Movie Reviews for The Hindenburg

The Hindenburg

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Movie Reviews of The Hindenburg

Movie Review: Formulaic genre film
Summary: 3 Stars

This "red-headed step child" of the disaster genre will really only appeal to fans of the formula (like myself, I confess!), conspiracy theorists or aviation history buffs.

Great stars are wasted in a historical fiction melodrama HEAVY on the fiction. William Atherton turns in the best performance as a Nazi resistance crew member, while everyone else hams it up admirably hoping to duplicate Shelley Winters's success in THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE.

The last 15 minutes, however, are spectacularly well done by director Wise, Editor and the special effects department.

Unfortunately, Universal missed the opportunity to include any interesting special features related to zeppelin travel, the Hindenberg catastrophe or the important, frenetic history of the time. Shame on them!

Movie Review: Hindenburg is more than just a lot of hot air at 3 1/2 stars
Summary: 3 Stars

I enjoyed this film for it's historical details, groundbreaking special effects for its time (and they still hold up today), nice intercutting of the real explosive footage of the Hindenburg with studio creations, and terrific acting by George C. Scott (always reliable), William Atherton who made a career out of playing bad or generally sleezy guys (see him in Die Hard 1 and 2), and Roy Thinnes (a great TV actor who never got enough credit on the big screen). The great cast of other familiar faces all do a competent job. Less storylines and melodrama than most in this genre and it was a welcome change.

This film is definitely worth renting/viewing. Purchase it only if you are into these kinds of historical disaster films.

Movie Review: Not Quite A Disaster Masterpiece
Summary: 3 Stars

What's interesting about "The Hindenburg" is the theory of sabotage given to a tragedy that shocked human history. Robert Wise handles the idea fairly well. However, I was kind of disappointed to see the scenes of the tragedy mixed together with real footage of the tragedy. I would have loved to have seen more 70's wizardry on that scene.

I am surprised this movie won an Academy Award for best visual effects, but I have to admit that Albert Whitlock's matte paintings are truly remarkable.

As for the performances, George C. Scott's performance as a German agent is quite good, in fact he stands out over the rest of the cast.

All in all, "The Hindenburg" is an average movie. Nothing special.

Movie Review: Interesting Story, Unlikely Plot
Summary: 3 Stars

George C. Scott turns in a good performance in this story about the dirigible that blew up in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The film indicates that the Hindenburg was the victim of sabotage, but I find that view unconvincing. The dirigible's balloon was filled with highly flammable hydrogen. It was raining that day, and there was electricity and lightning in the air. It does not take a rocket scientist to conclude that the airship was a disaster waiting to happen. One thing is certain: had the bag been filled with helium, there would have no explosion.