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

62%

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65 Reviews

58%

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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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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Redford effortlessly portrays Pepper's superficial charm, but lacks the depth to convey his torment. That said, the aerial sequences are stunning.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 31, 2025

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Boris Nelson

Toledo Blade

The film stirs memories of earlier aviation and the boys who dared the sky and moistens your palms as you fly along, thanks to exciting camera work by Robert Surtees and the air work by Tallmantz Aviation.

Aug 20, 2025

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Ed Hayman

Flint Journal

In spite of the spectacular wild-blue-yondering, "The Great Waldo Pepper" never gets off the ground.

Aug 19, 2025

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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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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George Roy Hill

Director

Robert Redford

Waldo Pepper

Bo Svenson

Axel Olsson

Bo Brundin

Ernst Kessler

Susan Sarandon

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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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