Retro Review: Aces High (1976)

~ beetleypete

I have always enjoyed war films. The history, the action, the nostalgia; that always added up to a ‘must see’ for me, and generally still does. In 1966, I enjoyed the film ‘The Blue Max’, starring George Peppard. This looked at the war in the air during 1914-1918, and was a glossy star-studded portrayal of the combat from the German perspective, surrounding a tale of class prejudice and adultery.

Ten years later, and a new film adaptation of the play ‘Journey’s End’ was advertised. This was a British production, and took the story out of the trenches of the Western Front, changing the theme to the air war, and a squadron of The Royal Flying Corps operating in France during WW1. The casting looked good too, starring Malcolm McDowell, Christoper Plummer, Simon Ward, and a very young Peter Firth. I went to see it at the cinema, as soon as it was released.

This film goes for authenticity. Muddy airfields, rickety aircraft, and a selection of characters all fairly new to aerial warfare, in its early days. Gresham (McDowell) is in charge of the squadron, one of the few experienced pilots who has managed to survive for almost two years of operations in France. His number two is the reliable Captain Sinclair, known as ‘Uncle’, (Plummer) grounded by an old wound, and overseeing operations. We are introduced to the others, including the reluctant and possibly cowardly Crawford, (Ward) the ever-cheerful and likable Thompson, (David Wood) and the experienced Roberts. (Christopher Blake)

As casualties mount, new replacements arrive, with lots of enthusiasm, but little training. One of them is the wide-eyed youngster, Croft. (Firth) He went to the same school as Gresham, and idolises the cynical and bitter commander. Life at the base is lived for the moment. Drinking, singing, and visits to the brothel in the local town, where the naive Croft falls for a lovely young prostitute. They maintain the old-school manners, and even display chivalry, entertaining a captured German pilot at a Mess Dinner. But Gresham is not the man Croft expected. Alcoholic, worn out, and refusing to make any real friends, he teaches the youngster the hard lessons of war. Croft retreats to the friendly comforts of the lower ranks, spending time with the mechanics and armourers, to the annoyance of the other officers.

The film also excels in the air combat scenes, which mostly feel very realistic. They fly out on patrols every day, meeting their German enemies in one-to-one combat, attacking observation balloons, and trying to avoid anti-aircraft fire. Slowly but surely, their numbers reduce, until Croft becomes one of the most experienced men, in just seven days of operations. It is this seven day time window that makes this film exceptional. Events play out almost in real time, during just one week, in 1916.

I was left with a satisfying experience, and a story that has no heroes, and just one message. War is futile.

It is worth noting that the director used some authentic-looking aircraft, as well as restored and specially-built planes. He also included scenes taken from other WW1 flying combat films, like ‘The Blue Max’ that I mentioned, as well as the films ‘Von Richtofen’, and ‘Brown’. If you are a fan of such films, or the play ‘Journey’s End’, you will not be disappointed.

43 thoughts on “Retro Review: Aces High (1976)”

  3. I liked this film as well. (I too am a sucker for “war movies”). You summed it up very succinctly.
    When I look back at films I loved as a child or even teenager…very few stand the rest of time due to being so unrealistic!! Having read a LOT. On military history in the last 30/40 years…I spoil my own films by searching out the mistakes!!

    This one had fewer than most.

    I recommend highly this book about the RFC.

    No Empty Chairs: The Short and Heroic Lives of the Young Aviators Who Fought and Died in the First World War by Ian Mackersey

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    1. Thanks for the book recommendation, John. I sometimes think I have seen every war film ever made, though I probably haven’t. Like you, I get riled by mistakes, weapons out of place, and things like tank fighting in ‘The Battle Of The Bulge’ happening in desert conditions (filmed in Spain, in the summer) instead of the reality of a harsh winter. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. My recent favourite (which only noticed in last watch) is Zulu. Apart from some – ok a lot – of historical innacuracies, look at the final battle when they are in the last stand redoubt. All the British soldiers at the front are rightly using Martini-Henry rifles…but they must not have had enough to go around. The rear rows are using Brown Bess muskets from around 1815 with bayonets fixed. You can clearly see they are flintlocks!! But hey….that’s Hollywood.

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      1. Aces High the winner for me…it felt all too real….
        Did you ever see Renoir’s La Grande Illusion? And of course, the original All Quiet on the Western Front takes some beating.. I saw that at school, and it had quite an effect on me.

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  12. I loved this movie, years ago, when I saw it. I forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll try to dig it up. I remember when Top Gun came out, I was appalled at all the attention it was getting when this film is so much better and less known–at least in the states. (I hate Top Gun, by the way.) WWI pilots are so compelling.
    Great review Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Pam. I thought Top Gun was nonsense, and a total waste of money and talent.
      At least Aces High took a real period, and had a very authentic look at a tragic time.
      (The whole film of Aces High is free on You Tube, at least in the UK.)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. I loved your review. I’ve not watched any of these movies or the play, but I’ll be sure to do that. Btw, you’re really good at it.❤️

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