1927/28 Best Picture: Wings

The Competition: Seventh Heaven,  The Racket, The Last Command

Other Winners:

Best Actor:  Emil Jannings, The Way of All Flesh, The Last Command
Best Actress: Janet Gaynor, Sunrise, Street Angel, Sunrise
Best Director (Drama): Frank Borzage, Seventh Heaven
Best Director (Comedy): Lewis Milestone, Two Arabian Knights

Cast: Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen, Jobyna Ralston, El Brendel

Storyline: Two men become friends when they enlist in the Air Force during World War 1. Their friendship is threatened when it is discovered that they both have strong feelings toward the same girl.  

Did it deserve to win: Yes! Some might argue that the Jazz Singer should have taken it, because it was the first talking picture, but I disagree.  Wings holds up as a great piece of film making.  The aerial scenes alone are stunning, particularly for its day. 

Critique: People today are turned off by black and white, let alone a silent film.  I say, take yourself back in time and enjoy the ride.  Wings came out prior to the Hayes code, and right smack in the middle of the roaring twenties, so expect some racy footage if you are viewing a restored copy.  Although it takes place during World War I, it looks more like something from the twenties, particularly the Paris night club  scenes.  The story line may say that the men are both hot-to-trot for Clara, but it seems like they would rather have each other.  No wonder poor Clara spends most of the movie running around, looking very frustrated.

Best Scene:  The bubbles!  Buddy is a cute drunk, and Clara, in an effort to get her man, pulls out all the stops!  Even if it means dressing like a flapper and shaking her bubbles.  Furthermore, Clara ain't above getting down and dirty if she has to!

Behind the Scenes: The first awards ceremony was held quietly on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel.  Essentially, it was a small group of people getting together to congratulate each other.  According to the Roosevelt Hotel's press release, their Blossom Room was "a gorgeous sight, with its soft lantern lights shedding rays and shadows on the brilliant gowns and gay blooms.  Thirty six tables with their scintillating glassware and long tapers, each table bearing a replica in waxed candy of the gold statuette award, filled the entire floor space of the room."

The ceremony was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks, and it included a demonstration of Western Electric's talking projection system.  Little did they know, this innovation was about to change Hollywood forever.

Clara Bow was called The It Girl in her heyday.  Her bubbly persona struck a cord with audiences and during this time she was one of Hollywood's hottest properties.  Her wild behavior in real life is the stuff that legends are made of! Sadly she didn't survive the transition to talking pictures the next year. 

Charles "Buddy" Rogers would go on to become Mr. Mary Pickford.  He would remain married to the legendary actress until her death.

The Jazz Singer was considered ineligible to run for Best Picture, because it was the only picture with sound.  It was honored, instead, with a special Oscar statue.

Wings was actually one of two films to win a Best Picture award that year.  The actual award bestowed upon Wings was Best Picture, Production.  The Academy gave another film that year, the award for Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production.  The film was F.W. Murnau's Sunrise, regarded as a masterpiece to this day.  The following year, the two categories would be combined into one, and Wings would forever be remembered as Best Picture of the year.

Both the Best Actor winner and the Best Actress winner, were nominated for multiple roles.  Emil Jannings was recognized for The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh, while Janet Gaynor was nominated for Seventh Heavan, Sunrise and Street Angel.

You can now purchase these products at Amazon.com!

Wings

The Jazz Singer

The Last Command

American Silent Film

Golden Age of Silent Films

Also in 1927-28:

September 30, 1927: Babe Ruth sets a new record when he hits his 60th home run of the season.

February 6, 1928:  A mysterious woman calling herself Anastasia Chaikovsky, arrives in the United States, claiming to be the daughter of the recently executed Czar of Russia.

March 28, 1928:  Stock market numbers continue to go through the roof, with Wall Street having its biggest day ever, with 4,790,270 shares changing hands.