Wings

Wings (1927) — the war drama directed by William A. Wellman that you can watch online on iFILM — made history as the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen lead a story set in the skies over World War I France, where two rival small-town boys become fighter aces and something closer to brothers.

Jack Powell and David Armstrong both love the same woman. Jack's neighbor Mary loves him without a chance of being noticed. When the two rivals end up in the same squadron, rivalry gives way to a bond tested by every sortie. A young Gary Cooper appears in a brief but striking scene. Wellman shot the aerial combat with real military aircraft — no miniatures, no tricks.

At 144 minutes, Wings earns every one of them. Stream Wings (1927) in full online on iFILM.