Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Aces High

      PG 1976 1h 54m War Drama List
      Reviews 67% 250+ Ratings Audience Score Maj. Gresham (Malcolm McDowell) is a flying ace who oversees a group of English pilots during World War I. His latest recruit is Lt. Croft (Peter Firth), who happens to have been only a few years behind Gresham at Eton. Croft idolizes Gresham at first, but the image of his hero is tarnished when he learns of Gresham's private habits, especially his predilection for alcohol. It's only after Croft himself has endured the crucible of war that he comes to fully appreciate his commanding officer. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 02 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      Aces High

      Fandango at Home Prime Video

      Rent Aces High on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (29) audience reviews
      Audience Member In October 1916, fighter ace John Gresham (Malcolm McDowell) speaks to the senior class at Eton College. A year later, new recruit, 2nd Lt. Croft (Peter Firth), arrives at Gresham's temporary base in northern France. Gresham had been his house captain at Eton and is also the boyfriend of Croft's older sister. Gresham relies on alcohol to continue flying because of severe combat stress. Faced with being responsible for the safety of Croft (and the potential impact his loss would have on his sister), Gresham drinks even more heavily. Croft is forced to learn quickly on how to survive - both in the air and on the ground - because aerial combat and squadron etiquette are both merciless. In his week-long rite of passage from naive schoolboy to military pilot, his youthful adoration of Gresham is replaced with respect as he comes to understand the severe strain endured by his commanding officer... Film historian Michael Paris saw "Aces High" as another of the period films that attempted to "de-mystologise" warfare. Film archivist and historian Stephen Pendo saw the "good aerial photography by Gerry Fisher" as the strength of a film that played more as "standard fare". Trivia: This movie is an adaptation of the play "Journey's End" by R.C. Sherriff, written just after World War I. The setting is transplanted from the trenches to an airfield, but most of the characters and some incidents are almost unchanged. This 1976 WWI movie about a Royal Flying Corps squadron has a solid cast, but leaves you wishing for a better film as we get a wobbly scene structure, wobbly acting and a bit too many green screen scenes. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member World War 1 Bi-plane aerial combat movie. The dog-fight scenes are very well done. Great character development, although not unique for war movies. Many of the same characters that you will find in other war movies, but not as well acted. A haunting reminder of the waste that comes from war. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Very good film and very realistic. No computer generated crap. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member as part of my research for the ww1 set play reading in which im a lieutenant, I get to look at some old stuff like this gem for research with some great flying sequences and that lovely natural 70s look and feel, and the great storied Malcolm McDowell in a perfect role and the legend Christopher Plummer not for everyone but a good viewing Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member very dark and shows the true horrors of war Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Reasonable, if predictable, WWI flick, with decent flight sequences for the time. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All Aces High photos

      Aces High

      Aces High (1976) Aces High (1976) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...an all-star, all action film that's hard-wired into sacrifice and sadness... Rated: 4/5 Feb 17, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Maj. Gresham (Malcolm McDowell) is a flying ace who oversees a group of English pilots during World War I. His latest recruit is Lt. Croft (Peter Firth), who happens to have been only a few years behind Gresham at Eton. Croft idolizes Gresham at first, but the image of his hero is tarnished when he learns of Gresham's private habits, especially his predilection for alcohol. It's only after Croft himself has endured the crucible of war that he comes to fully appreciate his commanding officer.
      Director
      Jack Gold
      Production Co
      S. Benjamin Fisz Productions Ltd., Les Productions Jacques Roitfeld
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      War, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jul 7, 2015
      Runtime
      1h 54m
      Most Popular at Home Now