UK Cinematic Release for 'Wings'

[Brooksie]

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17936134:

Oscar-winning silent film returns to cinemas

The first film to take home the best picture Oscar at the Academy Awards has been re-released on the big screen.

Wings, the only silent film to have won best picture before The Artist's triumph this February, has been fully restored ahead of a limited release.

The 1927 black and white war film, starring Clara Bow, was given a PG-13 rating.

Directed by William A Wellman, it won two Oscars at the 1929 ceremony, including best film and best effects.

Starring Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen, Wings tells the story of two young men who become World War I fighter pilots and fall in love with the same woman.

The film was remastered and re-released by Paramount, as part of the studio's 100th anniversary this year.

'Hollywood history'

Exhibitor Cinemark Theatres subsequently teamed up with Paramount Pictures to release the film - initially in their XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditoriums. On 16 May, the film will be shown in a further 50 Cinemark outlets.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Hollywood history on screen, with incredible visuals and the original score recorded by a full orchestra," said Cinemark's James Meredith, in a statement.

In order for the re-release to go ahead, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) requested the studio submit Wings for rating as the movie predates 1968 when the ratings system was first created.

The film was notable, among other things, for its aerial battles and a semi-nude scene featuring Bow.

Following it original premiere, it played from more than two years in cinemas; in major cities, live sound effects were performed behind the screen.

However, by the time Wings took the top prize at the inaugural Oscar ceremony at Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel in 1929, the advent of "talkies" was already sweeping the silent era aside.

[silentfilm]

Although this article is from the BBC, I think that these screenings are in the USA. I've posted a similar article from the Hollywood Reporter in the "Silent Screenings" forum.

[didi-5]

I haven't heard of this chain of cinemas and would expect any cinema release to be at the Barbican or the BFI Southbank.

The UK has had no DVD release of Wings either - although we do now have a release date for the Moroder Metropolis.

[Donald Binks]

I wonder if there are any plans anywhere to present the picture with an orchestra actually in the theatre to play to it?

[Robert W]

TCM ran Wings at their recent classic film festival in Hollywood but used the accompanying soundtrack. However, the festival screenings of Girl Shy and The Thief of Baghdad were both presented with live musical accompaniment.

[silentfilm]

To find out if Wings is showing near you, go to the Cinemark website and enter your US zip code.

[westegg]

PG-13 for buzzing planes? Seems like a bit of overkill.

[Christopher Jacobs]

PG-13 for buzzing planes? Seems like a bit of overkill.

Apparently the current ratings board is especially sensitive to what it terms "war violence." Maybe they also were good lip-readers! The new rather family-friendly war movie MEMORIAL DAY with James Cromwell got an "R" rating for "war violence" that I'd expect would barely have been rated "M" (equivalent to today's "PG" and some "PG-13" films) around 1970 or so.

[bigshot]

The soundtrack on the Wings bluray is the best score for a silent I've ever heard. I wish everyone would put that much thought and care into the sound of silents.

[westegg]

PG-13 for buzzing planes? Seems like a bit of overkill.

Apparently the current ratings board is especially sensitive to what it terms "war violence." Maybe they also were good lip-readers! The new rather family-friendly war movie MEMORIAL DAY with James Cromwell got an "R" rating for "war violence" that I'd expect would barely have been rated "M" (equivalent to today's "PG" and some "PG-13" films) around 1970 or so.

Yeah, I agree. War films such as BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1969), TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) and the first reissue of THE LONGEST DAY (1962) got G ratings, as it were! WINGS hardly rates even PG to me, but I guess such criteria changes all the time.

[westegg]

The soundtrack on the Wings bluray is the best score for a silent I've ever heard. I wish everyone would put that much thought and care into the sound of silents.

It was one of many pleasant discoveries regarding the WINGS bluray release.

[WaverBoy]

PG-13 for buzzing planes? Seems like a bit of overkill.

Apparently the current ratings board is especially sensitive to what it terms "war violence." Maybe they also were good lip-readers! The new rather family-friendly war movie MEMORIAL DAY with James Cromwell got an "R" rating for "war violence" that I'd expect would barely have been rated "M" (equivalent to today's "PG" and some "PG-13" films) around 1970 or so.

I'm surprised this needs to be pointed out, but it ain't the war violence that got the PG-13 rating, it's the bare asses and breasts. Typical MPAA silliness.

[westegg]

Now that you mentioned it...but it was nearly subliminal!

[Frederica]

Apparently the current ratings board is especially sensitive to what it terms "war violence." Maybe they also were good lip-readers! The new rather family-friendly war movie MEMORIAL DAY with James Cromwell got an "R" rating for "war violence" that I'd expect would barely have been rated "M" (equivalent to today's "PG" and some "PG-13" films) around 1970 or so.

I'm surprised this needs to be pointed out, but it ain't the war violence that got the PG-13 rating, it's the bare asses and breasts. Typical MPAA silliness.

Not according to Variety, the rating is for "war violence."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053347" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[westegg]

Still seems like overkill. I'll bet the moon that if it's rated in Britain it'll be either U or PG.

[Christopher Jacobs]

Still seems like overkill. I'll bet the moon that if it's rated in Britain it'll be either U or PG.

Well, the upside of having a PG-13 rating for WINGS is that it tends to clue in today's clueless parents that it's not a kiddie show, which an unbelievable majority of people automatically seem to assume is what a "G" or even a "PG" rating means. Today's audiences apparently can't comprehend that "G" stands for GENERAL audiences (NOT made for CHILDREN ONLY) and PG stands for PARENTAL GUIDANCE (as if they would provide any for their children since they can't even decipher the ratings system).

[westegg]

I agree completely; PG-13 seems to be a savvy marketing tool more than anything. THE ARTIST was a PG-13 here and a G in at least one Canadian province, so there's hardly any consistency. I also think it's way too PC to give a film an automatic PG nowadays because of (gasp) someone smoking, however brief. What next, non-diet soda being consumed?