"The Blue Max"

[PeterL]

The tendency so far is to overdo it. Spectacular effects such as those in "Pearl Harbor" actually detract from any sense of realism. Not a flyng movie, but the Stuka raid in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" gets it just right. If I didn't know for certain there just aren't any airworthy Stukas around it would have had me guessing. It seems to me that the trick is going to be knowing when enough is enough.

Right-O Peter! The trick is just the right amount

Scarlett

[turnwaldw1]

Hello Everyone This is kinda a little off the subject but we have acousin in Calif that works for the film industry and he flies these remote control airplanes and helicopters for films. Several years ago I got to go on site with him for a movies shoot which one I forget (old age) . What a job they supply you with a real scale looking aircraft that you dont have to pay for you get to fly it and usaully like hollywood you crash it what a job. We went to they place were the build these thing and for a rc guy like me I was in heaven from WW1 to today the were hundreds of the aircraft in storage.
WWl aircraft were amassing just my two cent of bable.
Dave

"You'll all have to forgive me, but I can't for the life of me remember which Jasta Stachel was assigned to." And I cant seem to locate it in the book... Input, Gentlemen???
"Prost"

[Barrett]

I don't recall a staffel number in the novel. In the movie, it's Jasta 11(&#33

Barrett... Do you recall what part of the film the Jasta # is revealed??? I'll have to pop it in the VCR this eve. Thank you.
"Prost"

[Gregvan]

Hi von Reichel,

It's close to the beginning of the film, at one of the shots where they pan over the blackboard with everybody's score chalked up on the board. It's either just before of after Stachel's first unconfirmed victory over the SE5a (and also the balloon - why is that never brought up as a victory for Stachel and/or the dead Fabian in the film ?). Anyway, there at the top of the list it says "Jasta 11". Geez, couldn't they come up with anything other than THAT ??

In the book, the Jasta number is (wisely) never revealed. It's just called "Jasta Heidemann", if I recall correctly.

Greg

[AAC Cadet Leader]

I was seven or eight years old when I saw "The Blue Max" in a movie theater with my three older siblings and our parents. We didn't go to movies very often as a family probably because of the expense, but that movie was an event, and my father was enthusiastic about it. What I remember about it was that it was thrilling and I loved the wonderful biplanes in it. And I recall the shape of the Blue Max medal that was pinned to the hero's uniform. Haven't seen it since. I should rent it and watch it with my kids.

[Rick]

Originally posted by Gregvan@Jun 10 2004, 05:31 PM
[b] In the book, the Jasta number is (wisely) never revealed. It's just called "Jasta Heidemann", if I recall correctly.

Yep, that's what I recall, no number. (Don't want to mix fact with fiction)! R.

[Shooter]

I consider the movie to be a shallow poorly written plot tied together with some pretty spectacular flying sequences. The replica German aircraft reflect a lot of effort and I was impressed with the brief ground sequences (arming landsers with SMLE's was a poor touch, but whatchagonnado?).

All in all, once you get beyond the air time, the flick circles the bowl twice before going down, so I give it two flushes on the toilet scale. The producers took an excellent novel with a great subplot and throw it away in preference to a crappy story about class warfare, and a towel.

The only reason that this flick gets any attention at all is because no one has made a good WWI aviation flick since...what...Howard Hughes? This was a chance, squandered. Had I been the producer--and I suppose the director, too--I think it would have been a better movie. And I stink as a movie producer.

IIRC, in the book, Stachel's outfit is referred to as "Jasta Heidemann" and that is all. I don't remember it being called Jasta 11 in the flick, but that could be, Barrett.


Shooter sends