# Wings (film)

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Cast and Crew :
| Cast ||
| Role | Actor |
| | Gary Cooper |
| | Clara Bow |
| | Richard Arlen |
| | Charles Rogers |
| | Richard Tucker |
| | Henry B. Walthall |
| | Julia Swayne Gordon |
| | Charles Barton |
| | Thomas Carrigan |
| | William Hickey |
| | Hedda Hopper |
| | Arlette Marchal |
| | George Irving |
| | Jobyna Ralston |
| | Roscoe Karns |
| | William Augustus Wellman |
| | El Brendel |
| | Gunboat Smith |
| Crew ||
| Production company | Paramount Pictures |
| Distributor | Paramount Pictures, Netflix |
| Director | William Augustus Wellman (d. 1975), Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast (d. 1968) |
| Producer | Otto Hermann Kahn (d. 1934), B. P. Schulberg (d. 1957), Adolph Zukor (d. 1976), Jesse Louis Lasky (d. 1958), Lucien Hubbard (d. 1971), Kevin Brownlow |
| Screenwriter | Julian Johnson (d. 1965), Hope Loring (d. 1959), Louis D. Lighton (d. 1963) |
| Cinematographer | Harry Perry (d. 1985) |
| Editor | E. Lloyd Sheldon |
| Composer | John Stepan Zamecnik (d. 1953) |
| Production designer | Hans Dreier |
| Costume designer | Travis Banton |
| Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1985, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 38 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States. ||
A Paramount Picture
Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky
present
$^A$ LUCIEN HUBBARD PRODUCTION
WINGS
Directed by William A. Wellman
B. P. SCHULBERG——ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
COPYRIGHT—MCMXXVII
PARAMOUNT FAMOUS LASKY CORPORATION
ADOLPH ZUKOR, PRESIDENT
NEW YORK CITY
Story by JOHN MONK SAUNDERS
Screen play by HOPE LORING and LOUIS D. LIGHTON
Editor-in-chief E. LLOYD SHELDON
Photographed by HARRY PERRY
Titles by JULIAN JOHNSON
THE PLAYERS
and
| El Brendel | Richard Tucker | Gary Cooper |
| Gunboat Smith | Henry B. Walthall | Roscoe Karns |
| Julia Swayne Gordon | | Arlette Marchal |
On June 12, 1927, in Washington, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh paid simple tribute to those who fell in the War.
"In that time," he said, "feats were performed and deeds accomplished which were far greater than any peace accomplishments of aviation."
To those young warriors of the sky, whose wings are folded about them forever, this picture is reverently dedicated.
A small town—1917—youth and the dreams of youth.
Jack Powell had always longed to fly...in every day-dream he heard the whir of wings.
In fact, he had left the ground several times, in—
Mary Preston had always lived next door. Once Jack had picked her out of a bonfire—and sometimes he regretted it.
"Gee, can't you let a man work in peace?"
Almost an automobile....
"The new speed gears'll make 'er travel like a shooting star."
"The shooting star.... Say——what a great name for her!"
"D'you know what you can do when you see a shooting star?"
"Well....you can kiss the girl you love."
"Maybe I will."
"All right, Mary. See you later."
Sylvia Lewis had an advantage over the small-town girls. She was a visitor from the city.
David Armstrong had an advantage, too—his was the wealthiest family in town.
"Sylvia! I want you to have the first ride."
So Youth laughed and wept and lived its heedless hour, while over the world hung a cloud which spread and spread until its shadow fell in some degree on every living person.
WAR
And Youth answered the challenge—
AVIATION EXAMINING STATION
Here was a door that only the bravest of the brave dared open—a path of glory mounting toward the stars!
"Put your monicker on that, Handsome."
"Herman Schwimpf?? That's a fine name to fight the Kaiser with!"
"If I had my way, I'd throw all you Dutchmen in the coop till the end o' the war."
"I'm as much American as you—I show you!"
STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
Life marched at double-quick in those feverish days of '17. Drums beat.... bugles called.... everywhere feet were hurrying, lips were pressed to lips in parting....
To David with all my love
Sylvia
"Sylvia! I'm leaving for training school——this afternoon—"
"I'm awfully proud of you, Jack—and I wish you all the luck in the world."
"Could—would you give me your picture, Sylvia—to—take with me?"
"Gee, I never expected you'd have this ready for me! I'll wear it always——it will bring me luck."
"Please don't misunderstand—"
"If you'd seen his look, David——"
"—you'd know why I couldn't take it back."
"He has only a picture, David—because I was sorry for him—"
"—but you—you have—"
"——my heart!"
"Gee! I almost forgot to say good-bye to Mary—"
"Well, I'm on my way, Mary. Good-bye."
"I brought you—this. I thought—maybe—you might—"
"You can use the Shooting Star while I'm gone."
"But watch out you don't bust her up!"
"—and, David, don't forget to change your socks when your feet are damp. And another thing—"
"Yes, Mother."
"It's time for Master David to leave for the train."
"I didn't know you still had this little old bear of mine!"
"You loved it more than any toy you ever had—it seems only yesterday—"
"—and now my little boy is—a soldier."
"That bear isn't big enough to do much fighting for you, Dave!"
"I thought I'd take it with me, Dad. Maybe it'll bring me luck."
"Oh, Davie, Davie—be sure you bring it back to me!"
The first step on the road to glory.....no thrills—no glamour—and as exciting as going back to school!
"Herman Schwimpf? In this man's army?"
"Yah, Schwimpf! And as good a fighter as you, Irisher. I show you!"
STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
They had come to fly—only to learn that aviators are made on the ground. No wonder their world was upside down!
Through all the grind of training, Jack's dislike for David increased day by day.
"Hey, Powell—lay off my hat!"
"Wipe—that—smile—off!"
"Stop! STOP! I never seen such a bunch o' washwomen in me life!"
"Come here, Unconscious!"
"Here's th' way to uncork a right!"
"An' this is the way to shoot yer left!"
"Never swing a roundhouse like this."
"Change over."
"Now hop to it, youse powder-puff guys!"
"Boy, you're game!"
While at home—
WOMEN'S MOTOR CORPS
MEETING CALLED FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Mrs. Bell Thomas asks for volunteers for a unit of the Woman's Motor Corps of America.
Those who can drive Ford cars are especially desired.
Jack and David began to believe they were never to see any real planes——then, suddenly ground school days were over!
"My name's White."
"Glad you fellows are in here, Powell. We'll see a lot of each other."
"Got to go out and do a flock of figure eights before chow."
AlmondMilk
Chocolate
THE GENUINE BEARS THIS SIGNATURE [...]
ALMOND
"Why the bear? Good luck?"
"Lots of fellows do have mascots, don't they, White?"
"Yeah, lots of the fellows carry something for luck."
"But, I never have."
"Luck or no luck, when your time comes, you're going to get it!"
"Maybe he's right, but when I leave the ground, this bear goes with me."
"Here, too!"
"Didn't know you carried a lucky piece. What is it?"
"It's a secret!"
Overhead, planes circle and dive, loop and spiral upward...the air seems filled with them as Cadet White begins his "figure eights before chow".
"You know they told us not to run out in case of a crash!"
"Are these Cadet White's quarters?"
"Get his stuff together. I'll be back to take it to headquarters."
To my dear boy may God watch over you, and protect you always
AlmondMilk
Chocolate
THE GENUINE BEARS THIS SIGNATURE [...]
ALMOND
"Cadet Powell?.... Cadet Armstrong?"
"Report to the dead-line immediately for flying instruction."
CRASH TOOLS
"All set?"
"O.K.!"
Like a mighty maelstrom of destruction, the war now drew into its center the power and the pride of all the earth.
Overseas.... The nest of the war eagles—an American airdrome behind the lines.
The Shooting Star again—this time a rider of the heavens!
Herman Schwimpf's patriotism was puncture-proof. Thrown out as a flyer—re-enlisted as a mechanic—
"Wake up! WAKE UP! You're on the dawn patrol!"
His first dawn patrol! Here was his dream come true—here was the trumpet call to breathless hazards in the skies! Here—at last!
"Patrol between here and Mervale—and look out for Captain Kellermann and his 'Flying Circus'."
"Powell—Armstrong—it's your first patrol. Keep formation—watch for signals!"
"Keep your neck like an owl's. And be careful on your turns!"
"I hope we meet some Heinies."
"If Kellermann is up with his circus you'll see plenty, don't worry!"
"All set?"
"O.K.!"
The whir of wings, once only a romantic dream, now broke over Jack Powell in stern reality.
On the high sea of heaven—
The enemy!
Count von Kellermann—famous German ace and leader of the Flying Circus.
The rival leaders signal for attack.
At ten thousand feet above the earth, the opposing squadrons hurl themselves into a 'dog fight'.
Incendiary bullets—and American No. 3 spins down in flames!
The battle-royal becomes a series of individual duels—
The score evens—German No. 2 is brought down by American No. 2—
—but in turn American No. 2, off guard one moment, pays the price!
The American leader is hit!
The fight spreads out.... David is singled out for attack by the famous Captain von Kellermann....
David's machine-gun jams, leaving him at the mercy of his foe.
But there was chivalry among these knights of the air....
Meanwhile Jack—separated from the rest—finds two Fokkers on his tail.
OIL
A chance shot has killed Jack's motor....his only hope is to dive earthward and trust to luck—
Help comes from a near-by British trench.
"Hello, Yank. Welcome to a very merry little war!"
"—and now how about a wee drop for the King and Uncle Sam?"
"O.K.!"
Weeks pass. The fledgling flyers are veterans now.
While on a war-torn road behind the lines comes another—already a veteran of service.
"Don't....leave me....Mother...."
"Hey, if youse guys need kissin' I'll kiss you——wit' a gun-butt! Fall in!"
A giant Gotha, mightiest of German bombing planes, takes on its deadly load for a dash across the lines....
"Our Intelligence reports a secret concentration of the enemy at Mervale. Proceed there directly and blow it off the map!"
Escorted by two swift battle planes, the great dragon roars out to seek its prey.
Mervale—a tiny village packed with munitions and jammed with billeted regiments.
The "flu" had struck Mervale...and Mary's puddle-hopper was a daily visitor, laden with medical supplies.
"Gotha over Mervale—two thousand meters."
"ALL SET?"
"O.K.!"
In the cockpit of the Gotha.
Circling, to fix the wind allowance—
"Hey! Where's everybody?"
Swift and straight as arrows of vengeance come the two Americans....
As Jack hurls himself at the Gotha, David tackles the two battle-planes.
Pursuing one Fokker, David lays himself open to attack by the other.
Heedless of danger, David follows his prey....
The remaining German gives up the fight.
Meanwhile, Jack follows the unwieldy dragon in its lumbering, zig-zag flight....
Zooming upward to pour a stream of fire into the belly of the monster—
"Say! That's the flyin' fool they call the Shooting Star!"
The reward of valor.
"France is proud to honor you, Lieutenant—proud to recognize gallantry in its Allies, as in her own sons."
"You, too, Lieutenant, deserve the name of ace. May the enemy learn to fear you, as we, your brothers in arms, admire you."
Intermission
A decoration meant leave—and leave, with nerves strained to the breaking point by week on week of unceasing warfare in the skies, meant only one thing——
PARIS
PIÉTONS TRAVERSÉECHAUSSÉE
Since America's entrance in the war, the Allies had prepared—silently, thoroughly—for the "Big Push", the greatest battle of history. Now came the final call....
"This means the big drive—at last! We've got to be ready. Cancel all leaves! Recall everyone—"
HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES FRANCE
To: All Squadron Commanders, Air Service. From: The Chief of Staff, 3rd Army.
—CONFIDENTIAL— (DESTROY WHEN READ)
Paris in war-time...the capital of the world's gayety crowded with soldiers of all races—on furlough from Death....trying to forget....
The Shooting Star! Here—in Paris!
MP
"They're rounding up all the flyers they can find. Every man on this list had better beat it back to his command or face court martial."
AMERICAN MILITARY POLICE Paris
To: All Military Police: You are instructed to notify the officers and men listed below to report to their commands at once under penalty of court martial:
39th Aero Squadron Lieut. David Armstrong Lieut. John Powell Lieut. Walter Cameron
"You're right, Miss—Powell was here—Jack Powell, of the 39th. His gang had a peach of a fight with six waiters and a gendarme—"
"They started for the Folies Bergere—"
ACCACIAS
FOLIES BERGERE
ATTRACTION EXTRAORDINAIRE
Here, for men fresh from the front, whose minds carried the image of unutterable horrors—here was forgetfulness.....
"H'ray for bubbles!"
"All set?"
"O.K.!"
"Run 'way, l'il uniform. No bubbles in uniform—"
"Jack—Jack—don't you know me?"
"Can't you understand? Your leave—cancelled! You've got to go back! War!"
"No war—jus' bubbles!"
"What's the matter....lost your man?"
"Tell me about it, cherie."
"He's just a boy. He doesn't realize—"
"I understand."
"If you would catch the fly, do you set the vinegar? No, ma cherie! But the sugar, yes!"
"So—put on one of the dancer's dresses—"
"Come wiz me—we will find ze mos' beautiful bubbles in ze worl'."
"Don'—don' fight! I'll go where—wherever bes' bubbles are!"
"She has bubbles even in 'er eyes—she wins—"
"Li'l Bubbles...."
"—I'm gonna kiss you!"
"All leaves cancelled——ordered to report back to the front immediately!"
AMERICAN MILITARY POLICE Paris
To: All Military Police: You are instructed to notify the officers and men listed below to report to their commands at once under penalty of court martial:
"And you wearing a uniform, too—daytimes!"
"Put your clothes on! You can't get away with this sort of thing in the A. E. F. It's back home for you, sister."
Each day, now, the long roads of France were filled with marching men, as preparation for the "Big Push" swung into its final stages.
Vanished, the fairyland of Paris....Again the stark reality of flying field——the drone of motors—and Death, riding the clouds....
"Study your maps, now! I'll let you know when to take off."
"Will you take my decoration back to my mother, Jack?"
"I've got a hunch I'm not coming back today."
"I'm serious, Jack. Go through my stuff and see that everything's O. K. before they're sent home."
Jack still thinks I love him. His letters say this again and again. But it is you I love, dear David, and I wonder how
According to a cable dispatch received yesterday, Miss Mary Preston, of this city, has resigned from the Women's Motor Transport Corps, and will return to the United States immediately.
"Gee, that's funny! Mary's not the sort to quit."
"Resigned doesn't always mean 'quit'. Sometimes it means—'fired'!"
"When these home-town girls get to Paris—"
"See here, Cameron—no one can talk about Mary Preston like that! You take that back—"
"All right! All right! I didn't know she was your girl."
"Are you in love with Mary, Jack?"
"Look here, Dave.... it's Sylvia I love.... and I believe she loves me!"
"Dave, I wouldn't have anything break our friendship. But—it seemed the square thing to tell you."
"You've often wondered what I carry for luck...well, here it is."
"Sylvia gave me this. She wouldn't have done that unless she—loved me."
To David with all my love
Sylvia
"Give me the locket. I'll put it in."
"I—I don't want anyone—even you, Dave—to handle it."
"This is no time for horse-play! German balloons are up—back of Hill 124! They're breaking up our whole troop movement! Get after them."
"Friendship means a hell of a lot to you, doesn't it?"
"All set?"
The eyes of the enemy, spotting our troop movements....
"Shell!"
"Hey, Red—snap out of it!"
An enemy battle squadron closes in behind to cut off the two Americans.....
To protect his flying mate, David hurls himself into a desperate combat—
David's first wild rush disposes of one enemy—
Then another German falls....
But now comes the reckoning—the remaining two Germans have gained altitude—David is at their mercy....
Earthward....twisting and doubling through the clouds....
Meanwhile, Jack reaches the objective——two balloons in a sheltered valley.
Triumph!—but where was David?
Sick with foreboding, Jack turns his plane for home—while David, like a hare doubling from the hounds....
All that night—with 'zero hour' set for dawn——the Allied armies were moving stealthily to their appointed posts....
Behind the enemy lines...
Through the night—waiting—hoping—praying—
At dawn a lone German plane, scorning its fiery reception—
Spad 98 your squadron shot down in flames at Mad River. Pilot killed resisting capture.
Otto Kellerman,
Capt.
Daybreak... Along the battlefront a dream-like stillness... in the trenches, men crouching shoulder to shoulder, hardly daring to breathe....
Laying Bangalore torpedoes, to tear a way through the barbed wire which had protected them so long.
"I'll square things up for Dave—or I won't come back!"
The idling motors quicken.... Flight by flight, like eager birds of prey, the airplanes leave the ground. The big drive of the air is on!
Driven by a mad desire to avenge his comrade, Jack plunges across the German lines—alone!
A morbid fascination, half hope and half dread, draws him toward the Mad River.
On foot, the doughboys continue their irresistible advance.
German reserves, hurrying forward to meet the new thrust....
A German general and his aide—
By mid-morning, the Allied advance was general all along the front....
Groping blindly forward, shattered remnants of the American first wave reached the enemy's trenches.
The enemy counter-attack!
Fresh American waves renew the attack....
"Attaboy! Them buzzards are some good, after all!"
French Colonials join in the attack.
Near the Mad River...in the marshes, where even in peace-time, few stragglers found their way—
The enemy retreat becomes a rout—
VICTORY
The uproar of battle dies away. Over ground strewn with the dead, Jack heads his plane for home.
There before him—a lone German plane—heading straight for the American lines!
"Jack!"
Only the hated Iron Cross—only another foe to be slain without mercy—
"Jack—don't you know me?"
"He has not long to live. So young! Come, Monsieur—"
"I stole the plane—thought maybe I could get across the lines—"
"Dave—Dave! You're not badly hurt—I'll get a doctor—"
"If it were any use, myself would have gone. It is minutes only, Monsieur—"
"C'est la guerre!"
"Don't go, Jack! Just stay here with me—for a little while—"
"Oh, Dave, Dave—I was trying to get just one more Heinie for you—"
"Don't, Jack—oh, please don't——it wasn't your fault."
"You didn't shoot me, Jack—you did bring down—a Heinie ship—don't you see?"
"Dave, you know I didn't mean—what I said about the picture—don't you?"
"You—you know there is nothing in the world that means so much to me as your friendship—"
"I knew it——all the time——"
"All——set?"
Suddenly the clamor of war is stilled.... the iron grip is broken.... the smoke clears....
Jack still thinks I love him. His letters say this again and again. But it is you I love, dear David, and I wonder how
Home.... and a man returning, where a boy had gone away....
Local Boy Makes Good
Jack is Back
"I—I wanted to hate you, John, but I can't. It wasn't your fault. It was—war!"
Memories....
"Mary—there's something I feel I ought to tell you—"
"One night in Paris—"
"There was a girl—and I forgot myself—I don't know who she was—I never want to know."
"—and then—"
"Remember—I saw the war, too, Jack! And I can't blame—anyone—for anything! What happens from now on is all that matters, isn't it, dear?"
"Do you know what you can do when you see a shooting star?"
"You can kiss the girl you love."
The End
A Paramount Picture
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
Copyright law abroad tends to consider the following people authors of a film:
* The principal director
* The screenwriter, and/or other writers of dialogue
* The composer/lyricist (if the film is accompanied by sound)
* The cinematographer
* By extension, the authors of any works that may serve as the basis for a film's plot
The longest-living of these authors died in 1985, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 38 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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