{"product_id":"the-man-and-his-wings-william-a-wellman-and-the-making-of-the-first-best-picture-hardcover","title":"The Man and His Wings: William A. Wellman and the Making of the First Best Picture - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eWilliam Wellman  Jr.\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRobert Redford\u003c\/b\u003e (Foreword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliam Wild Bill Wellman was not Paramount Pictures' first choice to direct the World War I epic \u003ci\u003eWings\u003c\/i\u003e (1927), but as a former aviator and war hero, he was the right choice. Despite months waging epic battles of his own with studio executives, Wild Bill managed to finish the big-budget war saga by inventing many of the techniques still used to film aerial battle scenes. The film, starring Clara Bow, broke box office records and earned its studio the first Academy Award for Best Picture. Considered by many to be the last great film of the silent era, \u003ci\u003eWings\u003c\/i\u003e has been cited as a major influence on such directors as Martin Scorsese and Robert Redford. Its director, who went on to direct the likes of John Wayne, James Cagney, and Gary Cooper, later earned an Oscar for writing one of Hollywood's most loved (and often remade) films, \u003ci\u003eA Star is Born\u003c\/i\u003e. In this biography, the director's son, William Wellman Jr., reveals the war hero, family man, occasional prankster, and underestimated visionary who changed Hollywood forever. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAugmented with personal correspondence from Wellman's own World War I tour of duty as a fighter pilot, on-set photographs from \u003ci\u003eWings\u003c\/i\u003e and other classic Hollywood films, and anecdotes from the back lots of the early studio system, this unique work traces the way in which the first Best Picture's director used his own war experience to bring a war epic to the screen. The versatile director also excelled at comedies such as \u003ci\u003eNothing Sacred\u003c\/i\u003e (1937), and had a lasting influence on the gangster genre with \u003ci\u003eThe Public Enemy\u003c\/i\u003e (1931), starring James Cagney. With the recent release of Wellman's later aviation classics, \u003ci\u003eIsland in the Sky\u003c\/i\u003e (1953) and \u003ci\u003eThe High and the Mighty\u003c\/i\u003e (1954), both starring John Wayne, Wellman is gaining renewed attention and appreciation from a new generation of film enthusiasts. The book ends with a detailed Filmography of more than 75 classic films directed by Wellman.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilliam Wellman Jr.\u003c\/b\u003e has written articles for \u003ci\u003eFilm Comment, Films in Review, Action Magazine, Memories Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDGA News\u003c\/i\u003e. An actor with more than 170 screen and television credits, he has also received writing credits for nine screenplays and two television specials. He created and executive produced \u003ci\u003eWild Bill Hollywood Maverick\u003c\/i\u003e, an award-winning documentary about his father. \u003ci\u003eC'est la Guerre\u003c\/i\u003e, a biographical film of his father's life, is currently in development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 208\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.81 x 9.56 x 6.46 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 01, 2006\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45307400355942,"sku":"9780275985417","price":93.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/bXIxSnAzdmpGOHFnQ1VBenoxTnlpUT09.webp?v=1774126232","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/the-man-and-his-wings-william-a-wellman-and-the-making-of-the-first-best-picture-hardcover","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}