The Blue Max

There was no quiet on the Western Front!

1966 • 156 min • War · Action · Adventure · Drama

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Synopsis

A young pilot in the German air force of 1918, disliked as lower-class and unchivalrous, tries ambitiously to earn the medal offered for 20 kills.

Our family guide

Best from age 13

Movie Knight Score

126 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
68 Audience · 125 · 49%

A German pilot during WWI is driven by ambition to become a flying ace, navigating class differences and the brutal realities of war to earn a coveted medal.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 3/10
Romance & sensuality: 4/10
Scary moments: 5/10

Heads up

Intense aerial combat with plane crashes and explosions.
Characters drink alcohol and smoke.
Brief sexual encounters and partial nudity.

What it models well

Ambition and determination
Military honor and duty
Skill and perseverance

Talk about it after

The true cost of war, beyond individual glory.
Different forms of courage and honor.
The dangers of unchecked ambition and pride.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Blue Max. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: John Guillermin • Crew: David Pursall, Gerald Hanley, Jack Seddon

Trailers & clips

The Blue Max ≣ 1966 ≣ Trailer

THE BLUE MAX(1965) Original Theatrical Trailer

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
***World War I aerial combat from the German perspective*** During World War I a low-class German soldier, Bruno Stachel (George Peppard), transfers from the muddy trenches to the aristocratic air officer corps.…
Wuchak, TMDB Community