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Our opinion:
“The blue max” us replonge in the air war at the time of the First World War, after “Lafayette flotilla” of Wellmann left in 1954. But this time Ci, it is about the war seen of with dimensions German. It was also the first film on the Great War made in Cinemascope and color. Based on the novel with success of the same name signed by Jack HUNTER, film its title draws from Prussian decoration “For the merit”, the highest military distinction of imperial Germany, called in English “blue max” (of German “blauer max”) because of its blue Maltese cross, and also because in fact the ace
max Immelmann was the first member elect. It was decreed after eight air victories, then sixteen, later, but
Ernst Udet accepted it only after twenty three victories. Let us recall that in 1938, the German film “For the Merit had left”, a work of pure propaganda glorifiant the come to power of the Nazis.
Old driver of Royal Air Force, John Guillermin, author of several films of war, brings together interpreters, for the majority, familiar of the kind, in particular George PEPPARD. This last had learned how to control little time before turning. It would have thus flown on several counterparts of hunters of the first war, including on Pfalz, a rather delicate plane to control. PEPPARD also followed the courses of the Learjet school in Wichita (Kansas), and could thus control Learjet of Fox, at the time of the promotional tour of film in the USA.
This film appeared at one time when the anti hero became popular with the screen. Thus, the scenario writers made of the main character, Bruno Stachel, a go-getter little sympathetic nerve, without however making the rough one described in the novel. The scenario is also ambiguous. The class struggle between the proletarian hero, the Stachel corporal, and the “caste” of the fighter pilots resulting for the majority from the nobility or the upper middle classes, seems to be the main theme, but the worship of the hero in time of war holds a place quite as important in the history. Apart from this double set of themes, one cannot prevent oneself from thinking of another obscure corporal, certain Adolf Hitler, which will be pressed on the army to seize the power, before regulating its accounts with the body of the officers of career that he hated, especially after he has escaped with an attack perpetrated by these same officers!
After two years spent as corporal in the infantry, lieutenant Bruno Stachel was affected in aviation in 1918. Its dream is to obtain glorious decoration “For the Merit” and no scruple will stop it in this search, even if it must displease with his comrades of combat, all resulting from the aristocracy, and of which it shares neither the birth, nor values. Thus, after one refused to him to credit a victory to him, it cuts down with the top of its ground a supposed English plane to go. This gesture is regarded as unfair by the commander Heinemann because running up against his direction of the knighthood. The best pilot of the flotilla, Willi, is decorated with the order “For the Merit” by his uncle the general von Klugermann. With this occasion, Stachel becomes acquainted with Kaeti, his wife, of which he quickly becomes the lover. The general lets make because he sees in this young officer an occasion of propaganda near the people of which he forms part. The war turns to frank butchery and the time of the chivalrous heroes is completed. When it is wounded, Stachel is sent to Berlin where it is looked after by the woman of its commander, who is nurse, with great reinforcement of publicity. Of return to its flotilla, Stachel and Willi are voluntary to escort a reconnaissance mission in the area of Amiens (in fact, Abbeville!). They are attacked by English planes, but the machine-guns of Stachel are stopped, and it is Willi which cuts down them. While returning at their base, the two pilots defy themselves in an air tournament, but Willi runs up against a tower too low while flying and is killed. Stachel allots the two victories of Willi. Heidemann suspects it of lying and wants to translate it into short martial, however, the general wanting to avoid a scandal, makes decree in Stachel the so much awaited medal. Later, Stachel acknowledges in Kaeti its imposture while refusing to follow it to Switzerland where she wants to take refuge. Furious she acknowledges all with the superior of her husband. After the ceremony of handing-over of the medal, in Berlin, Heidemann tests a new hunter which he considers dangerous. At this point in time the general von Klugermann is informed by the state major of imposture of Stachel which will be finally translated into short martial. The general then decides to make steal Stachel on the new prototype without informing it dangerosity of the apparatus. After some figures of stunt-flying, the plane breaks in the air. The honor of the army is except. A hero died by testing a new material.
This film is very interesting and constitutes a “must” for any film amateur of aviation. It is stuffed scenes and situations inspired of the great classics (Wings, Hell' S Angels, Ace off aces, etc…) and of the life of the baron von Richthofen (like the scene with the nurse). Let us note however that the baron did not need a general to make his publicity; he took care very well him even, with an innate direction of the communication. This film is the first also to be allotted to the famous ace, good mounting, namely triplane Fokker, and not, like all other films, Fokker D VII, which N `was not in service at the time of its death.
The last scene of film holds the attention, because it seems to take as a starting point a quite real fact, the death of “Willi” Reinhardt, the successor of Richthofen to the head of Jagdgeschwader 1. On July 3, 1918, in Berlin Adlersdorf, Goering tests a Zeppelin Lindau D1. Reinhardt wants to test it also at once after him, but it loses the higher wing!
The film swarms with small errors active of the armament of the German soldiers equipped with rifles Lee Enfield English, with the equipment of the German pilots carrying of glasses RAF Mk VIII, model 1943! Stachel is member of Jasta 11 when von Richthofen proposes to him to join its “flying circus”. In fact, Jasta 11 belonged to the “circus of Richthofen” made up of other Jasta 4,6 and 10, and it is von Richthofen which ordered it in person.
Continued to part Two...