The Great Waldo Pepper

This is a well shot film (the light in the Prarie scenes are beautiful) about why people love flying and how it gets into their bones to the point where they will take great risks with their lives as well as other people's! Redford looks heroic and every bit the Ladies Man especially in uniform. The aerial sequences are terrific with some really risky stunts and shots. Made in 1975, there are no CGI effects - everything is real and raw. I felt the film to be a little slow at times but it's a film for grown ups so we can take that speed, can't we? Scott A. Frisina's review on the main page is as good a synopsis as anyone can give - that's how it is - read it then see this excellent film.

Having directed Robert Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting", George Roy Hill cast him yet again in "The Great Waldo Pepper". Redford puts his all into the role of a pilot seeking glory after World War I. But the scene that really sticks in my mind is Susan Sarandon's stunt on the wing; that must've been one harrowing experience! It's not a masterpiece but one that you gotta see.

Watching all these wonderful actors in their prime, the great storyline and the great cinematography for the first time has had me enthralled. This is a really enjoyable film with considerable depth. In my mind it is an exploration of the competitive nature of the flyers themselves - whether friends or rivals, one soon becomes acutely aware of their constant need to push their limits, not only amongst themselves but also within themselves. For some reason this film is only averaging a rating of 6.4, and it deserves much more than that, so my vote will hopefully help to reflect a more appropriate rating for what is a really enjoyable movie. Even if you are not into aviator flicks, you will enjoy this movie - it is an excellent example of the filmmakers and scriptwriters art. I give it my heartiest recommendation.

How can this film barely have more than a single page of comments? Redford in his youthful heyday, following the success of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Susan Sarandon as the female lead, and yet, apparently, so few have ever seen this that less than two pages covers comments. Major urging: see this film. Extremely well written and directed, even better acting, all stunts by human beings and not computers, and beautifully photographed. The only weakness is that due to audience availability, this film is hard to find on DVD, even at Blockbuster. Similar to The Hill, absolutely the best acting performance by Sean Connery, but try and see it. Major hint to those who have missed Waldo Pepper: never, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, attempt the double loop, especially in a plane. Today, July 28, 2007, we had two crashes at the Wisconsin and Ohio Air Shows. Death isn't just in the movies when doing stunts in a plane.

This movie is made by some of the same players that made Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Writer, Director and Actor). Unfortunately, it doesn't have nearly the acclaim. Perhaps because the ultimate tone of the movie is darker, the movie still captures that fun that permeates Butch Cassidy. In terms of the aerial stunts and flying sequences, not only does the hold up to the modern movies like 'Flyboys', it is in fact, much better. Visually just as complete, you also know these are the real deal. The script is brilliant. At the end of this film, one is forced to wonder why this level of movie so rarely is ever seen today. You can read the other reviews for plot points, and details. Suffice to say that if you are a fan of movies with planes, actions, love, tragedy cool war history lover, or Hollywood of the early thirties, you'll eat this movie up. Now lets get a DVD of this that is worthy!

This is a great movie, from a very special era in movies, and contains an all-time great scene that speaks to the darker nature of humanity. SPOILER AHEAD!! I speak of the scene where Ezra Stiles, Waldo Pepper's best friend has crashed, and he is trapped in his plane, which has caught on fire. Waldo is trying to free him from the burning plane. A crowd of onlookers, who came to watch the aerial show, has gathered around the burning plane, staring while Waldo tries to free his best friend. THey do nothing but stare while Waldo screams at them, begging for their help. The faces of the onlookers provides an insight into human nature: the blank, staring faces of the Midwestern peasantry, rapt at the sight of the trapped Stiles burning to death. Waldo frantically tries to enlist their help in dragging Stiles, to no avail. Waldo finally has to brain his trapped friend so that he will not burn alive while still conscious.

Anybody who likes old airplanes, stunt flying or just plain adventure and an interesting story should like this early Robert Redford film. Redford plays the "The Great Waldo Pepper" as he barnstorms from place to place in the early 1900s. You see some wonderful bi-planes and the interesting characters who flew them. The most flamboyant person in this story is "Axel Olsson," played by Bo Svenson. He and Redford are intense competitors and the competition between the two is fun to witness, especially with humor thrown into the mix. This film is noted for sporting a very young and beautiful Susan Sarandon who makes a very memorable exit from the film! Except for an excessive amount of usages of the Lord's name in vain, this would have been an excellent family film. Other actors whose names you might recognize in here are Edward Herrman, Georffrey Lewis and Margot Kidder.