"THe Blue Max"

Originally Posted by Aerowallah

P.S. I know someone who is close to Jack who is still living large in Florida. He HATED his experience on the set. He was told from Day One as tech advisor to shut up and let the film guys put the visuals over. The liberties taken with uniforms and aircraft etc. enfuriated him and he, 30 years later, cannot take anyone bringing up the subject of the film. Mentioning the "Blue Max" to him ist streng verboten!
I have a letter from Jack in which he explains that Stachel, whose name means "prick" or "thorn" auf deutsch, was based on a scrupulously correct though ruthless SS officer he interrogated at war's end when Jack worked in Army intelligence. The tragedy for Jack was that Hollywood softened Stachel who, in the book, shot that RE8 down over his base so no one could deny him confirmation again.

"The RE8 incident marks Stachel's transformation from a frustrated victim of an oppressive society into one of that society's most ruthless and lethal pillars."

My main beef with the film is that Ursula never properly got all her kit off... Yet the film was restricted when it was released (probably for violence) and I couldn't get in to see it!
Rgds

I know what you mean, mein Freund... My wife and I visit with Tommie (Jack's wife) whenever we stop by "The Blue Max" (Their shop in St. Augustine)... He's still quite bitter about the way the movie was produced. One good thing that did come of it though... Jack and George Peppard hit it off from the start and remained good friends until George's death.

"Prost!"

[TomVrille]

Originally Posted by Aerowallah

P.S. I know someone who is close to Jack who is still living large in Florida. He HATED his experience on the set.

If you want to read a good summary of Jack Hunter's experiences dealing with the Hollywood types, there is an excellent article in WW1 Aero, No. 185, August 2004, beginning on pg.126. This is a slightly abridged version of the article that first appeared in Over the Front, vol.13, No. 3, Fall 1998, beginning on pg.197.

You're right! It was NOT a happy marriage of author and film producer.

[Aerowallah]

Many thanks for the cites!
Rgds

"Calm down Ziegel: you are a magician whether you like it or not". I enjoyed that flick when I was kid, and I still enjoy it!!!!

Happy Pfalz Landings,

PIET

Stachel said that after Willy crashed, he landed to see if he could help him, but there wasn't anything he could have done. My question is how could Stachel get out of his Dr-1 without #1) Shutting down/propping it to start, & #2)Keeping the engine running while he got out of the plane? You can't do either one alone with a rotary engine! Does anyone have any solutions???? Perhaps Willy swung the prop for Bruno before he (Katies nephew by marriage) went KAPUT!

Happy (in & out of the trees crash) Landings,

PIET

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Topgun56:
I fully agree you. Paule, a good story is not essential, just get rid of the towel. After that who needs a story, the visuals will work wonders.
For fewer towels,
Dan-San
P.S. I hear you Barrett!.

[Aerowallah]

Amen. Actually she does get rid of the towel in Slave of the Cannibal God which she did a few years after Max. She's tied to a stake and two native girls rub paint on her from head to two....with those visuals, who needs WW1?

Bruno had every intention of taking that aircrafts crew alive, until the british gunner/observer did make a move for his guns. Bruno had no way of knowing if the observer was blinded or not, he just reacted to the gunners attempt to fire his weapon! Willy, even though he feels threatened by Stachel and would like to see him transfered out, states to the commanding officer of the squadron: Otto, I have no reason to change my report on Stachel! As for the entire movie itself, remember that it was made in 1966. I don't think they paid as much attention to authenticity as todays flicks. No movie is ever perfect, and The Blue Max really falls into that category - however, there are Fokker DR-1 Triplanes, Fokker D-VII's, SE-5A's in this flick! I can overlook the innaccuracies and just enjoy the movie as a whole, especially those flying scenes!!!! And who can forget Katie & her towel (.)(.)!!!!!!

Happy Landings,

PIET

Originally Posted by Aerowallah

Amen. Actually she does get rid of the towel in Slave of the Cannibal God which she did a few years after Max. She's tied to a stake and two native girls rub paint on her from head to two....with those visuals, who needs WW1?

Any links to "screen shots" of the tied-to-the-stake scene, mein Freund???

"Prost!"

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Topgun56:
I fully agree you. Paule, a good story is not essential, just get rid of the towel. After that who needs a story, the visuals will work wonders.
For fewer towels,
Dan-San
P.S. I hear you Barrett!.

Here's to the formation of the "For Fewer Towels Party!"

"Prost!"