But it's 1917, and America has just joined the Great War. Jack and David head off to the front, eager to become pilots, and surprise themselves by striking up a friendship in ground school. The young, brash Jack and the older, more serious Dave are a perfect team -- in fact, despite the girls waiting for them back home, Wings' biggest romance is between Jack and Dave (think Luke Skywalker and Han Solo), the kind of intense male friendship that movies rarely depict anymore. Dave would probably do anything for Luke -- er, I mean, Jack -- without jealousy Dave even listens politely to Jack's gushing over a picture of lovely Sylvia and protects Jack from discovering the truth about Sylvia's feelings.

The special effects -- aerial bombing of a French village, German zepplins exploding in midair, spectacular crashes of biplanes -- would be incredible even today, and you'll see the influence of Wings' thrilling dogfights in such movies as Top Gun and Star Wars. The scenes of the Big Push -- the combined air and ground battles of the last big Allied offensive -- are sure to remind you of The Empire Strikes Back's Battle of Hoth and much of Saving Private Ryan.

A story of friendship, redemption, love, and the ironies of war, Wings remains just as powerful today as it must have been in 1927.

Outstanding Picture 1927/28
unforgettable movie moment:
A cameo by Gary Cooper as a pilot, oozing sensuality in his one little scene and just as delicious as he was in later movies.

next Best Picture:
1928/29: The Broadway Melody