For those who don't know it, The Blue Max is a tale set in late World War I about a young German pilot Bruno Stachel, played by George Peppard, whose goal is to receive Germany's highest honor for aerial combat the Pour le Merite (The Blue Max). And through the course of the movie, we see his drive for the medal turn into an overriding obsession. To help take us through this journey, Jerry Goldsmith provides an extraordinary score that helps illustrate Stachel's growing obsession for the medal. Comprised for the first time in sequential order this score also provides us with some of the traditional songs heard in the movie as well. And with over 70 minutes of music, The Blue Max is worth investing in.
To provide a musical indication of Stachel's drive, Goldsmith incorporates three main themes. The first illustrates Stachel's love of flying, as heard in The Blue Max (Main Title), and First Victory. The second theme is Stachel's love of Kaeti, the wife of his superior officer back in Berlin, this is heard in the three renditions of the Love Theme. The final of the three main themes is also the darkest of the three which is used to show Stachel's all-consuming desire to win the prestigious Blue Max. These three main themes are the highlights of the soundtrack, however, the entire soundtrack is worth listening to, especially the music heard during the battle scenes.
Movie critics weren't too impressed with the movie itself although it is one of the best World War I aviation movies, however movie critic Richard Maltin called Jerry Goldsmith's score one of the film's redeeming values. If you happen to find this one, get it, and if you have a chance to see the movie, I recommend it too.
Total time: 72:00
1: The Blue Max (Main Title) (2:24)
2: The New Arrival (1:23)
3: A Toast to Bruno (1:41)
4: First Blood (2:23)
5: First Victory (:41)
6: The Captive (1:45)
7: The Victim (2:33)
8: The Cobra (1:39)
9: The Attack (6:30)
10: A Small Favor (:56)
11: Love Theme (1:16)
12: The Rivals (:26)
13: Finale to Part 1 (1:05)
14: Prelude to Part 2 (1:40)
15: The Bridge (3:14)
16: Love Theme (1:33)
17: Retreat (7:36)
18: Stachel To Berlin (2:25)
19: Nothing Needed (:39)
20: Kaeti Has A Plan (3:30)
21: Stachel's Last Flight (1:58)
22: End Title (2:34)
- Source Music -
23: Pour Le Merite (2:15)
24: Presentiar March (1:26)
25: Student Song Medley (2:09)
26: Artist's Life (:59)
27: Gloria March (:21)
28: Deutschland Uber Alles (:48)
29: Watch On The Rhine (1:42)