best WWI ariplane movie

Without wishing to join the mud-slinging, I agree with OX5 (strange it's my post code in the UK) ... Aces High is the best. It hasn't got the best aerial scenes and even borrows footage from 'The Blue Max', but it actually has compelling acting and dialogue in the 'ground scenes'. It's a thoughtful, adult film, and greatly under-rated. 'The Blue Max' has fantastic aerial dogfighting scenes but bores on the ground - including the legendary towel scene.

[Michael]

None of the above, but the BBC(?) 1970's TV series "Wings" has my vote. Authentic aircraft for period, faultless uniforms, and good acting.

Michael

The Silent film "Wings" was indeed very good in my opinion even stood up next to more modern films in "Technicolor". The flying scenes are simply amazing and with the lack of technology back then they *have* to be real. The story as well is exceptionally well done and I was even drawn in and it's the only silent film i've ever seen. Hell, it won and Acadamy Award.

I like the Blue Max too, really a great movie. I agree that someone could do much better with this genre, particularly with today's computers to make a really authentic even historical film. As all us forumites know when it comes to WWI air combat, the truth is WAYYYY better than fiction.

Without wanting to get involved in further juvenility, I should point out that I watch a *lot* of movies. It's my job, or one of them, anyway. And I find a lot of similarities between WWI aviation movies and science fiction movies: what looks good within the genre doesn't look so good when compared with the wider world outside that genre. This isn't perhaps as noticable to people who enjoy themselves within a genre, and I say all the more power to 'em. But I can't help comparing WWI aviation movies against everything I've seen. And even allowing for a major-league soft spot for pix like "Wings" and "Hell's Angels," I can't call them "good" in any sense that means anything to me.

Of course, the really important phrase is the last one. It's an opinion, folks, and that's all it is. You're not required to agree with it. In fact, if I find some of you agreeing with it I'm going to have to perform a major reassessment.

ox5's perjoration persuaded me to blow my own horn a bit, something I don't do as much as my colleagues say I ought to. You might want to check out the December issue of Isaac Asimov's SF Magazine, in which you'll find my latest story, co-written with my pal Cory Doctorow (who just won the Campbell Award as the best new SF writer on the planet). No WWI content whatever, but it was fun to write and it's gotten a good response. And it is set in Paris, albeit a Paris that owes more to Disney than De Gaulle.

[leo]

At one time or another I have seen all of the movies listed plus one that really broke me up. "Fannie Hill Meets The Red Baron", filmed I remember partially at Old Rheinbeck. It was a porno flick and was absolutely ridiculous.
The WWI aero flicks generally fell short on plane marking, armament, and the timeframe in which planes were introduced.

I agree with Kory that a really great movie could be made using computer simulation.

Well, great! Some of you are alive. Now all you have to do is write, finance, direct, act, sell and distriblute a REALLY GOOD WW-I film.
However, since theire are only 36 plot variations, I suspect that professional critics, who have never written anything and cannot write anything, would be all over you for redundancy.
Excellence in a cinema undertaking is in the eye of the beholder. As the wise man above said, dim the lights, pour your favorite beverage and shout "Contact!" If you won't agree with that, go back and watch Snoopy fighting the Red Baron; don't spoil it for someone else in a vain attempt to impress your fellow forumites. Remember, most of the people on this forum are historians and they only slip out of character to needle stuffed shirts.
OX-5 was an engine used in the Jenny, Robin and other early aircraft. There is a society of Early Birdmen called the OX-5 Club. Don't get upset and jump to conclusions. And don't make snide remarks about them.

OX-5: You truly are a master of the obvious.

[Kirby]

Gang-IMHO a mediocre movie about WWI aviation is better than NO movie about that esteemed subject. If you like the movie, watch it. If you think it's a piece of crap, stay away. Don't waste your valuable time nit-picking it to pieces. The truth of the matter is there just aren't enough of us biplane aficianados left to justify, in the minds of first class producers, making high budget WWI films. You might not like what I just said but you all know it's true.

VBR
Kirby

One of the best WWI aviation films I have seen Is actually a TV series...... Young Indiana Jones "Attack of the Hawkmen" Great story line and a good job at the aerial combat scenes. Of course done in the Indiana Jones style of adventure. Worth buying