What was the first movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars? Explained
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held its first awards ceremony on May 16, 1929, at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California. The initial recipient of the Best Picture accolade, and the sole silent film to ever win this distinction, was Wings, helmed by director William Wellman. Boasting an unprecedented budget of $2 million, it stood as the costliest production of its era. Wings narrates the tale of two World War I aviators entangled in a love triangle. The movie starred renowned actors such as Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Richard Arlen, Clara Bow, and an emerging Gary Cooper.