MovieChat Forums > The Blue Max (1966) Discussion > Saw the Blue Max last night....(spoilers...

Saw the Blue Max last night....(spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by fistjedi
6 replies | jump to latest

On a late night channel called This TV. I didn't intend to stay up and watch it but after the first 30 seconds, I was pulled in and never looked back. The main character just wanted to be respected but his fellow pilots treated him like dirt just because his family wasn't rich. The general's wife just used the main character like a boy toy and then the German high command killed the main character for lying, when in reality the entire German air force was a fraud. The Blue Max was talking about class discrimination. Pilots sipping champagne and flying planes while the troops were getting killed. I loved the music, the cinematography, the actors and the storyline. So few films have been made about World War 1 pilots its so refreshing to see a classic.

[–] joscco 14 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it. The film wasn't "Oscar material" and has its shortcomings, but it's still a good movie with a lot of entertainment value -- especially if you like flying and WWI aviation.

"I told you it was off." The Jackal

[–] artemis_1986 13 years ago

Just one correction; his fellow pilots did not treat him like dirt because his family was not rich. They eventually came to dislike him because he was ruthless and a liar. He also did not share their sense of honour which was paramount to them.

In the beginning they were more or less just laughing at him because he was acutely aware of the social difference between him and them and because he made such a big deal of it (when he said that his father owned the hotel). In that scene the commander makes a point of sparing him any further embarrassment by carrying on the discussion in private.

He was killed for lying about the number of kills which qualified him for the Blue Max. This would have disastrous effects on the whole officer corps of the German army. To stop that the general killed him, which was immoral because it is better to have scandal than cover it up and also because the general was responsible for Peppards character receiving the medal in the first place.

Also, to say that the entire German airforce was a fraud because of this is over generalisation and an insult to them. This was the general trying to push through his point of view (with disastrous results).

Other than that it was a good film.

[–] rogueforte 13 years ago

The script wasn't particularly good, but the character development, acting, and dialogue were all okay.

What sets the move apart and makes it worth staying up late to watch is the setting and the stunning cinematography. The musical score is pretty good, too. These pre-CGI action movies that were done right (with a proper budget) are classics.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] jloper 13 years ago

The movie had massive differences from the book. Here's a clue to one of the differences. There were 3 books about Bruno Stachel, the titles of the 2nd and 3rd books are The Blood Order and The Tin Cravat. (Jack D. Hunter, the author of the books, passed away a few years ago.)

[–] alexracer 13 years ago

even with its flaws is still probably the best WW1 aviation movie ever