Production Von Richthofen and Brown

miles-built s.e.5 replica flown charles boddington, 5 seconds before fatal crash on 15 september 1970



camera crew (1970): peter peckowski , peter allwork in cockpit, jimmy murakami, shay corcoran , lynn garrison

roger corman had been interested in making film manfred von richthofen number of years. felt baron last true knight, aristocratic warrior code of honor, , wanted show how baron s way of thinking archaic compared wholesale slaughter of world war i. thing wanted contrast baron man had been credited shooting him down, canadian raf pilot roy brown. (most historians believe red baron shot down ground fire.)

in 1965 announced had commissioned script called red baron robert towne. pitched project 20th century fox along st valentine s day massacre; fox decided make latter, had blue max. years later corman signed deal united artists liked idea of film red baron did not want film german, corman agreed make roy brown , other characters both areas of battle front added script.

although story of 2 foes meet in fateful last flight, historical subject, corman s intention treat subject allegory of modern war machine in conflict antiquated old world notions of chivalry.

work on film went ahead, corman able work larger budget enjoyed earlier features. ex-rcaf pilot lynn garrison supplied aircraft, crews , facilities, , coordinated flying sequences; garrison had purchased collection of hangars, aircraft, vehicles , support equipment accumulated filming 20th century’s top-grossing film, blue max, after production wrapped in 1965. collection included replica pfalz d.iiis, royal aircraft factory s.e.5s, fokker d.viis, fokker dr.is. number of de havilland dh.82a tiger moths , stampe sv.4cs had been converted represent other aircraft, total of 12 aircraft available aerial scenes.

for aerial sequences, corman used aérospatiale alouette ii helicopter, along helio courier, photography, supported number of specialized camera mounts garrison developed use on individual aircraft. allowed footage of actors, such john philip law , don stroud flying aircraft. garrison trained law , stroud point take off, land stampe, , fly basic sequences rear seat, filmed rear-facing camera. stunt pilots used more complicated sequences, 1 such being famed new age author richard bach. bach wrote experiences in short story entitled shot down red baron, , , reproduced in short story collection gift of wings.

corman used filming schedule included so-called blue days, grey days , don’t give damn days aircraft used no matter weather presented.

on 15 september 1970, charles boddington, veteran of both blue max , darling lili, killed when s.e.5 spun in during low-level manoeuvre on airfield. next day, during last scheduled flight on shooting schedule, garrison , stroud involved in low-level sequence across lake weston in stampe, when jackdaw struck garrison in face, knocking him unconscious. aircraft ran through 5 powerlines, snap rolled , plunged river liffey inverted. garrison , stroud rescued water. stroud uninjured, garrison required 60 stitches close head wound. both incidents occurring in such short period resulted in irish authorities grounding production. corman lobbied restoration of flying , few days later, successful.

some of interior shots in von richthofen , brown filmed @ powerscourt house, noted stately home in county wicklow ireland. powerscourt had been designed richard cassels, german architect, , entrance hall had germanic motif, lending visual connection german location.

corman felt pressure of directing big-budget feature such wanted take sabbatical. although heavily involved producer during interim, did not direct film until frankenstein unbound (1990).

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