Western Front Association - U.S. Branch - Movie Review of the Blue Max

THE BLUE MAX, a critical U.S. Branch movie review. This DVD (released in May 2003) is available from Amazon. com for $12.99 and the VHS format for $9.98 (NTSC format for U.S. and Canada), and also available at other sources. Made by Fox Home Entertainment in 1966, directed by John Guillermin (The Battle of Britain), and stars George Peppard (1928-1994) and James Mason (1909-1984), among other outstanding actors. The reviewers are Jim Minnoch, rating the film

(out of five) and Rick Belcourt who also gave the film

. They can be reached at jemcam@comcast.net.

There is no question about it: Blue Max is super entertainment and all students of the Great War should see it - save it for a Saturday night and bring out the popcorn. The acting is flawless and the presentation seamless. The plot centers around German fighter pilot Leutnant Bruno Stachel's (Peppard) unyielding determination to be awarded the Pour le Merit, Germany's highest military award, popularly known as the Blue Max. This might offer Stachel social recognitation far above his modest background. He needs confirmed kills of 20 enemy aircraft. But, of course, the story gets more complicated than that. The flying is second to none and it is worth buying this movie just to replay the terrific aerial stunts.

But now Ace Oberleutnant Willi von Klugermann (Jeremy Kemp), an aristocratic hero, has a flying competition with Stachel. Even more dangerous, the gorgeous countess (Ursula Andress), wife to Count Generalmajor von Klugermann (James Mason), does some bed hopping. Nevertheless, the Generalmajor has another problem: he needs a hero to pick up late-in-the-war civilian support for what might be the big drive to win the war. Stachel is selected. Now the plot really gets interesting, and it is time to do some more not-to-be-forgotten spectacular flying. By this time, the viewer is intent on trying to figure out how all these pieces are going to fit together. Not to worry, there is a magnificent ending.

George Peppard as Bruno Stachel

We loved the settings, the attention to World I details (uniforms, ground forces, planes, and such), the splendid characterizations, and the superb filming (especially the outstanding flying). In the end, it is about as good as Great War entertainment gets, and our ratings are about as good as you will ever see from us. We recommend this movie, without any reservation.

Created: 13 February 2004