Word War One Flying movies debate

22 October 2002, 05:08 AM

I have seen:

Von Richthofen & Brown - personally i thought it was borin and had too many mistakes! Stuff like they are using the Fokker DVII in 1916, and the SE5a in 1916. Brown is flying a SE5a when he kills Richthofen. Werner Voss is flying a plane which looks more like Rudolf Bertholds and he dies in a DVII rather than a triplane. Also he dies in a normal combat rather than the famous dog fight which he did fall in. Richthofen is the pilot who hits Boelke instead of Bolle - in the film he even hits the wrong part, he hits the tailplane instead of the wing. Lanoe Hawker doesnt have a moustache.. i could go on and on.

The other ive seen is Aces High which i thought was more entertaining, butis not based on a true story and does not use authentic aircraft (except maybe a replica eindekker)

Anyway any other films you can recommend? 8)

wolfenbill · 22 October 2002, 06:46 AM

Rick, there are two fine movies that I enjoy very much:

Of course there is THE BLUE MAX starring George Peppard, etc. It is based on a novel and the only real character referred to in the movies is MvR. There are inconsistencies, some not always apparent to the average historian like 7-color cammo on the Pfalz-D3 and the propellor hubs extending from the upper part of the radiator of the Fokker D.VII instead of the lower part. They use Tiger Moths in some scenes (the lack of a full axle is a dead giveaway) but thankfully not in the combat scenes. The Fokker D.VIII is portrayed by using a different airplane (I think it was a postwar French Morane of some sort but I don't remember what) but it is a fun movie and the historical inaccuracies don't get in the way......it is fiction. It probably is the best WWI air movie to date.

Then there is THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER which is not a WWI air movie but one about barnstormers who used to be WWI pilots, starring Robert Redford, etc. Damn good biplane flying movie and the aircraft are wonderful. It is also instrumental, in an indirect way, of spawning the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome here in Texas. A lot of it was filmed east of the San Antonio area.

Both movies are great to watch compared to the two you mention.

GrzeM · 22 October 2002, 07:23 AM

Hi!
I like Aces High. It isn't perfect, but it's OK.
BTW, there is authentic Avro 504 used in this film I think.
Cheers!
G.

22 October 2002, 07:42 AM

Hi, do you think i can hire the Blue Max from a video store?

Yeh the Avroe 504 in aces high is authentic but i dont think it flies in the film, alot of the flying action of that aircraft in the film is of a R/C model.

They also nick alot of footage from Von Richthofen & Brown! :P

StephenLawson · 22 October 2002, 07:43 AM

To add to the growing list check out the 'Young Indiana Jones series-"Attack of the Hawkmen' Computer generated Albatros Jasta, Proctor Nieuport and Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter.

Also the fellow who plays MvR looks a good deal like the Baron. The actor playing Nungesser even has the gold teeth.

22 October 2002, 07:45 AM

Yeh ive seen alot of the Young Indiana Jones series. One called "Day of destiny" has a Fokker DVII in it.

PeterL · 22 October 2002, 07:54 AM

Rick, on the matter of aircraft types the same charge can be laid against "The Blue Max" and others. However, I have less of a problem with DVII's and SE's in 1916 than I have with the formations of Stearmans and Tiggies which are the usual alterenative. At least someone made the effort and went for replica WWI aircraft rather than take the easy route and use any old biplane conveniently to hand.

No, the major problem I have with "Richthofen and Brown" is it's comic book approach to real events. The script is an insult to anyone on even nodding terms with the true facts. Unfortunately it doesn't end there. Viewed simply as an adventure yarn by someone with zero knowledge of WWI aviation it's just a bloody awful film.

IMO the perfect WWI flying movie hasn't been made yet and the good ones are few. My own favourite is one of the first, "Wings".

22 October 2002, 08:01 AM

hi Peter, I do agree with you about the aricraft in Von Richthofen & Brown, i was just stating a fact and I find the other inaccuracies more frustrating.

However, what do you mean by the "comic book approach to real events". Im not disagreeing with you at all but could you give me an example from the movie?

PeterL · 22 October 2002, 08:20 AM

Quote:

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......However, what do you mean by the "comic book approach to real events". Im not disagreeing with you at all but could you give me an example from the movie? *

Rick, life's too short to list them all but just a couple by way of illustration. On the German side we have every ace I can name, including Goering and Voss for God's sake, serving under Boelke and alongside Immelman .

The same sort of thing carries over to the allied side. I'm not sure Hawker and Brown even flew in the same service but I'm certain they never flew in the same squadron, or even ate in the same mess. But here we have Hawker as the typical comic book stuffed shirt CO and Brown the cocksure newcomer nobody likes but who wins them over in the end.

I could go on but I'd be certifiable after a couple more paragraphs.

Lyle · 22 October 2002, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Anyway any other films you can recommend? 8)

Here's a couple:
The Dawn Patrol, 1938 One of the best!
Hell's Angels, 1930 Corny story but great flying scenes.

I understand Peter Jackson may be making his own WWI aero film...he has quite a collection already in NZ! *Anyone hear anything about this?