IMDb > The Blue Max (1966)
The Blue Max
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The Blue Max (1966) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   2,087 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Guillermin
Writers:
Jack Hunter (novel)
Ben Barzman (adaptation) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Blue Max on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 June 1966 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Drama | War | Action more
Tagline:
MIRACLES IN THE AIR! more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
The Blue Max Writer Hunter Dies
 (From WENN. 20 April 2009, 9:23 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Possibly Best Flying Film Ever more (64 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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
Joseph Musso .... production illustrator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
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
 

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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
156 min | USA:153 min (FMC Library Print)
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
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 more
Company:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Stunt pilot, Derek Piggott, flew both Stachel's and Von Klugermann's planes for the bridge storming scene. With multiple camera angles (including one from a trailing helicopter) Piggott actually flew under the bridge over twenty times. To prove that the sequence was real, sheep were placed in the field next to the bridge so that they would scatter as the plane approached. However, as can be seen in the continuity, by the 20th take the sheep had become blasé and didn't scatter any more. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Immediately following Stachel's Blue Max award ceremony the band strikes up the Deutschlandlied (Deutschland Deutschland Uber Alles). This song was not the national anthem of Imperial Germany. In fact, the German Empire never had an official national anthem, although "Watch On The Rhine" (ironically heard a few moments later in the film) was sometimes used as an unofficial anthem. Deutschlandlied did not become the national anthem until 1922, during the Weimar Republic. more
Quotes:
General Count von Klugermann: I'm afraid it's rather a small medal, Willi, but it's the highest Germany can give.
Willi von Klugermann: Thank you... Uncle
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Monkees: Monkees Race Again (#2.21)" (1968) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
18 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
Possibly Best Flying Film Ever, 14 October 2006
9/10
Author: ewarn-1 from syracuse

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Blue Max (1966)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Was Willy in love with Bruno? kpd0943
Inaccurate projection of WWI air combat dockbillin
Ammunition alplatt-1
Portrayal of Von Richtofen micaofboca
I think this is quite under-rated vivekrocks20
George Peppard's Performance slokes
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