***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 is chronicled as they struggle with the stresses & risks intrinsic to their profession. Malcolm McDowell plays the…
High above the trenches 14 days is a long life...This is the 15th day!
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.
Top Cast
Malcolm McDowell
Maj. John Gresham
Christopher Plummer
Capt. 'Uncle' Sinclair
Simon Ward
Lt. Crawford
Peter Firth
Lt. Stephen Croft
David Wood
Lt. 'Tommy' Thompson
John Gielgud
Headmaster
Trevor Howard
Lieutenant Colonel Silkin
Richard Johnson
Major Lyle
Ray Milland
Brigadier General Whale
Gilles Béhat
Captain Beckenauer
Tim Pigott-Smith
Major Stoppard
David Daker
Bennett
Christopher Blake
Lieutenant Roberts
Barry Jackson
Joyce
Ron Pember
Eliot
Jacques Maury
Ponnelle
Reviews
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 adjutant "Sinclair" (Christopher Plummer). Green in the extreme, he finds himself fighting for his life every time he…
FAQ about Aces High
What is Aces High about?
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,…
When was Aces High released?
Aces High was released in 1976.
What genres does Aces High belong to?
Aces High is categorised as Action, Drama, War.
Who stars in Aces High?
The cast of Aces High includes Malcolm McDowell, Christopher Plummer, Simon Ward, Peter Firth, David Wood.