Zeppelin

I've had a great affection for this film since I first saw it on tv, in the 70's. In my youth, I found it to be quite exciting and it spawned a lifelong interest in airships. The performances are good and the effects are good for their time and don't come across as too dated. The story is a bit murky. We never really feel that Michael York is that torn between his loyalties; rather, he seems more like a spy determined to perform his mission. His actions seem more motivated towards convincing the Germans that he believes in what they are doing, rather than being conflicted. The romantic angle is also a bit weak. It comes across more that York is fascinated with Elke Sommer, but not necessarily in love. She does not trust hims, nor does she seem attracted to him. It comes across as too ambiguous.

As far as the commando mission, it is an interesting idea, although the idea of a commando assault in the days before automatic weapons comes across as a bit absurd. Watching the German raiders trying to swing their rifles (with bayonets affixed, no less!) in enclosed spaces is a bit much. It is not impossible that a zeppelin could carry a raiding party. In the first place, it is only a squad that is taken aboard, not a battalion. Secondly, the zeppelin is not carrying a bomb load. Thirdly, the squad is taken aboard near Norway, and is not carried over the entire voyage; only after fuel has been used up. The logistics are sound; the motive for the attack may need some analysis.

The idea that the British would give up, due to the destruction of the Magna Carta and the crown jewels is a bit absurd. However, the thought that German soldiers could strike on British soil, and destroy national treasures, would be a great blow to British morale. World War I was not a very popular war in many circles in Britain. The stalemate in the trenches and the bombing raids on Britain had many people feeling that the war was a waste. A raid such of this would have at least caused the British to pull back some of their resources to defend their home, thereby weakening the front. It's an interesting possibility.

All-in-all, this is an entertaining film with fine performances. The flying sequences are quite well done. The plot is intriguing, if not wholly satisfying. Well worth a look.

First---I want to say I have always enjoyed this movie since first seeing it some years ago. It explores some aspects of of a (relatively) little-know war i.e. World War I, and especially the use and technology of Zeppelins--which has been rare to non-existent in cinema.

Recently having purchased a video tape of the movie, I noticed something that has raised questions in my mind. In the movie, it is stated more times how critical weight is on a Zeppelin. For instance, when Richter-Douglas is first brought on board, Frau Altschul says "weight is critical on an airship--we haven't allowed for this man!" However, later when the Zeppelin has docked on the ship in the North Sea, a score or more of the men who are the "commandos" board the ship, and nothing is said about extra weight.

The only thing I can surmise is that the men who were to actually perform the commando raid in Scotland replaced the regular Zeppelin crew; who consequently disembarked and were left on the naval ship. If this happened in the movie or was mentioned, did I miss it?

Produced as Ronald Getty's (son of J.Paul Getty) venture into motion pictures it attempted to explore a subject that had up to its point only been explored through the explosion of the German airship Hindenburg. It attempted to tell the story of loyalties with the then current anti-military fashion (petty drum rolls when the more dramatic and militaristic "We Sail Against England" was originally written would have provided a contrast needed).

Since the general public's reaction to a philo-German film was unknown it was thought that any overt militarism (such as the "Blue Max") should be down because the subject matter of Zeppelins without swastikas (i.e., The Hindenburg) was an unknown commodity thus a safe course was taken and downed played and thus weakening the film. Originally, scenes of epic battles waging beneath the skies of blue were considered and deleted.

In a story meeting Bob Wise's underplay of German militarism in "The Sound of Music" was argued as the public's desire to see Germania topics -- as fodder for story antagaonists without their significance.

It remains at least to me an attempt to discuss loyalty, love's betrayal and history on a very very limited budget.

I remember researching it with dad. What interested Getty was that his father's oil company furnished Germany's airships during the First World War. His contribution despite his then titanic sums available to him for a variety of reasons was very modest. Rumor had it J. Paul called Jack Warner and was concerned that his son was investing in movies and what could he expect... Ronald should however be commended because without his involvement no film on zeppelin would have been made at all (of the very limited collection of zeppelin films thus far).

The film could have used an injection of drama that was unfortunately out of vogue during the time of its production. This sounds like an excuss but one must remember it took "Patton" ten years to be produced out of similiar concerns. It was private money after all...

To dad... thanks for the memory ol' fella will miss ya...

For years, I had heard loosely about the use of zeppelins in WWI. Etienne Perier's movie "Zeppelin" does a very good job telling a specific story. It focuses on ancestrally-German Brit Geoffrey Richter-Douglas (Michael York) getting torn between allegiance to his native country and his ancestral land when he gets a chance to go to Germany to ride a zeppelin; he goes there, but of course doesn't tell his hosts that he's actually there as a UK agent. Then comes the ride aboard the zeppelin.

In my opinion, probably the movie's most interesting aspect is Elke Sommer's role. Throughout the '60s, she was one of the go-to women for sex kitten roles. Here, her character is Frau Dr. Erika Altschul, the wife of the zeppelin's inventor. She's a very educated, articulate woman not about to let anyone order her around. Granted, she's still quite pretty - and in one scene, we can see from her shadow on the wall that she's taking off her clothes! - but this is a totally different kind of role for her. Of course, I praise her for accepting a new kind of role for once.

Anyway, while this may not be the best movie ever, I certainly recommend it. Some of the early scenes give one the feeling of having been in England during WWI when the Germans were bombing (the truth is, we Americans have never experienced anything like that). Definitely worth seeing.

I loved it the music was great so was the cast the zeppelin looked just like a real one this is a great movie micheal york was great in it it shows many scenes of the zeppelin and the fight between the airplanes and the zeppelin was exciting I loved the movie I give it *****5 stars