Disc Reviews

Wings Blu-ray Review

• 21st Jan 2014

‘Wings’, the ambitious silent epic and exciting winner of the first ever Academy Award for Best Picture is soon to be released through the exceptional ‘Master of Cinema’ series. Boasting a career best performance from the wonderful Clara Bow, and the screen debut (albeit very short!) of screen legend Gary Cooper, this WW1 epic was one of the first to deal with the very recent conflict, specifically focusing on the experiences of the Allied fighter pilots. The stunts are exceptional for their time as are the ‘practical’ effects, it is hard to believe this beautiful and impressive film is so darned old.

Despite its surprisingly long running time, this film is an engaging and thrilling piece of work, with fine cinematography, beautiful flying sequences and superior stunt work. It was a pleasure to watch and as usual with the ‘Masters of Cinema’ series, a high quality restoration of real care and attention. Not just a war film, Director Wellman’s piece is also a fine example of early melodrama, and the combination of both helps make it more rounded piece and gives real depth to the story.

Special features include two video documentaries (‘Wings: Grandeur in the sky’ and ‘Restoring the power and beauty of ‘Wings”) and one video piece, ‘Dogfight’, along with a highly detailed 40 page accompanying booklet of the class and quality you would expect from a ‘Masters of Cinema’ production. ‘Wings: Grandeur in the sky’ is notable for its in-depth look at the making of the film, wide ranging interviewees and archival footage. It makes an enlightening accompaniment to the film, especially for those who have little or no knowledge of early cinema and the development of aerial filming techniques.

I really enjoyed this grandiose, unique piece of early cinema and feel that it still stands the test of time as one of the great silent movie epics. The restoration is exemplary, the acting superb, and the Academy Award still justified. A film that deserves to be remembered, rediscovered and enjoyed.

Claire Hyypiä