‘Wings’ Takes Flight—On DVD

22 Comments

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• Kevin Barry | February 14, 2012 8:00 AMReply

  There are goodies galore in the William Wellman canon, but no masterpieces. He never made a film as emotionally complex and expertly structured as Only Angels Have Wings.

• Michael | January 31, 2012 2:49 AMReply

  I was fortunate to see the screening with the full orchestral score restored by Jeannie Gayle Pool and her team. All these years later, the film holds up wonderfully with exciting images that become more exciting when you realize Wellman used no special effects. The stunts are terrific, the story is not modern, but very touching and the sound effects and orchestra carry it along smoothly with great pathos. Yes, it is cause for celebration!

• Gregg Nestor | January 29, 2012 9:28 AMReply

  Thank you for your insightful review of "Wings" and, in particular your mention of the extraordinary work that Jeannie Pool contributed. Without her direction, the soundtrack would have been a pale representation of what it is today! And as usual for Hollywood, others in power continue to take credit for all the archival work and attention to detail that she brought to the table. As an archivist, she is the true unsung hero of "Wings".

• Michael | January 31, 2012 2:52 AM

  Ironically, the following Monday, after the search light premiere of WINGS on the Paramount lot, Jeannie Pool was fired from her position at the studio. Such an injustice.

• G.Gallian | January 28, 2012 5:21 PMReply

  Hi Leonard! Did You watch the movie on DVD or BD? Still not convinced of HD ;-)?

• Patrick Picking | January 28, 2012 1:49 PMReply

  Do you know if the original soundtrack is available on the DVD? I received this letter recently from someone who has it.
  "Hi: I have some Vitaphone discs here at my shop in San Diego. Some seem to be from the movie "Wings". They are 16" & there are quite a few of them. "

• Gregg Nestor | February 2, 2012 2:40 PM

  Hi Patrick: saw your e mail recently. I worked on the restoration of WINGS" (score preparation). Jeannie Poole contacted me and was very interested in following up on your letter about a fellow in San Diego who might have access to a series of Vitaphone 16" discs on WINGS - wonder if you could help me to link up with the gentlemen - she may be interested in speaking with him and possibly purchasing them. Thanks
  
  Gregg Nestor
  1-858-408-5333
  gmn002@aol.com

• Jim Reinecke | January 28, 2012 12:08 PMReply

  Sorry to be so verbose and make a second appearance under this particular DVD review, but for all of my fellow Wellmaniacs (if I may coin THAT term!) I just wanted to point out that a recent visit to warnerarchive.com revealed that Wild Bill's outrageous pre-code item SAFE IN HELL is now available at that site. Bravo!

• Gary Meyer | January 27, 2012 5:53 PMReply

  Ten years ago we showed Paramount's studio print of WINGS with a wonderful original score by Nik Phelps and the Sprocket Ensemble. It was at the Balboa Theatre Birthday Bash in San Francisco. Bill Wellman Jr. appeared and told wonderful stories. I look forward to see it with colors, sound effects and the original score.
  But I must agree it is not the best Wellman nor war films with aerial fights.
  
  It is more likely that Criterion will bring out more of the Paramount silents if the terrific von Sternberg set sells well enough. They have a deal with Paramount.
  
  As for REDSKIN, it is available in two-color Technicolor on the fantastic "Treasures III, Social Issues in American Film." This is a series every serious lover of cinema should be buying. You will find features, shorts, trailers and other goodies most of us never thought we'd see.
  Check it out here.
  http://www.filmpreservation.org/dvds-and-books/treasures-iii-social-issues-in-american-film

• Nathan Cone | January 27, 2012 9:54 AMReply

  The aerial footage sure is exhilarating to watch! If I may, for those interested... I produced a radio story about the film that aired yesterday on the public radio station in San Antonio, where the film was shot. Here's a link: http://www.tpr.org/thesource/2012/01/source120126.html

• Paul Penna | January 26, 2012 10:09 PMReply

  One small, but nice bonus, at least on the Blu-Ray, is the backwards progression of Paramount Mountain logos at the start.

• Ron Merk | January 26, 2012 8:36 PMReply

  Leonard,
  I saw Wings about ten years ago at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, accompanied by Gaylord Carter. I still have goosebumps from watching the curtain close over the final Paramount logo to the strains of Carter's spirited playing. I think that the film is a masterpiece and sorry you don't see it that way. Wellman's son, William Jr., wrote a wonderful book on the creation of the film (and as his father as a self-taught film director) in his book, "The Man and His Wings." The book contains the best definition I've ever heard about what a director is, stated by Jesse Lasky on page 104, and I quote: "A director, to be successful, must combine efficiency with artistry, blending the two by the exercise of judgment and finesse, and knowing instinctively when to cease exercising one quality, and when to begin employing the other. He should at once possess the qualifications of a dramatist, of an actor; should be a good executive and have a sympathetic understanding of human nature." I can't think of a better way to describe Wellman, whose work deserves more attention, and many of whose films are masterpieces in that unique Wellmanian way, if I may coin the term.

• rafael castro | January 26, 2012 8:07 PMReply

  we hope THE PATRIOT appears somehow and that would be a incredible way to celebrate paramount 100 years.

• James Knuttel | January 26, 2012 7:51 PMReply

  Well, Leonard, I hope your viewing of this film in its restored print will motivate you to upgrade the rating you give it in your annual movie guide. It may not be a **** film but it warrants more than the **1/2 that you currently give it. Also worth noting about the film: Among the supporting players is a young Gary Cooper in one of his earliest film roles. He's on-screen for only a few minutes but it's a memorable part.

• Jim Reinecke | January 26, 2012 2:58 PMReply

  Nice to see this film finally receiving a first-rate DVD presentation. But in discussing outstanding late silents from Paramount, how about Wellman's BEGGARS OF LIFE from 1928? I know that you rate this one **** in your Classic Movie Guide and it's definitely on my list of "10 Most Wanted" (and in my case, that means 10 movies that I have yet to see in any format, but absolutely MUST catch up with at some point). Perhaps I'm wishing on a star (or four of them!) here, but I wonder if a package of Wellman's Paramounts (those that still survive) could ever be presented as a boxed set? As a Wellman aficionado I want to see not only the film mentioned above but CHINATOWN NIGHTS, THE MAN I LOVE and DANGEROUS PARADISE. Unfortunately, I realize that Paramount may not control the rights to some of these films, since Universal owns the 1929-49 Paramount library. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the recent gradual awakening to the enormous gifts of Mr. Wellman as a true giant of cinema may ultimately allow us easier access to his surviving early work. After all the years of virtual canonization of Howard Hawks (who certainly belongs in the "Academy of the Over-Rated" that Diane Keaton and Michael Murphy discussed in Woody Allen's MANHATTAN!), maybe some people will finally see that Wellman did many of the things that Hawks is given beaucoup credit for (the camaraderie of close friends, the independent woman, etc.) and did them better.

• Norm | January 25, 2012 7:13 PMReply

  Quite a Night, I would have needed to wings to see Clark Wilsons magnificent performance, maybe they will print it and show it on TCM...

• Roy H. Wagner ASC | January 25, 2012 5:34 PMReply

  I have some extraordinary behind the scenes photographs from "Wings" that I suspect that ven Paramount doesn't have if you're interested, Leonard. Dd you have an opportunity to see the Frank Phillipsnterview. Sent to you?

• Rodney Sauer | January 25, 2012 4:16 PMReply

  When listing excellent late Paramount silents, don't overlook "Redskin" (1929), starring Richard Dix and directed by Victor Schertzinger. Filmed largely in Technicolor in the Cañon de Chelly and the Acoma Pueblo, it includes a very thoughtful exposition of the problems faced by Native Americans, but then unleashes a great Hollywood adventure in the last reels.

• Karen Snoq | January 25, 2012 3:24 PMReply

  The aerial scenes totally leave in the dust the flying scenes in George Lucas' (look at my incredible CGI effects that look so real !) new film "Red Wings". Lucas has been boasting about those effects, and indeed they are the film's true appeal (the scenes on the ground are so corny, although the actors do their best), but they cannot hold a candle to "Wings" authenticity and brilliance.

• Patrick Picking | January 28, 2012 1:47 PM

  And you mispelled the title of George Lucas' new film, Red Tails! :)

• Karen Snow | January 25, 2012 3:24 PM

  misspelled my own name -- oops !!

• Jeff Heise | January 25, 2012 3:20 PMReply

  According to Amazon, the film is #1 in categories like Romance and War films, and the Blu-Ray is selling more than the DVD, so maybe there is hope for Paramount to bring out more silents from the vaults, especially since it is their centennial.