The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writers:

George Roy Hill (story)
William Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Robert Redford Takes to the Skies in This Rousing Adventure

Plot:

A biplane pilot who had missed flying in WWI takes up barnstorming and later a movie career in his quest for the glory he had missed...

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Aerial Combat | Aviation | Barnstorming | 1920s

Cast

Robert Redford	...	Waldo Pepper
Bo Svenson	...	Axel Olsson
Bo Brundin	...	Ernst Kessler
Susan Sarandon	...	Mary Beth
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Newt
Edward Herrmann	...	Ezra Stiles
Philip Bruns	...	Dillhoefer
Roderick Cook	...	Werfel
Kelly Jean Peters	...	Patsy
Margot Kidder	...	Maude
Scott Newman	...	Duke
James S. Appleby	...	Ace
Patrick W. Henderson Jr.	...	Scooter
James N. Harrell	...	Farmer (as James Harrell)
Elma Aicklen	...	Farmer's Wife
Deborah Knapp	...	Farmer's Daughter
John A. Zee	...	Director, Western Set
John Reilly	...	Western Star
Jack Manning	...	Director, Spanish Set
Joe Billings	...	Policeman
Lawrence P. Casey	...	German Star (as Lawrence Casey)
Greg Martin	...	Assistant Director
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Art Scholl	...	Red Baron (uncredited)

Directed by
George Roy Hill

Writing credits
George Roy Hill		(story)
William Goldman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert L. Crawford	....	associate producer (as Robert L. Crawford)
George Roy Hill	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Robert Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Reynolds

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead

Set Decoration by
James W. Payne		(as James Payne)

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lloyd Anderson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Ballew	....	second assistant director
Ray Gosnell Jr.	....	first assistant director (as Ray Gosnell)

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	supervising sound editor
Robert J. Miller	....	sound (as Bob Miller)
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Roger Sword	....	sound editor

Stunts
James S. Appleby	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Kazian	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Moio	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank L. Pine	....	stunts (uncredited)
Audrey Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Art Scholl	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles W. Short	....	camera operator (as Chuck Short)
Oscar Barber	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Richard Barth	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Lou Noto	....	additional assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bernard Pollack	....	costume supervisor
Bernie Pollack	....	costume supervisor

Other crew
James S. Appleby	....	air work
Wayne Berg	....	air work
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor
Howard Curtis	....	air work
Mike Dewey	....	air work
John Kazian	....	air work
Ben McMahan	....	effects supervisor
Thomas H. Mooney	....	air work
Frank L. Pine	....	air work (as Frank Pine)
Frank Price	....	air work
Audrey Saunders	....	air work
Art Scholl	....	air work
Frank Tallman	....	air sequences supervisor
Frank Tallman	....	air work
Ralph Wiggins	....	air work
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jennings Lang
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinematique  cosmetics
• Hatfield History of Aeronautics  still photographs courtesy of
• Marion Dougherty Associates  casting
• Tallmantz Aviation  air work
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Elgin, Texas, USA

Company:

Jennings Lang

Trivia:

In his book "Adventures in the Screen Trade" writer William Goldman wrote that his original idea for the opening scene was cut. The idea was to open with a young boy trying to impress a young girl by holding out his arms and actually being able to fly. We then see the sky filled with young boys flying and young girls being impressed. The director felt the tone of that scene did not match the rest of the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Waldo Pepper walks out on the wing to practice his first wing walk, the shadow of the camera can be seen on the plane.

Quotes:

Ezra Stiles: It's gonna be a monoplane.
Waldo Pepper: A monoplane. Are you telling me you're building me an airplane with only one wing?
Ezra Stiles: Just thought you'd like to know: the biplane's gone the way of the Dodo.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Radar Secret Service (#6.20)" (1993)

Its a fun movie

This is simply a fun movie. The flying scenes are great to watch and sometimes filled with suspense. Its simply an adventure that traces Waldo after flying in WWI to getting money from small communities for stunt flying to flying for Hollywood. There is no deep thought here and the plot is not that great but it has fun action. I am not sure if I would rent it, but its worth watching if you see that its on cable somewhere.