Wings

In the groundbreaking 1927 silent film "Wings," two young men from different walks of life become US Air Corps fighter pilots and rise to become heroic aces during World War I, navigating love triangles, camaraderie, and the horrors of war. Against the backdrop of battle-scarred France, Jack Powell (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers) and David Armstrong (Richard Arlen) engage in a rivalry for the affections of Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston), but ultimately find themselves bound together by their shared experiences as soldiers and friends. With its realistic air-combat sequences and poignant portrayal of friendship and sacrifice, "Wings" set a new standard for aviation films and earned the first Academy Award for Best Picture.