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston) who in turn is committed to David (Richard Arlen). The love triangle becomes even more complicated when World War I begins, and Jack and David sign up for the Air Corps, eventually teaming up on the Dawn Patrol fighting the enemy over France. Acting legend Gary Cooper makes a cameo appearance in the film as Cadet White, and director William Wellman used 3,500 troops and 60 airplanes for the battle scenes. The most tender and emotional scenes involve the residuals from the horrors of war and the personal experiences of Jack and David.
