The Blue Max (1966)

Director:

John Guillermin

Writers:

Jack Hunter (novel)
Ben Barzman (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 June 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War | Action

Tagline:

MIRACLES IN THE AIR!

Plot:

A young pilot in the German air force of 1918, disliked as lower-class and unchivalrous, tries ambitiously to earn the medal offered for 20 kills.

Plot Keywords:

Ambition | Aviation | German Officer | Champagne Reception | Trench Warfare

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations

Cast

George Peppard	...	Lt. Bruno Stachel
James Mason	...	General Count von Klugermann
Ursula Andress	...	Countess Kaeti von Klugermann
Jeremy Kemp	...	Willi von Klugermann
Karl Michael Vogler	...	Colonel Otto Heidemann
Anton Diffring	...	Holbach
Harry Towb	...	Kettering
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Corporal Rupp
Derek Newark	...	Ziegel
Derren Nesbitt	...	Fabian
Loni von Friedl	...	Elfi Heidemann (as Loni Von Friedl)
Friedrich von Ledebur	...	The Field Marshal (as Friedrich Ledebur)
Carl Schell	...	Von Richthofen aka The Red Baron
Hugo Schuster	...	Hans. Elderly Servant
Alex Scott	...	The Orator
Roger Ostime	...	The Crown Prince
Ray Browne	...	Pilot
Timothy Parkes	...	Pilot
Ian Kingsley	...	Pilot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Warren Crosby	...	(uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Countess Kaeti von Klugermann (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
John Guillermin

Writing credits
Jack Hunter		(novel)
Ben Barzman		(adaptation) and
Basilio Franchina		(adaptation)
David Pursall		(screenplay) &
Jack Seddon		(screenplay) and
Gerald Hanley		(screenplay)

Produced by
Christian Ferry	....	producer
Elmo Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
Max Benedict

Casting by
Stuart Lyons

Production Design by
Wilfred Shingleton		(as Wilfrid Shingleton)

Art Direction by
Fred Carter

Makeup Department
Patricia McDermott	....	hairdresser (as Pat McDermott)
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist: Ursula Andress
Charles E. Parker	....	head makeup artist (as Charles Parker)
Tony Sforzini	....	makeup artist: George Peppard (as Tony Sfortzini)
Jay Sebring	....	hair designer: George Peppard (uncredited)

Production Management
René Dupont	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Causey	....	assistant director
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Anthony Squire	....	director: aerial unit

Art Department
Brian Doyle	....	plasterer
Joseph Musso	....	production illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Best Jr.	....	assistant sound editor
John Cox	....	sound
Chris Greenham	....	sound editor
Claude Hitchcock	....	sound
Bob Jones	....	sound

Special Effects by
Maurice Ayers	....	special effects
Ron Ballanger	....	special effects
Karl Baumgartner	....	special effects

Stunts
Ken Byrne	....	aerial stunts
Tim Clutterbuck	....	aerial stunts
Pat Cranfield	....	aerial stunts
Tim Healey	....	aerial stunts
Peter Hillwood	....	aerial stunts
Joan Hughes	....	aerial stunts
Darby Kennedy	....	aerial stunts
Darby Kennedy	....	stunt coordinator
Roger Kennedy	....	aerial stunts
Liam Mulligan	....	aerial stunts
Derek Piggott	....	aerial stunts
Taffy Rich	....	aerial stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Skeets Kelly	....	aerial photographer
Skeets Kelly	....	camera operator
Skeets Kelly	....	photographer: second unit
Donald C. Rogers	....	photographer: second unit
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Mike Fox	....	focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrobe supervisor
John Furniss	....	wardrobe creator: Miss Andress

Editorial Department
Norman Cohen	....	assembly editor
Elizabeth Thoyts	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Johnny Maher	....	air engineer
William O'Kelly	....	production liaison: Ireland
Allen Wheeler	....	air supervisor
Helen Whitson	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Belle & Blade Studios (video)
• Magnetic Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• People and the Government of the Republic of Ireland  20th Century-Fox express their gratitude to

Also Known As:

Runtime:

156 min | USA:153 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

6-Track Stereo | 4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System) | Mono (optical prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Ireland:12 (old rating) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 (f) | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Both the British and the German recon-planes were played by the same French "Caudron Luciole" from the 1930's.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Fokker aircraft were correctly shown with replicas of the 8mm-caliber Maxim LMG08/15 air-cooled machine guns, designed to fire between the propeller blades via a cam assembly that synchronized the guns with the engine's RPMs. However, these were belt-fed weapons and neither ammo belts nor drum magazines were ever shown mounted on them; thus, the guns were not charged.

Quotes:

[Funeral for an enemy pilot]
Willi von Klugermann:Well, aren't you coming? It's an order.
Bruno Stachel:Why?
Willi von Klugermann:Because our commanding officer has made it one. He believes in chivalry, Stachel.
Bruno Stachel:Chivalry? To kill a man, then make a ritual out of saluting him - that's hypocrisy. They kill me, I don't want anyone to salute.
Willi von Klugermann:They probably won't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: Episode #2.22" (1969)

Soundtrack:

Deutschlandlied

Possibly Best Flying Film Ever

I would rate this a 10, but didn't like the soundtrack enough.

Since the release of "Flyboys" it seems amazing that a movie made forty years ago has a more polished, advanced, and contemporary look than one made today. This will amaze people who compare films of the twentieth century one hundred years from now."The Blue Max" has better cinematography, special effects, acting, storyline, etc. In the end its a disappointing fact that today's films have taken giant steps backwards compared to those of the '60s.

The flying sequences and scenes of aerial combat in "The Blue Max" have never been surpassed or equaled. Even in "Flyboys" with millions of dollars of CGI effects no movie has ever captured the feel of flying and aerial fighting like this one. The planes all look authentic, too.

The big scope of World War One does not swallow up the intense personal stories here either. This is one of the only films that explores the psyche of successful fighting men. The arrogance they need to maintain their bravery and aggression can also be their downfall. Here we also can see the politics behind the combat, both on a personal and national level. This is a very thrilling history lesson.

The actors are so good, and the characters so complex I forgot they were supposed to be my (supposed) enemy. Peppard does a good job of acting, playing a guy who is meant to be both likable, admirable, irritating and repulsive at the same time. The only problem is he looks too American for the role. Imagine if Brando had done it, but he had a hard time choosing really good parts. My favorite is James Mason, who played German generals better than they could play themselves off-screen. If you like flying, history, or personal drama you can't miss this one.