Zeppelin 1971 Directed by : Etienne Périer Main Actors : Michael York as Geoffrey Richter-Douglas, Elke Sommer as Erika Altschul, Peter Carsten as Major Tauntler, Marius Goring as Professor Christian Altschul & Anton Diffring as Colonel Hirsch. Plot : During the First World War in 1915, Geoffrey Richter-Douglas (Michael York), a Scotsman of German descent, is a lieutenant in the British Army. He meets Stephanie (Alexandra Stewart), a German spy with whom he falls in love. She suggests that he escape to Germany, where the other members of his family and his friends are. As a loyal soldier, he reports this contact to his commanding officer, Captain Whitney, who also wants Geoffrey to go to Germany, but on a secret mission to steal the plans of the LZ36, a new type of Zeppelin under development at Friedrichshafen. Geoffrey pretends to be a deserter and travels to Germany. At Friedrichshafen, he meets his long-time friend Professor Altschul (Marius Goring), who lives with his beautiful and much younger wife, Erika (Elke Sommer). Geoffrey quickly learns that German Intelligence did not bring him to Germany for a family reunion. Following a meeting with Intelligence Colonel Hirsch (Anton Diffring), he is assigned to the LZ36 on its maiden test flight. As soon as it is declared airworthy, the airship is to take part in a military operation to steal many British historical documents, including the Magna Carta, from Balcoven Castle in Scotland. Geoffrey is to play a key role in the mission. After refuelling in Norway and taking on board a contingent of hand-picked soldiers, the airship proceeds to Balcoven Castle. Under cover of darkness, as the airship approaches the castle, Geoffrey is suspended in a basket to help the pilot navigate. A local farmer hears the sound of the airships engines just before they are cut, and raises the alarm with the local military base. With no option but to participate in the assault, Geoffrey manages to slip away in the darkness and find the communications room. He tries to persuade a sceptical radio operator to contact London, but after hearing shooting and explosions, the operator mistakes Geoffrey for a German spy and shoots him in the arm. Meanwhile, alerted by the farmers report, the British Admiralty scrambles several aircraft squadrons and dispatches ground troops. The British troops engage the Germans, who withdraw empty-handed rather than risk losing the Zeppelin. The airship manages to slip away in the dark with a much depleted crew, but shortly after first light, is caught by pursuing British aircraft. Several aircraft are shot down in the ensuing dogfight, but the Zeppelin is badly damaged. Despite desperately lightening the airship in an effort to stay in the air, the survivors are forced down near the coast of neutral Holland. Geoffrey, Erika and the few remaining crew members make their way to shore just as the Zeppelin explodes. Information : Written by producer Owen Crump, the story of Zeppelin is set in mid-1915, during the First World War. Although based on the Zeppelin raids over London and England, as a work of fiction, the film differs from reality in several aspects, especially involving a sub-plot involving espionage. Principal photography for the production began in late 1970.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:37:23 +0000
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