Wings holds the distinction of being the very first film (and the only silent one) to win the Best Film Oscar. Two young American men, David (Richard Arlen) and Jack (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers) grow up in the same small town but come from different social classes. The two are rivals for the same woman. American entry in World War One is imminent and the two enlist in the Army Air Corps. During training they become inseparable friends. When war is declared, they are sent to France and experience the reality of war. The story has been done to death in countless war films over the years (one could imagine that if it was filmed today, Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett would be cast as the male leads, but perhaps that is too cynical). However, the film is well worth seeing for its brilliantly executed battle sequences, both on land and in the air. Director William Wellman drew on his years in an elite flying squadron and pushed the cinematic technology of its day to the limit when creating the film's timeless aerial sequences, seamlessly blending actual footage from World War One dogfights with staged flying sequences. They are some of the best combat scenes ever filmed and rival the digitally created effects of today. There are strong performances from the leads and the radiant Clara Bow demonstrates why she was known as the 'It' girl in the 1920s. A younger Gary Cooper has a small role.