The Restored Version of "WINGS" on TCM last Night.

[Big Silent Fan]

The Restored Version of "WINGS" (1927) was on TCM late last night. Any comments?

Perhaps it's been on before and this has already been discussed, but I wasn't aware Paramount had done a restoration of "WINGS" until I saw it listed in the TCM guide...not for Sunday Night, but late night Monday.

The restoration with it's tinting and carefully synchronized sound effects helped me tolerate the unusually long film.

War pictures can become tedious to watch more than once.

[MattBarry]

The Restored Version of "WINGS" (1927) was on TCM late last night. Any comments?

Perhaps it's been on before and this has already be discussed, but I wasn't aware Paramount had done a restoration of "WINGS" until I saw it listed in the TCM guide...not for Sunday Night, but late night Monday.

The restoration with it's tinting and carefully synchronized sound effects helped me tolerate the unusually long film.

War pictures can become tedious to watch more than once.

I bought the DVD when it was released, but had the pleasure of seeing it presented in 35mm at the Loew's Jersey movie palace with live organ accompaniment. William Wellman Jr. was there to share some fascinating stories about the production and his father's experience in the Lafayette Escradille. One of my great moviegoing experiences.

I thought Paramount's restoration looked great, certainly a welcome upgrade from the transfer that had been released on VHS in the 1980s and was appearing on TCM up until very recently (though I hasten to add that I very much enjoyed Gaylord Carter's score which accompanied that version and was thankfully retained as an alternate soundtrack on the new Blu-ray and DVD release).

When I saw the film at Loew's Jersey last fall, it occurred to me that it had been quite a while since I'd seen it, but it always made such an impression on me that I guess I felt like I had seen it more recently than I had. Despite its length, it really holds my interest, and the aerial sequences are still so breathtaking (especially on the Loew's large screen!) that the film never really felt like it was lagging.

[Eric Cohen]

I love the movie and I love this major restoration. A war survivor, Wellman"s story is up there. Buried, yes, but not too deep. The youthful camaraderie, the horror, the discipline or lack thereof. Technically, it's a tour de force and it finally can be fully appreciated. I remember once seeing this movie and thinking the film had broke and we were watching flies buzzing around in front of the projector.
The restoration of the original score is a mixed blessing. Interesting to hear once, but I've heard better live accompaniments. Once, most memorably during the final scene between Rodgers and Arlen: the organ got very soft and J. S. Zamecnik's main title theme was hummed by a female vocalist (the classy Spider Saloff). It was very effective and a bit of bold showmanship for a bold movie. In the restored score JSZ used the tune "My Buddy."
Earlier, poster Goose Woman said it best,
"Whatever the critique of the film I just hope it gets a huge response from enthusiasts, especially since it's a Paramount film. Obviously a huge amount of time and presumably money has gone into this project so, if can turn a profit, it might open the floodgates to further Paramount releases where such an exhaustive approach would not be necessarily be required or expected."

[Mitch Farish]

I thought the TCM presentation was a good one because the film was not introduced with the usual banal comments, but with some very interesting background comments from one of the restorers about how the film was originally presented in theaters, and how the seemingly miraculous restoration was accomplished, considering the horrible condition of the source elements. I liked the before-and-after excerpts. I only wish it was shown in an earlier time slot to reach a wider audience.

[Gagman 66]

Big Silent Fan,

The Restored WINGS debuted on TCM in February in Prime Time during 31 Days of Oscar. But it's been on DVD and Blu-ray for over a year. Released in January of 2012. It's on Sale at TCM.Com for $14.99 right now.

The Blu-ray is stupendous because of the two extra Min-documtaries. The DVD has just the main documentary. . So it has been discussed, but were are a number of false claims involved in the lady from Paramount's interview. . Not the least of which is that the Photoplay Productions version produced in 1993 had the same tinting effects, except for the Stencil, without much notable decomposition. It also had an awesome Carl Davis score. They neglected to say, but do in the Blu-ray extra's that WINGS was originally 14 reels, and that one reel is still missing from surviving prints. This knocked the Zamecnik score out of kilter at times. So Fredrick Hodges improvised lone piano during those sequences. Alas, they are crucial scenes to the film. The Davis score compliments those same scenes much better.

Nevertheless, buy the Blu-ray and DVD because they are well worth it, and might encourage more Silent releases from Paramount like THE COVERED WAGON, STAGE STRUCK, and OLD IRONSIDES. Maybe a Swanson or Clara Bow collection.

[luciano]

TCM....the one reason I want cable!

[Big Silent Fan]

Big Silent Fan,

The Restored WINGS debuted on TCM in February in Prime Time during 31 Days of Oscar. But it's been on DVD and Blu-ray for over a year. Released in January of 2012. It's on Sale at TCM.Com for $14.99 right now...buy the Blu-ray and DVD because they are well worth it, and might encourage more Silent releases from Paramount like THE COVERED WAGON, STAGE STRUCK, and OLD IRONSIDES. Maybe a Swanson or Clara Bow collection.

Thanks for the info and suggestion Gagman, I was in Florida during the 31 Days of Oscar the last two years. I have copies of both "The Covered Wagon" and "Old Ironsides," but wouldn't it be great to see these restored. Since "Old Ironsides had once featured some sort of letterbox when it was in the theatre, it would really be something to watch it that way on a flat screen TV.

[Andrew Greene]

Thanks for the info and suggestion Gagman, I was in Florida during the 31 Days of Oscar the last two years. I have copies of both "The Covered Wagon" and "Old Ironsides," but wouldn't it be great to see these restored. Since "Old Ironsides had once featured some sort of letterbox when it was in the theatre, it would really be something to watch it that way on a flat screen TV.

I have the original scores for Old Ironsides and Covered Wagon, complete for full orchestra, should they ever be restored/released on DVD/Bluray.

[telical]

It looked completely gorgeous, and I couldn't understand how much of it came from a print of a print.....They must
be able to restore a lot of films out there now and even "buff them up." But, I have to say it was on a little late for me and there seemed to be a lot of extended war footage at the end which was losing my sense of the story line, and I would have to watch it at another sitting.