The first best picture Oscar winner, Wings of 1927, finally underwent the scrutiny of the MPAA and came away with a PG-13 rating for “war violence.”
Prior to receiving its PG-13 rating, Paramount released “Wings” in January in a remastered high-definition version. The studio also screened it unrated at museums and non-profit institutions, including the Academy and New York’s Film Forum.
Paramount and the nation’s third-largest theater chain Cinemark are partnering to re-release the film theatrically Wednesday and May 16 for two showtimes each day. According to Paramount, the MPAA requested that the studio submit “Wings” for rating as the pic predates 1968 when the ratings system was first created. The studio happily complied.
Newly restored as part of Par’s 100th anniversary this year, “Wings” will screen exclusively at locations featuring Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditoriums. The picture will expand to 50 additional Cinemark locations two weeks later.
“Casablanca” received a PG rating when MGM re-launched the 1942 pic theatrically 50 years later.
But not all unrated classics are submitted to the MPAA for rating.
In 2010, Rialto Pictures re-released Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 Breathless unrated. The reason why Rialto skipped the ratings board is a simple one: It wasn’t worth the hassle. Rialto isn’t a member of the MPAA, unlike Paramount.
