Tonight at 8 p.m., the Dryden will screen Wings (William A. Wellman, U.S. 1927, 144 min., 35mm) with live piano accompaniment by Philip C. Carli.

William A. Wellman's WWI aviation epic (his first major film) is notable on a number of fronts: it established the "wartime buddies/rivals for girl at home" type of story, elevated both Richard Arlen and Buddy Rogers to major star status, won the first Academy Award for Best Picture, and set a still-impressive standard for aerial photography of flight combat—lent extra authenticity through Wellman's own experiences as a pilot in the French Army's Lafayette Flying Corps. Besides these important achievements, it has the incomparable Clara Bow in one of her best roles and a brief, career-establishing walk-on part for Gary Cooper. A passionate, thrilling, at times funny, and ultimately quite moving experience, Wings is a film that goes into the heavens yet deals poignantly with human emotions on earth as well.

[source: Dryden website, 2015-May-11]