The Great Waldo Pepper
1975 · Movie · PG · 108 min · ★ 6.5 · 64% critics
A former World War I pilot chases the thrill of the skies by barnstorming across small-town America, performing ever-riskier stunts for paying crowds. When new rules and hard luck threaten his future, he turns to movie work, where the danger is just as real and the pull of past glory won’t let go.
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Details
- Years
- 1975
- Release date
- 1975-03-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 64/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (93 votes)
About
If you enjoy vintage planes, daredevil flying, and a nostalgic adventure vibe, this is a solid pick; Not for you if you need a tight plot or consistent mood, like in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Pros: thrilling real stunts; strong aviation atmosphere; lively mix of tones | Cons: uneven story focus; disjointed dramatic shift; shallow character writing
Themes
- world war i
- aerial combat
- red baron
- biplane
- flying ace
- barnstorming
- fighter ace
- stunt pilot
- the red baron
- airplane pilot
Cast & crew
Robert Redford
as Waldo Pepper
Bo Svenson
as Axel Olsson
Bo Brundin
as Ernst Kessler
Susan Sarandon
as Mary Beth
Geoffrey Lewis
as Newt
Edward Herrmann
as Ezra Stiles
Philip Bruns
as Dilhoefer
Roderick Cook
as Werfel
Kelly Jean Peters
as Patsy
Margot Kidder
as Maude
Directed by George Roy Hill