The Great Waldo Pepper

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Matthew D A poignant drama about potential. George Roy Hill’s aerial epic drama The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) is a tragedy drama masquerading as a pleasant historical adventure. Hill transports you to another time with period clothing, music, pacing, haircuts, speech, and biplanes. Henry Mancini’s score is a delightful recollection of former Americana. The joyful music matches the old atmosphere as well as finding the heart of all the sorrow Waldo Pepper experiences. George Roy Hill is a master of period films with Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid as well as The Sting already under his belt, Hill takes on post WWI America with a tender perspective on a pilot that never got to fight in the war for his own glory. Hill recreates 1920’s and 1930’s America with vivid imagination and attention to detail for biplanes of the era as well as the barnstorming stunts of the time. Hill achieves thoughtful commentary on the dissatisfaction of veterans adjusting to post-war America. Hill’s direction is amazing with long tracking shots of Redford running towards a plane crash or long held close-ups of Redford’s face revealing his emotions. Robert Redford is fascinating and charming as the talented pilot Waldo Pepper with dreams of aerial fame. Redford is a masterful actor of presenting himself with subtle nuances. He quietly displays his displeasure at having no money or pilot combat experience. His forlorn looks and depressed lines are brilliant. He gives a brilliant monologue to a young boy about a real mission that he never flew, but he pretends to do so very well. Redford is charismatic as a fun and engaging lead actor, likable as the distraught hero Waldo Pepper, endearing in his tragic life moments, shocking in his aerial piloting with reckless abandon, and charming as the romantic interest. Susan Sarandon is fun as the silly Mary Beth. Her scared acting up in the plane is convincing with shocking results. I love how kindly and realistic Margot Kidder’s character Maude Stiles felt. She’s angry with Waldo Pepper for continually putting his life at risk, while still harboring affections for her old flame. Kidder is sweet, gripping, and sympathetic in her supporting role. I rather enjoyed Bo Svenson’s likable pilot verteran Axel Olsson. He’s a great foil for Redford to act off of for a majority of the movie. Bo Brundin is amazing as ace German pilot Ernst Kessler. His monologue both for his glory days flying in WWI as well as reminiscing on Hollywood’s oddities are excellent displays of dramatic acting. He gives the best performance appearing as Waldo’s hero and rival and he only appears in person in the second half of the film. Lastly, I really liked the technical pilot designer and Waldo Pepper’s friend Edward Herrmann as Ezra Stiles. He’s likable and funny with a sincerity about him. Waldo Pepper is full of wonderful acting. In conclusion, The Great Waldo Pepper features stellar writing and direction with several outstanding dramatic supporting performances backing up Robert Redford’s captivating lead role. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/16/25 Full Review 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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review 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 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/24 Full Review 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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/23 Full Review 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 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Great Waldo Pepper

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