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The Great Waldo Pepper

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The Great Waldo Pepper

PG

Released Mar 13, 1975

1h 47m

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Aerial tale set in the 1920s about a traveling aviator whose exaggerations look to be discovered when he begins work on a film with a pilot with whom he claims to have done battle. Having told colorful stories of wartime combat with the notorious German flying ace, the two men fortunately find a mutual respect, which culminates in a spectacular dogfight.

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Critics Consensus

Though it takes the occasional nosedive due to an imbalanced tone and episodic plotting, The Great Waldo Pepper takes flight thanks to its jaw-dropping aerial sequences and Robert Redford's debonair charm.

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Phil Strassberg

Arizona Republic

Most audiences will be thoroughly sated from the wing-walking, midair transferring, outside-looping and tragic crack-ups to overlook its faults.

Apr 24, 2025

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Patrick Gibbs

Daily Telegraph (UK)

It is much lacking in narrative and character, and makes little of the period.

Mar 20, 2025

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Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

Trouble is that Producer-Director Hill provided a story... and a strangely dichotomous one it is.

Mar 6, 2025

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Frances Taylor

Newhouse News Service

Not only is this movie confined to men's interests and activities, but its slickness and superficiality make it a loss for most audiences.

Mar 20, 2025

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Stuart Byron

Boston Phoenix

Waldo Pepper has a big hole in the center.

Mar 8, 2025

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

It never flies very high but always keeps its wings at least a smidgin above the treetops.

Mar 3, 2025

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Kathryn V

I don't know why the low scores, I loved it. At the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

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Jelisije J

Robert Redford plays a man who loves to fly and will take any job that dont regulate his love to do what he wants.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

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Ted O

A big bright, colorful period piece about the early days of daredevil aviation barnstorming. Excellent performances, snappy dialogue, a joy ride indeed. Masterful screenwriter William Goldman delivers again with a smart, engaging, and poignant drama. Great cinematography, editing, music, and of course Redford in his prime. - I loved this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

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Martin B

In terms of cinematography it doesn't get much better then The Great Waldo Pepper and to think it's near a half a century old. The planes, period costumes and backdrop just so incredibly vivid. Redford was such a beautiful man but my lord he could never really act. The guy had one character and he pretty much played it in all his movies. Pretty to look at, deliver the lines in the Redford way and that's about it. If they had a real lead actor, one with some real chops with charisma and able to interpret the Pepper character with his own unique twist the movie could have been truly great. Redfords, layed back, under performing style dependent on his facial expressions and simple mutteiings was not right for the over the top swashbuckler the roll demanded.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

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Shioka O

This is a personal film of the director who is a pilot. Redford looks great here. Lots of aerial scenes. That's it!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/22

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delysid d

a great companion to john frankenheimers film the gypsy moths

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/22

Full Review

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George Roy Hill

Director

Robert Redford

Waldo Pepper

Bo Svenson

Axel Olsson

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Ernst Kessler

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Synopsis

Aerial tale set in the 1920s about a traveling aviator whose exaggerations look to be discovered when he begins work on a film with a pilot with whom he claims to have done battle. Having told colorful stories of wartime combat with the notorious German flying ace, the two men fortunately find a mutual respect, which culminates in a spectacular dogfight.

Director: George Roy Hill
Producer: George Roy Hill
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 47m

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