Reviews
The reviews after the first public performances of the film were mainly negative, criticized in particular the high level of historical inaccuracy. The fictitious love story between Richthofen and Käte Otersdorf was described as having little factual basis. The film received a cool reception at the Berlin premiere and one member of the audience stated that Richthofen's disillusion with the war was not believable.
Prior to the film's release, Matthias Schweighöfer gave a private screening to Tom Cruise on the set of Valkyrie. Schweighofer later recalled,
"We watched it together, and afterwards he jumped up and said, 'I'm amazed that you made a film like this in Germany.'"
The choreography and technical design of the dogfight sequences and the period equipment used in the film received high praise. The film was quite controversial in Germany, a nation wherein patriotism is almost a taboo. According to director Nikolai Müllerschön
"Historically there has been reluctance and there are strong voices in Germany still saying we're not allowed to do this: a film about a German war hero, but the film makes a very clear statement against war."
Read more about this topic: The Red Baron (film)
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—Josephine Woodward, U.S. author. As quoted in Everyone Was Brave, ch. 3, by William L. O’Neill (1969)
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