The Great Waldo Pepper

I just watched The Great Waldo Pepper for the second time. The first was when my parents took me to see it in the theater right after it came out. I remember that there was a bit of discussion before hand about whether or not I was old enough because it was rated PG.

What a great movie! I could not take my eyes off the screen. If you can find a copy, it's worth watching.

Wow, I remember seeing that in the theatre when I was a kid, and again on TV a few times after that. Dad was a big aviation buff. It really is a great movie - thanks for reminding me of it. Some of the visuals in that movie are still clear in my memory, probably 35 years after the last time I watched it.

Thanks. I just added it to my netflix queue.....they have it in both streaming an DVD

From IMDB:

*There are no studio takes in airplanes. All close-ups of actors being airborne were done for real, sometimes with George Roy Hill, a former Marine pilot himself, flying the airplane while directing. Scenes with Robert Redford and Bo Svenson climbing out on the wing were done without any security harness or parachutes. *

One of the better aviation movies ever made. The filming of the scene with the plane trying the outside loop is one the best I know. It always pisses me off to see other movies that can't just follow that simple formula: Simple fixed perspective camera, use the environmental sounds, how hard can that be!! (The opening scene of Always is up there also)

That movie Red Tails is a travesty from that perspective... argh, it just pisses me off... heck, they could have just had the guys that did Dogfights on Discovery do all the aerial sequences!!! Then there is that aviation abortion know as Fly Boys, double argh, a true insult to movie making, special effect, aeronautical physics, the pilots who flew the planes and aviation.

Urnst Udet did actually get into the air show circuit, so there is some historical accuracy to the film also.

Damn CAA.

I watch it at least once a year. I blame it for me wanting Redfern plans to build a DR1 or Camel.

Where is it?

In my DVD player.

For several years after that movie, Robert Redford drove a 911 with license plats that read "Waldo".

The other day, I was just thinking to myself about this movie, wondering if it was great just because I was eight when it came out, or was it actually good enough for me to suggest to my too cool twenty year old son.

From the praises you guys have heaped onto this thread, I think I should tell the kid to watch it.

I watched a bit of it the other day. The cinematography is outstanding. I did not remember that. I cannot tolerate the CG stuff today.

This thread is Jeremiah Johnson Approved.

Thanks, added to the list.

I vaguely remember watching this movie back when I was a kid after my dad rented it from a movie store. It greatly contributed to my love of flying and planes and is probably one of the things that drove me towards my chosen career path as an aerospace engineer. I remember bits and pieces of the movie but could never remember the name of it, so thank you to Woody for starting this thread. I know what I am going to be watching tonight.

Jim Pettengill wrote: For several years after that movie, Robert Redford drove a 911 with license plats that read "Waldo".

Probably an "air cooled" thing...

Back when I was in college at the University of Illinois we hosted a huge environmental rally--- the largest of it's kind up to that point. ( 7-9K kids) Being an idealistic youth, I was a volunteer. Redford heard about the rally and contacted us, asking if he could come. He paid for his own way, was tremendously kind and friendly, and gave a killer speech. He's a total class act.

Jesse Jackson on the other hand, demanded $5,500 to speak, didn't confirm until 2 weeks before the event, and was a jerk. (and he only had to come down from Chicago) total POS.

Joe Gearin wrote: Jesse Jackson on the other hand, demanded $5,500 to speak, didn't confirm until 2 weeks before the event, and was a jerk. (and he only had to come down from Chicago) total POS.

I've heard similar stories about Carl Yastrzemski.

Joe Gearin wrote: Jesse Jackson on the other hand, demanded $5,500 to speak, didn't confirm until 2 weeks before the event, and was a jerk. (and he only had to come down from Chicago) total POS.

What else would you expect out of someone who has made a career out of... doing what , exactly?

I too saw it at a theatre when I was a wee lad. There is some impressive flying in it.

interestingly enough i ate at a place called Waldo Pepper's in port clinton ohio last week. monday is all you can eat ribs night for $13.99

http://waldo-peppers.com/

Wouldn't all you can eat wing be more appropriate?