Love triangle soars, war takes flight. WWI pilots, one woman's heart, aerial stunts & sacrifice.

Wings, a 1927 silent film directed by William Wellman, follows two friends turned rivals in love and war as they become WWI fighter pilots.

The aerial sequences in Wings were groundbreaking for their time. Director Wellman, a former WWI pilot himself, used innovative techniques to capture thrilling dogfights and breathtaking aerial maneuvers. These scenes had a significant impact on the development of special effects in film.

Wings also straddled the silent and sound eras. Though filmed as a silent picture, it was shown with synchronized musical scores and sound effects upon release. This innovative approach foreshadowed the transition to "talkies" that would soon dominate Hollywood.

Wings' high production costs and ambitious aerial filming were unprecedented. This level of commitment to a new and untested genre helped pave the way for future big-budget spectacles.