The Blue Max was based quite closely on a novel (by an American author) in which nobody comes out well, although motivations are explored in a lot more detail (as you’d expect). Interestingly, in the novel Stachel deliberately shoots down the RE8 that has surrendered when in the film, it is self-defence. He is also complicit in Fabian’s death (Stachel goes after an SE5 that Fabian has already damaged, leaving Fabian to tackle two unharmed SE5s). Also, Stachel is an alcoholic and much of his behaviour is attributable to this – in the novel, he is on the path to redemption when circumstances pull him down again. On the last page he meets Hermann Goering! The CO is portrayed as more of a prig and his wife is not so wholesome as in the film.
As I said, nobody really comes out well. The Germans all have their various flaws, the British are portrayed as stupidly foolhardy and not too skilled. A squadron of American SPADs is encountered late in the book, and gets a bit more respect however… I thought the film was pretty good in the context of the novel and had some of the best flying sequences – better than we are likely to get these days with all the reliance on CGI.
I’d like to see a film in which the heroes fly BE2Cs and have to spot for artillery. Those guys were heroes alright…
If you get someone to make it i know where there is a BE2 rep thats available;)
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