Welcome back for another installment in our 2025 Review Stew! I hope you aren’t afraid of heights because this week we take to the skies. Climb aboard and hold on tight as we fly into…The Great Waldo Pepper (1975).
Title: The Great Waldo Pepper
Director: George Roy Hill
Released: March 13, 1975 (Germany and the United States)
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Available to stream on: Netflix
All Waldo Pepper (Robert Redford) wanted during World War I was to be in the air amongst the flying aces. Unfortunately for him, he was a flight instructor instead. After the war, Waldo becomes a stunt pilot in order to chase the adrenaline rush he’s been missing in his life.
On the stunt pilot circuit, Waldo eventually becomes friends with his top rival, Axel Olsson (Bo Svenson). The two decide to team up and invest in the construction of a custom-made stunt plane. Ultimately, Pepper wants to be the first to successfully perform a maneuver known as The Outside Loop.
But are the potential risks associated with Waldo’s pursuit worth it?
The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) is definitely a story of two halves. The first half of the movie is incredibly light on substance, mainly focusing on the aerial stunts performed by Waldo and Axel. Meanwhile, the second half, while having a bit more substance, takes a darker turn. Luckily, thanks to the aerial stunts throughout, the change in tone wasn’t jarring enough to impact my overall viewing.
Redford is as charismatic as ever here. Though it is fair to say that you’d be hard pressed to find a role where he isn’t charming the pants off of everyone. If you’re not watching for the aerial stunts, you’re watching for that Redford smile. However, he had some help here as well. Svenson, Margot Kidder, and Susan Sarandon are just a few of the names that fill out the impressive supporting cast.
Had I not heard The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) referenced on The Video Archives podcast, I’m not sure that it would have ever been on my radar. While it isn’t life-changing or anything, it is a solid entertaining watch.
In fact, I’m a little surprised that this isn’t more well-known. As of this writing, just over 5,000 people have logged this as “watched” on Letterboxd. Hopefully I can help that number creep up a little bit.
The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) gets a recommend from me. Definitely give it at least one viewing.
So, what are your thoughts on The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)?
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