Commercial Misconceptions of MvR

Can anybody explain to me off hand why the commercial market(i.e.: Red Baron Pizza, cartoons, etc.) insist on portraying Richthofen with a BLACK handle bar mustache and dark hair?! I have even seen homages of him with an eyepatch! Is this the common categorization of German military figures by the modern media or is there something I'm missing. Maybe a somewhat demure blond hair & blue eyed quiet and studious warrior just does not fit the IMAGE that a notorious German Ace should have according to the shallow individuals in the commercial world. So instead, they cook up a 6'4", "tall, dark and handsome" version for the clueless public. I'm I far off base here???????

I totally concur re the misconceived Hollywood/Commercial notions of MvR's likeness. I recall seeing a protrayal of
him as a fifty-something wearing a monocle. I have never,
to date, seen an actual photo of any WWI German airman wearing a monocle!

Man,I quit buying those Pizza'a once I realized they were insulting the Baron,I never should of bought them anyway

::Bows before the gods of war and history::

[mike_baram]

What? Does that mean the Richthofen didn't look like Tom Sellek??????? Omigosh!!!!!!!!!1
But seriously, folks, do you think anyone would buy pizza if had the real Baron's picture? The ones I've seen showed him with a fatigued, haunted look, hardly matinee idol quality.
In fact, the only time I saw a historical figure accurately portrayed by an actor was in the movie "To Hell and Back"....when war hero Audie Murphy was played by.....Audie Murphy.

sorry can't help you

Okay, so who SHOULD play the Red Baron? My vote goes to Rutger Hauer, but at the age he was in "Blade Runner." Sadly, he's too old now to do the portrayal. Who could pull it off today?

[mike_baram]

Peter,
I don't agree with you regaring Tom Hanks....it's not uncommon for men in their thirties to be captains. In WWII, they drafted lots of men that age and sent them to OCS.
But, Matt Damon would probably pull it off as Mvr...he's the right age, and looks German enough....I vonder iff he could shpeak mit der correct accent, though.
Regards,
Mike

[Billy_Bishop]

Regarding Red Baron Pizza: If you look at the cover, I don't think they show a red triplane with GAF insignia on it. They're using a "generic" Red Baron. They're not trying to reference MvR specifically. If they did, they might get into trouble.

Very few Hollywood flicks even attempt to match actors with their characters--the Brits do somewhat better, perhaps the classic example being Richard Todd as Guy Gibson in "The Dam Busters." For US films, we get George C Scott playing Patton (Scott's attitude saved the performance, but Patton had a high, squeaky voice and wasn't as chunky as GCS). Two generals' roles that were well cast were Robert Stack as "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell in Spielberg's screamingly funny "1941" (the resemblance was astonishing) and Gregory Peck as MacArthur. the latter was, IMHO, a marginal flick but peck was well chosen.
As for WW I aero flicks: "Get me a young Val Kilmer" for F Luke ("Iceman" in a SPAD). Casting a 24-25 year old for MvR would be tough--portraying that reserved, even cold, personality with the steely resolve beneath the calm exterior. Nobody comes to mind among the current matinee idols. The best WW I depiction I've seen was Bo Brundin as Ernst "Kessler" (nee Udet) in "The Great Waldo Pepper." Great job.

[mike_baram]

"They're not trying to reference MvR specifically. If they did, they might get into trouble."
Al,
The term "Red Baron" is so heavily associated with MvR that the reference can't be mistaken. Fortunately, or unfortunately, 99.99% of the American public has no idea of what MvR looked like, their knowledge stemming in a large part from a 60's song inspired by a cartoon canine.
As far as the average MTV-educated pizza eater is concerned, anyone who looks like a WWI flyer could be the Red Baron, and historical accuracy be damned.
Mike

It used to be my 2 cents worth, but inflation has destroyed that too.