The Blue Max

The Blue Max is a 1966 war film about a ruthless German World War I fighter pilot.

Otto Heidemann

• [suspecting his subordinate, Bruno Stachel, of lying about shooting down two planes] Two three-second bursts. Is your marksmanship that good?

General Count von Klugermann

• [on being informed Stachel has been wounded in the arm] Good, the people like soldiers to be shot in the right places.

Dialogue

Otto Heidemann: What does your father do?

[Pause]

Bruno Stachel: He works in a small hotel, Herr Hauptmann...five bedrooms!"

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Willi von Klugermann: A pretty medal, the Blue Max.

Bruno Stachel: It's the only one worth having. People respect it.

Willi von Klugermann: The medal or the man?

---

Willi von Klugermann: By the way, Stachel. There's an impression around that you care more about your unconfirmed kill than you do about Fabian's death.

[Pause]

Bruno Stachel: Perhaps it's force of habit. In the trenches, we couldn't even bury the dead; there were too many of them. I've never had the time to discuss them over a glass of champagne.

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[Willi von Klugermann informs Stachel that their commander has ordered him to attend a ceremony honoring the men he killed]

Willi von Klugermann: He believes in chivalry, Stachel.

Bruno Stachel: Chivalry? To kill a man, then make a ritual out of saluting him. It's hypocrisy. When they kill me, I don't want anyone to salute.

Willi von Klugermann:They probably won't.

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General Count von Klugermann: Otto, this is 1918. Things have changed. Unrestricted submarine warfare, bombing of civilians, poison gas. Ask your wife; she's a nurse. Ask Elfi about the mustard gas casualties.

Otto Heidemann: So you approve of this kind of ruthlessness!

von Klugermann: We fight to win, Otto.