Blue Max, The

Setting the scene on the Western Front in 1916, the sound of distant missiles and machine gunfire fills the air as Corporal Stachel watches a defeated plane falling uncontrollably to the ground. This is near Kilpedder in County Wicklow as advised at https://www.donhollway.com/bluemax/

Two years later, behind the German lines in France, a truck carries Stachel from the Army Air Service training school to his new base. Weston Airport in County Dublin.

Lieutenant Bruno Stachel (George Peppard) stands alone at the deserted airfield after the truck drives away. Weston Aerodrome on the border of County Dublin and County Kildare to the south of Leixlip.

The noise of approaching planes grows louder before a hooter sounds, bringing Ground Staff from the outbuildings. A suitably dressed Weston Airport.

As the returning squadron lands, Oberleutnant Kettering (Harry Towb) speaks with the Lieutenant before leaving to tell the Commanding Officer that the replacement has arrived. Weston Airport in County Dublin.

A truck takes Stachel and his fellow Fighter Pilots to their mess in the nearby town. Wicklow Bridge crossing the River Vartry in Wicklow, County Wicklow, which also makes an appearance in 'Taffin'.

Bridge Street Bridge over the in Wicklow Town. The river flows into Wicklow Harbour on the other side.

The shot follows the truck as it turns from the main road. Bachelor's Walk in Wicklow Town.

With this being an assigned street parking area and the Wicklow District Garda HQ to the right, a vehicle-free shot was unlikely.

Driving through a gate, the truck drops the Airmen at the country house that has been commandeered for military use. Charleville House to the south of Enniskerry in County Wicklow, a Palladian style mansion that also appears in 'Where's Jack?'. PW

The house overlooks a very extensive and wide demesne but with no evidence of a gated entrance this close to the property.

Taking off from the airfield with Fabian, Stachel shoots down a British plane, his first of twenty towards being awarded the 'Blue Max' medal.

More high flying as Stachel patrols the skies to the north of St. Quentin before firing on an enemy observation aircraft. Alan Bourke identifies this as looking down onto the town of Trim, County Meath with the ruined tower of St. Mary's Abbey, or 'The Yellow Steeple', visible to the centre bottom.

Flying over gun emplacements, another mission takes off.

Ground and air battle scenes were shot in and over the Kilpedder area in County Wicklow where the landscape has drastically changed.

Stachel adds to his tally of kills before being shot down whilst keeping the enemy off the tail of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.

To bolster public morale, Generaloberst Count von Klugemann sends Stachel to Berlin whilst he is temporarily grounded by a minor injury. Trinity College on College Green, Dublin 2 with the Campanile in the left background.

The tourist season in full swing here, with a constant flow of people heading to and from "The Buttery" eatery and through the doorway left, it was pot luck getting a clear shot. The iconic Campanile ("bell-tower") was completed in the 1850s. Above the four arches are depictions of the heads of Homer, Socrates, Plato and Demosthenes.

Major Holbach (Anton Diffring) and Stachel enter a hospital where the Lieutenant is dressed by Elfi Heidemann, the squadron commander's wife, for a staged photograph. Trinity College on College Green.

Pat had another bit of luck getting this unobstructed view.

After spending the night with Käti Gräfin von Klugermann, Stachel returns to action on a decoy mission to divert enemy patrols around Amiens. Carrickabrack Viaduct crossing the River Blackwater in Fermoy, County Cork.

Following the dispatch of a British plane, Oberleutnant Willi Ritter von Klugermann shows off by flying beneath a bridge. "The Red Bridge" over the Blackwater River at Carrigabrick which carries the Great Southern and Western Railway line between Mallow and Waterford. The viaduct was built in 1872 and the line closed in March 1967.

Stachel performs the same feat before Willi crashes into a castle next to the bridge whilst flying into the sun. Carrigabrick Castle, beside Carrickabrack Viaduct in Fermoy.

At the funeral of her husband, Käti Gräfin von Klugermann (Ursula Andress) stands at the graveside with Generaloberst Graf von Klugermann (James Mason).

Airmen prepare to fire a salute as the Oberleutnant is laid to rest.

The squadron take off in formation. The short wide stretch of the River Liffey in the distance, the grass runway and the buildings to the left all indicate the north-eastern perimeter of Weston Airport.

Enemy Troops march through muddy fields before the squadron begin to descend.

Heading towards the scattering Soldiers, Stachel and his fellow Flyers prepare to open fire.

Inciting the anger of Hauptmann Otto Ritter von Heidemann when he disobeys an order whilst attempting to increase his kills, Stachel is taken to Berlin face a court-martial. Winetavern Street, Dublin 8 with Christchurch Cathedral in the background.

Both sides of the street have changed considerably over 60 years and luckily, pauses in the traffic light sequences provided a traffic free view.

The car carrying Stachel passes lines of Citizens lie up to receive food. Winetavern Street, Dublin with Christchurch Cathedral in the background. "I was there and watched proceedings from the back of a lorry parked outside the perimeter fence to the right. The scene runs for 35 seconds in the film but no filming action took place during my two hour stay."

Pat explains, that the entire street was cordoned off for the day to film the scene.

Accompanied by Hauptmann Ritter von Heidemann, Stachel looks from the car at the desperate queues. Winetavern Street where, Pat continues, "A long perimeter fence was erected to keep onlookers out. One of my then neighbours was an extra and she spotted me over the fence. They had been there since 6am just standing around waiting."

Towards the bottom of Winetavern Street, just a long red brick wall replaces the buildings here.

Troops and Police attempt to keep order as the Crowd grows impatient. Winetavern Street in Dublin 8.

This part of the street has been retained with just the doors repainted.

The Lanchester Landaulette turns from the main road. Winetavern Street where it meets the River Liffey at O'Donovan Rossa Bridge with the familiar Four Courts building in the background across the water. The Four Courts can also be seen in 'Tim Driscoll's Donkey', 'The Quare Fellow', 'Shake Hands With the Devil', 'Rooney', 'Girl with Green Eyes' and 'Johnny Nobody'.

Taken from a similar position where little has changed.

An angry Mob begins to gather as the car passes through a square. Trinity College, Dublin 2 with the Campanile to the centre.

Other than fashions nothing has changed here. The red stone building, the Rubrics, dating from 1700, is the oldest building on the campus.

The car comes to a stand outside Headquarters. Facing the Chapel at Trinity College, Dublin. Among other productions filmed here were 'Educating Rita', 'Shake Hands with the Devil', 'Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx', 'Ulysses' and 'The Eternity Ring', an episode of television's 'Foyle's War'.

Trinity College Chapel building as it appears without dressing.

Inside the building, Generaloberst Graf von Klugermann tells von Heidemann that Stachel is to receive the Blue Max because the population needs a hero. Trinity College, Dublin.

With no camera crane available, this is probably the best angle achievable. The statue in the background is that of former Provost, George Salmon.

A Band plays at the airfield where Stachel is to receive the Blue Max before test flying a new monoplane. Baldonnel Military Aerodrome, since renamed Casement Aerodrome, to the south-west of Dublin. Now, like Weston, vastly changed since filming took place.

His highness the Crown Prince (Roger Ostime) shakes Stachel's hand after placing the medal around his neck. Baldonnel Military Aerodrome in County Dublin.

Called to the telephone by Major Holbach, Generaloberst Graf von Klugermann watches Hauptmann Otto Ritter von Heidemann (Karl Michael Vogler) make his way from an outbuilding after ordering him to fly the monoplane. Looking out onto Baldonnel Military Aerodrome.

Told that all is ready for him to fly, Stachel makes his way to the monoplane after Heidemann lands. The Irish Air Corps' base at Baldonnel where the hangars were built for the Royal Air Force in 1918.

Otto von Heidemann and Elfi Heidemann (Loni von Friedl) watch smoke rise from the crashed monoplane after Stachel loses control of the unsafe aircraft. Baldonnel Military Aerodrome in County Dublin.