Aces High

The first World War is in its third year and aerial combat above the Western Front is consuming the nation's favored children at an appalling rate. By early 1917, the average life-span of a British pilot is less than a fortnight. Such losses place a fearsome strain on Gresham, commanding officer of the squadron. Aces High recreates the early days of the Royal Flying Corps with some magnificently staged aerial battles, and sensitive direction presents a moving portrayal of the futilities of war.

Cast

Malcolm McDowell

as Maj. John Gresham

Christopher Plummer

as Capt. 'Uncle' Sinclair

Simon Ward

as Lt. Crawford

Peter Firth

as Lt. Stephen Croft

David Wood

as Lt. 'Tommy' Thompson

John Gielgud

as Headmaster

Trevor Howard

as Lieutenant Colonel Silkin

Richard Johnson

as Major Lyle

Ray Milland

as Brigadier General Whale

Gilles Béhat

as Captain Beckenauer

Reviews

Wuchak

***What was it like to be a fighter pilot in WW1?*** An inexperienced young Brit straight from the academy (Peter Firth) arrives on the Western front in northern France to assist in the air war against the Germans during WW1. One week in the lives of the pilots of a Royal Flying Corps squadron ...

CinemaSerf

Perhaps because many of the cast here all look so very young, this film has an extra potency as a depiction of some of the inexperienced fliers who fought in the Great War. It all centres around the young "Crawford" (Simon Ward) who joins a squadron commanded by "Gresham" (Malcolm McDowell) and his ...

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