FLICK PICKS: The first Oscar winner

WINGS
Monday at 6 a.m., Turner Classic Movies

Wow. That's the way it still feels to watch Wings, even though it was made 80 years ago. The spectacular air combat and free-fall flight sequences retain their thrills, especially since we know they were filmed the old-fashioned way -- by people really performing dangerous stunts, without special effects or computer imaging.

Director Howard Hawks [correction: William Wellman -- see comment below -- DW] knew how to shoot this 1927 World War I saga because he'd been there himself, in the Army air corps. He clearly put all his oomph into the aerial sequences, which fly head and shoulders above the pedestrial love triangle/quadrangle that shifts from the United States to France as the war heats up.

Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen are the buddies with whom Clara Bow and Jobyna Ralston get entangled, while Gary Cooper has a key supporting role in this enduring classic -- recipient of the first best picture Academy Award, at the dawn of movie sound, making it the only silent feature to receive that honor.

Watch a vintage Wings trailer here.

(If you miss the Memorial Day showing, Wings repeats on TCM the night of July 27.)