The Blue Max
starring: George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Jeremy Kemp, Karl Michael Vogler
directed by: John Guillermin
directed by: John Guillermin
List Price: $14.98
Prices subject to change.
Price: $10.49
You Save: $4.49 (30%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
A coveted medal - the blue max - is ruthlessly sought after by members of the german luftwaffe.Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 05/13/2008Starring: George Peppard Jeremy KempRun time: 155 minutes
Amazon.com:
The Blue Max is highly unusual among Hollywood films, not justfor being a large-scale drama set during the generally overlooked World War I,but in concentrating on air combat as seen entirely from the German point ofview. The story focuses on a lower-class officer, Bruno Stachel (GeorgePeppard), and his obsessive quest to win a Blue Max, a medal awarded forshooting down 20 enemy aircraft. Around this are subplots concerning apropaganda campaign by James Mason's pragmatic general, rivalry with a fellowofficer (Jeremy Kemp), and a love affair with a decadent countess (UrsulaAndress).
As directed by John Guillermin (who later made The Battle of Britain in1969), the film's main assets are epic production values, great flying scenes,and stunning dogfights. The weak point is the sometimes ponderous characterdrama, not helped by Peppard, who is too lightweight an actor to convince as thedriven antihero. Clearly influenced by Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1958),The Blue Max is a cold, cynical drama offering a visually breathtakingportrait of a stultified society tearing itself apart during the final months ofthe Great War. --Gary S. Dalkin
A coveted medal - the blue max - is ruthlessly sought after by members of the german luftwaffe.Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 05/13/2008Starring: George Peppard Jeremy KempRun time: 155 minutes
Amazon.com:
The Blue Max is highly unusual among Hollywood films, not justfor being a large-scale drama set during the generally overlooked World War I,but in concentrating on air combat as seen entirely from the German point ofview. The story focuses on a lower-class officer, Bruno Stachel (GeorgePeppard), and his obsessive quest to win a Blue Max, a medal awarded forshooting down 20 enemy aircraft. Around this are subplots concerning apropaganda campaign by James Mason's pragmatic general, rivalry with a fellowofficer (Jeremy Kemp), and a love affair with a decadent countess (UrsulaAndress).
As directed by John Guillermin (who later made The Battle of Britain in1969), the film's main assets are epic production values, great flying scenes,and stunning dogfights. The weak point is the sometimes ponderous characterdrama, not helped by Peppard, who is too lightweight an actor to convince as thedriven antihero. Clearly influenced by Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1958),The Blue Max is a cold, cynical drama offering a visually breathtakingportrait of a stultified society tearing itself apart during the final months ofthe Great War. --Gary S. Dalkin
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Action & Adventure » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Action & Adventure » Classics
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Country » British Cinema » Drama
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Country » British Cinema » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Art House & International » By Country » British Cinema » General AAS
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Great aviation combat footage
A great World War 1 classic aviation movie.The aerial combat footage, done without any computer virtual reality animation is quite spectacular.The acting, especially from the european cast was quite good.
Rating: 
- Just shy of greatness
I'll never forget the first time my father took me downtown to see this film during it's first run in 1966. The flying sequences to this day have never been equaled... and with no digital effects. Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack is one of the greatest ever written. I was fifteen at the time but even then I realized that there was a fatal flaw to this film that would rob it of true greatness. That fatal flaw was the casting of George Peppard in the role of Bruno Stachel, the aspiring heir to Bruno Von ... Read More
Rating: - Nitpicking :)
Not a comment on the film - which I thoroughly enjoyed - but on the Amazon official review:
"As directed by John Guillermin (who later made The Battle of Britain in 1969)"... er.
Did he make the tea or something? As far as I know he had nothing to do with the other movie.
Rating: 
- Le Pour Merite-The Blue Max
Geoge Peppard was outstanding in this film.It is truly an aviation
film classic along with Twelve O'Clock High. Filmed in Ireland it contains
beautiful scenery and unmatched flying sequences.
When is this going to be released in blu-ray?
Rating: - Blue Max flying classic epic
I think George Peppard gets a bad rap for his role, many agree he was not " heavyweight" enough to pull off his characters role of " anti-hero", after having recently watched this again after many years I think he gets it right. I probably was distracted from a deeper analysis due to the fact the planes are just incredible to watch, and well Ursula Andress is wildly good looking as well. The story line is one of insecurity of social status as Peppards charcter is working class and in one scene is humiliated ... Read More
- Great aviation combat footageA great World War 1 classic aviation movie.The aerial combat footage, done without any computer virtual reality animation is quite spectacular.The acting, especially from the european cast was quite good.
- Just shy of greatnessI'll never forget the first time my father took me downtown to see this film during it's first run in 1966. The flying sequences to this day have never been equaled... and with no digital effects. Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack is one of the greatest ever written. I was fifteen at the time but even then I realized that there was a fatal flaw to this film that would rob it of true greatness. That fatal flaw was the casting of George Peppard in the role of Bruno Stachel, the aspiring heir to Bruno Von ... Read More
- Nitpicking :)Not a comment on the film - which I thoroughly enjoyed - but on the Amazon official review:
"As directed by John Guillermin (who later made The Battle of Britain in 1969)"... er.
Did he make the tea or something? As far as I know he had nothing to do with the other movie.
- Le Pour Merite-The Blue MaxGeoge Peppard was outstanding in this film.It is truly an aviation
film classic along with Twelve O'Clock High. Filmed in Ireland it contains
beautiful scenery and unmatched flying sequences.
When is this going to be released in blu-ray?
- Blue Max flying classic epicI think George Peppard gets a bad rap for his role, many agree he was not " heavyweight" enough to pull off his characters role of " anti-hero", after having recently watched this again after many years I think he gets it right. I probably was distracted from a deeper analysis due to the fact the planes are just incredible to watch, and well Ursula Andress is wildly good looking as well. The story line is one of insecurity of social status as Peppards charcter is working class and in one scene is humiliated ... Read More
