Back in 1966, long before the benefits of computer generated special effects, THE BLUE MAX put on a great aerial effects show. George Peppard (who looks like a movie star, but seems awful flat on the big screen) stars as Bruno Stachel. Stachel grew up simply but now finds himself in the premiere WWI flying group with many pilots groomed from aristocracy and success. His goal is the Blue Max, German's highest medal of honor earned for downing 20 enemy planes. He will stop at nothing and no one to get it. James Mason is great as a General and Ursula Andress is Mason's gorgeous wife, who falls into Peppard's flight path. The Blue Max is a 60's war classic. It's sometimes slow, but never boring, the air sequences are very well done and set to Jerry Goldsmith's great music. It must have been bold back in '66 to center a big film around an anti-hero and it plays well today. We'll award a B to The Blue Max.
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