THE RED BARON
US, 1971, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Phillip Law, Don Stroud, Barry Primus, Corin Redgrave, Hurd Hatfield, Stephen Mc Hattie.
Directed by Roger Corman.
The Red Baron gives an opportunity for a blend of action and reflection on the meaning of the battles of World War One. This film moves away from the trenches and takes to the air. In this way it is reminiscent of such films as The Blue Max as well as La Fayette Escadrille (and the 2006 version, Fly Boys). There are a lot of aerial combat sequences.
The film focuses on Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the German war ace, a nobleman, with a code of honour, responsible for deaths in combat but giving himself to the codes and the desire for victory against the British. His enemy is a Canadian, Roy Brown, played by Don Stroud. Brown is a prickly character amongst the Allies and ambitious. Barry Primus plays a young Hermann Goering – anticipating his command of the Luftwaffe in World War Two. The British leader is played by Corin Redgrave. Hurd Hatfield plays Anthony Fokker, the inventor and engineer.
Roger Corman had made a number of genre pictures at very little expense – relying on the popularity of conventions rather than writing and performance. During the 1960s he made a number of adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe stories, especially with Vincent Price, which received critical acclaim. In the late 1960s he made The St Valentine’s Day Massacre, going upmarket in budget, cast and writing. This film is in the same vein. Corman continued to produce many films, encourage young directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Jonathan Demme.
1. The focus of the title on Von Richthofen? The original American title, Von Richthofen and Brown with the double emphasis? Which was truer for the film itself?
2. The contribution of colour, Irish locations, the focus on early plans and the aerial photography? The atmosphere of battles in the air, the primitive times, the overtones of chivalry, a strange location for warfare? Sets and costumes?
3. Critics were very hostile to the plot, praiseworthy of the techniques. Why? Justification? The reputation of Roger Corman for tough film-making? American myths and violence?
The link with his other films? His ambition for this film and study of characters, success in achievement?
5. The quality of the film as a war film? The presentation of the Germans, Their attitudes, their ideals, their style? The prestige of the fliers? manner? The comparison with the British and their sense of honour, code? How similar, dissimilar? The entrance of the Americans? The contrast of old world Europeans and their code, the blunt realism of the Americans? Issues of war, violence and death, bloodshed? Themes of patriotism, hostility, failure and victory?
6. The portrait of World War 1 and insight into the war? The importance of the recreation of the sides, the battles, morale?
7. The success of the film in presenting the early years of European air forces? The esprit de corps amongst the pilots? Their youth, pride? Popular heroes? The presentation of the English, the Germans, American involvement?
8. The presentation of young Von Richtofen and the atmosphere about him, of his mobility, style, class distinctions? Goering and a contrast with Von Richthofen? Audience aware of his subsequent career and the Luftwaffe of World War II? The atmosphere of rivalries, knights of the German old style chivalry? Goering as bringing an atmosphere of ruthless realism and bloodshed?
9. Von Richthofen within this atmosphere and esprit? John Phillip Law's delineation of his personality? The strong portrayal of character or not? his place within the air force, his relationship with his friends? With Ilea? With Fekker? His interest in planes, his skill? His reputation an an air ace?
10. How well delineated were the English characters? in comparison with Von Richthofen? With Brown? other World War 1 aces, a similar ethos? Popular hero? Death?
11. The introduction of Brown? Don Stroud and his capacity to portray Brown? An equal contest with the Von Richthofen? New World versus Old World? German contrasted with American? The chivalry? Not toasting Von Richthofen, his blunt words to the diners, their reactions, his gradually persuading them?
12. The visualising of the attacks, their purpose? The brutality of the attack. Comment on the brutality of the attack on England? Germany's dominance and the killing of the air aces etc?
13. The decline of the war, Von Richthofen's involvement in politics? The outdated nature of his code, his now realising this? His willingness to stay in battle? The inevitability of the confrontation with Brown? The film building up to this? Von Richthofen's defeat and the beginning of a more realistic world?
14. Themes of World War? consequences in the post-World War I world: Brown and American success, Britain, the Germans and their transition from code to the realism and the tyranny of Goering?
