Topic: What does The Wings mean?

[tireiron]

I've read the story and screenplay more than once each, and seen the
movie once, but picked up no reference to The Wings, except on the
soundtrack CD.  Maybe I just missed it.

Taking a wild guess, maybe like the wings of a building it means the two
different parts of the mountain where Jack and Ennis camped separately
the first few nights.

[ethan]

Great question.

THIS TOPIC may help answer your question.

[tireiron]

Yes, I remember the ministering angel and the folded wings, but it might have taken
a good while longer to make the connection.  Thanks for a great answer.

And what great writing, and for the umteenth time, what a great movie.

[ethan]

And what great writing, and for the umteenth time, what a great movie.

My pleasure. Great piece, indeed.

[tireiron]

Someone else's post reminded me of a reference to wings in the screenplay too,
though this one is not in the story, just as the one in the story is not in the
screenplay.

In the story:

  ... Ennis had suddenly swung from the deck and laid the ministering angel
  out in the wild columbine, wings folded.

In the screenplay, Ennis and Alma Jr.:

  Daddy, tell about when you rode broncs in
  the rodeo

  Short story, honey.  Only 'bout three
  seconds I was on that bronc, an' the next
  thing I knew I was flyin' through the
  air.  Only I wasn't no angel like you and
  Jenny, and didn't have no wings.
    (smiles at her)
  And that's the story of my saddle bronc
  career.

It would be great to come up with a poetic link between
the ministering angel with folded wings in the story, and
this passage in the screenplay.  Any ideas?

Look at the elements.  Jack, as angel, is knocked away
and his wings can't be used.  Ennis thinks he's no angel,
and therefore cant use his wings either.  There's the
whole tragedy, in the two angel metaphors.

[*Froggy*]

Look at the elements.  Jack, as angel, is knocked away
and his wings can't be used.  Ennis thinks he's no angel,
and therefore cant use his wings either.  There's the
whole tragedy, in the two angel metaphors.

you're gonna make me cry!!

Thank you so much for posting more info about the wings!

x Froggy

[mario]

Hi yu'all
this may have nothing to do with our Wings but :

The First Best Picture Winners:

"In the first year of the awards, there were two "Outstanding Picture" winners: Wings for Best Production and  Sunrise (1927) for Unique and Artistic Picture (a category that was immediately dropped).

[Three awards were given during the Academy's first year that were never given again: Best Artistic Quality of Production, Best Title Writing (for silent films), and Best Comedy Direction.] Obviously, the only silent film to win 'Best Picture' was Wings (1927/28)." IMDb-Oscar winners section.

"In 1917, Jack Powell (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers) is a young man with passion for cars. His next door neighbor is Mary Preston (Clara Bow), who is in deep love for him, but Jack does not notice her. Jack indeed loves Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston), but she is in love with the rich David Armstrong (Richard Arlen). When USA enters in World War I, Jack and David join the Air Force to fight in France and become pals. Mary joins the Women's Motor Corp, trying to be close to Jack. But it is war, and a tragedy happen between the two friends."

Also in the great docu The Celluloid Closet it is mentioned for the subsurface feelings between the the two rival/buddy pilots and the emotional hugs & kisses bestowed from one on the other in the latters' deathbed scene.

Currently available on VHS from Amazon & others, and apparently the only DVD version is a Chinese one, that was rented by a reviewer from a Seattle rental place 'Scarecrow movies'.

Like I said maybe it has nothing to do w/anything but could Master Director, Ang Lee have seen it in his youth....?

mario