The Blue Max; one of my favorites

Freebooter · 4 October 2006, 09:30 AM

Hello again all,
While I have not seen a lot of WWI aviation movies, The Blue Max remains one of my favorites and to me one of the best WWI aviation films. Just wondered if anyone else feels that way? I liked the way the Blue Max introduced von Richtofen into the movie in his red Triplane (unlike Flyboys), even if just for a visit to his buddy at the place. The others' planes were various colors if I remember correctly.
Dave

4 October 2006, 02:46 PM

I was just watching that movie last nite and really did enjoy it again. Even though it was about the "other" side it was a very powerful movie in terms of character development. Those aircraft were tops.

I also enjoyed seeing von Richthofen in it as just another aviator and the arrogant person others make him out to be.

Matt

ww1 ace · 4 October 2006, 06:23 PM

I liked the Blue Max, but it was just too corny and obvious. I liked Von Richthofen and Brown better, there was no greenscreen and looked realistic. The planes were accurately detailed too although they showed a Fokker from 1918 in 1917. Lots of action and glory in both films.

4 October 2006, 06:47 PM

Dave I saw this movie at the theatre when it first came out
as a 10 yr old kid. Obviously as a member of this site it left a lasting impression!
I found it on DVD at Amazon a couple of years ago a snaped it up. Watch probably 6 times a year and still never tire of it.
Nice to know I'm not the only one(In spite of what my Wife says!)
Best Regards
SteveO

Balloon_Buster · 4 October 2006, 07:47 PM

vR and B was a Roger Corman film- there's no way he could afford greenscreen! So he put the actors in the back seat of a Tiger Moth and filmed them "flying". The planes in that movie were from The Blue Max, btw. Corman was able to borrow them.

That Pfalz was made from a Tiger Moth, and was purchased a short time ago by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who had it repainted into its Blue Max color scheme. You can find pics of it by googling Pfalz and Jackson, I believe.

LedZepplane · 4 October 2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ww1 ace

I liked the Blue Max, but it was just too corny and obvious. I liked Von Richthofen and Brown better, there was no greenscreen and looked realistic. The planes were accurately detailed too although they showed a Fokker from 1918 in 1917. Lots of action and glory in both films.

I don’t know, the Blue Max is just about my all-time favorite W.W.I Aero film, and the S.E.5s used in the movie had a certain charm about them; they remind me of full scale Gillow models deleted of detail… and of course they went over-board with a spectacular “seven colored” lozenge on the Pfalz and Fokker fighters, but boy they sure where neat.

Danny

crankcase · 5 October 2006, 01:49 AM

I saw the Blue Max the first time as a 10 year old and I think Ursula Andress made a lasting impression as well! I'd rather go for the 1930's WWI aviation films... being black and white, there's something more authentic about them.
crankcase

Bob_D · 5 October 2006, 03:13 AM

Also my favorite contemporary WW1 av flick. In spite of the mocked up Tiger Moths and Stampes, the aerial sequences really captured the feel of early flight and the antiquity of the aircraft. I can remember sitting in the theater as a nine year old and how excited I was when George Peppard's character noticed the red triplane flying below him. The interjection of the real life figure (von Richthofen) gave the fictitious story line a historical connection. The interaction between MvR and Stachel was one of my favorite scenes. In spite of his distain for the aristocratic class, you could sense the respect that he felt towards Richthofen upon actually meeting him.
And Jerry Goldsmith's score was one of the best compositions ever!
My next favorite WW1 aviation film has to be "The Dawn Patrol". Not so much for the aerial sequences but for the stellar cast. Flynn, Niven, Rathbone, and Crisp... how can you argue against that Warner Bros. stable of actors!
But I'm showing my age....

Pat Daily · 5 October 2006, 06:26 AM

Sometime in the 1966 or so time frame, Blue Max had its grand opening in my hometown of Kansas City. A frien of ours worked for the movie theater and got us special tickets to attend. Before they showed the movie several WWI fliers were introduced including a WWI German pilot (maybe an ace--can't remember) was introduced and the old gentleman talked about his experiences. He was then living in Kansas City. Anyone have any idea who it might have been? Wish I had taken notes.

Pat Daily

Baron von Tecumseh · 5 October 2006, 09:33 AM

The only thing I didn't like is George P was suppose to be in Jasta 11!
But no red planes!