Sunday | November 6, 2005 7:00 pm

Wings

Live Piano Accompaniment by Yakov Gubanov
Screening on Film

Directed by William A. Wellman.
With Clara Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, Richard Arlen.
US, 1927, 35mm, black & white, silent, 141 min.

"It Girl" Clara Bow stars as Mary, the love interest of two best friends—and rivals —Jack (Rogers) and David (Arlen). Both men enlist in the Army Air Corps when World War I breaks out, and Mary contributes to the cause as an ambulance driver. Based in part on director Wellman's own war experiences, the film features unbelievable aerial photography that captures the spectacular dogfights and airborne battle scenes for which the film has justifiably remained famous. Wings won the first Best Picture Oscar, and (briefly) features Gary Cooper in one of his earliest film appearances.