# The Red Baron (2008 film)

The Red Baron is a 2008 film about World War I German fighter ace Manfred Von Richthofen.
    Directed and written by Nikolai Müllerschön.

## Manfred von Richthofen

* [briefing the other pilots] Keep the sun on your back. Don't fire too soon. It just warns your opponents, it has no other effects. The best range for shooting is 50 meters, not more. But remember, our tasks is to bring down aeroplanes, not men. So stop firing when your opponent's falling. Gentlemen, we are sportsmen, not butchers.
* [to Käte] When I became a pilot, I truly thought I had see everything from up there. I saw nothing. I was blind before I met you. You opened my eyes. You thought me to see what I didn't want to see. We all choose to fly. Voss, Sternberg, Lehmann, Wolff, Hawker. On whatever side we fought, we all knew the risks we took. I wanted to be the best, I wanted to win and I thought I won. But I can see now, Kate. I have seen that we have turned the world into a damn slaughter house. And I'm already too big a part of it. They're using my photograph, to give hope where there is none. They used my name to feign immortality, whereas the reality is annihilation. You said it yourself, "The men dying out there, they have no choice." I have! I cannot order them into battle. I can perhaps leads them. Help them! Die with them. But I will not betrayed them, nor keep the truth from them by remaining the immortal god's Berlin wants me to be. You... are my greatest victory.
* I only attack if I can win.

## Käte Otersdorf

* There are so many hospitals now they have to give them numbers. This is No: 76. There's 500 patients. Most of these men will die. Those that don't will never walk again, see again, taste again... love again! No, it's not great to have a hole your head. You're lucky to be still alive. Being born of nobility, you've advantages these men here do not. They don't have choices. It's not a game. This is the lowest we'll ever get. It never gets darker.
* [over Manfred's grave] I could not come sooner. It's not so easy to cross the line into British territory. Finally a friend of ours help me. He asked me why it was important for me to come here? I told him I love you. Did I ever tell you?

## Dialogue

    Bodenschatz: Are you out of your bloody minds?
    Manfred von Richthofen, Sternberg, Voss, Lehmann: Yes, sir.
    Bodenschatz: You risk the squadron planes to attend an enemy funeral?
    Manfred von Richthofen, Sternberg, Voss, Lehmann: Yes, sir!
    Sternberg: I just think you're making a mistake. They will spot you from a long way off. We completely lose the advantage of surprise.
    Manfred von Richthofen: I don't want them to be surprised. I want them to be scared.
    Emperor Wilhelm II: We need men like him. I supposed we'll have to give you another promotion, Richthofen. You are a real hero. I take it the ladies are all over you.
    Manfred von Richthofen: There aren't many ladies at 10,000 feet, your Majesty.
    Manfred von Richthofen: If you give me the power to make strategic decisions, you will not like them.
    General Hoeppner: Why wouldn't we? We very much trust your abilities, Baron.
    Manfred von Richthofen: I suggest we surrender.
    Major von Richthofen: Huh? What arrogance... What a pompous child you are!
    Manfred von Richthofen: I was victor in 63 aerial battles. You know how I did it? When I faced a battle I couldn't win, I flew away.
    General Hoeppner: What makes you think we cannot win this war?
    Major von Richthofen: What about our boys? Our holy cause!
    Manfred von Richthofen: French... great cigarettes. What makes us think our causes is better than the French, or the British, and the Americans? It isn't! It's not even different from theirs. We just need an excuse for what we do, because without it we would see who we really are.
    Manfred von Richthofen: Mademoiselle! Have I done something wrong? Am I not worth an answer, or is it just you hate all men?
    Käte: Hate? I don't hate you. Hate is a male domain.
    Manfred von Richthofen: But you are angry, aren't you?
    Käte: [grabbing the scarf] There is another man's blood on it. And you do not seem to care. Men like you scare me because I do not understand why you do what you do. And being scared makes me angry... [continues up the stairs]
    Manfred von Richthofen: Wait, WAIT! Imagine you were out there, like a hawk. Looking down... The wind blows around you. The smell of the engine, draft from the propeller. Out there you can just fall, you can climb, turn, spin... Freedom! That's what men always dreamt of. I've dreamt of it since I was a little boy. But the best part, is the chase! The fights... The hunt! It's like a match. A joust, just like sports.
    Käte: Tennis does not kill you. It's childish dreams that got your friends killed. No, I don't hate you, Baron. I pity you.
    Sternberg: And never forget, a pilot greatest virtue is to know when to run.
    Lothar von Richthofen: What's this, a joke?
    Lehmann: Just do what he tells you to do, Lothar.
    Lothar von Richthofen: Run away from a fight?
    Lehmann: Yes! If you cannot win, you fly away!
    Sternberg: Fast!
    Kirmaier: It's a thin line between cowardice and cleverness.
    [Brown and von Richtofen meet in a French field after each downed the other's plane]
    Manfred von Richthofen: What now?
    Brown: I guess we could try killing each other with our pistols. Killing you would make me famous, too.
    Manfred von Richthofen: Sorry, I didn't bring mine, but you might want to button up your holster before you lose yours.
    Manfred von Richthofen: How long have you been stationed in Europe?
    Brown: Ever since Mother England called the kids for help. Meaning us, the Commonwealth colonies.
    Manfred von Richthofen: You're right. The entire war seems to be a family affair.
    Brown: Family ties is what you aristocrats are all about. Russian Tsar, the Royal families of Britain, France, Austria, Germany... Everyone is someone's nephew, uncle, brother. Man, your love life sure ignores all them borders.
    Manfred von Richthofen: But to protect those borders, we kill each other off anyway.
    Brown: And we always managed to find good enough reasons, don't we?
    Brown: Sooner or later this war will be over. You should hook up with that nurse. I think she's got the hots for you.
    Manfred von Richthofen: What makes you say that?
    Brown: She kept bitching about you for weeks.
    Voss: Your nurse is a very good looking girl.
    Manfred von Richthofen: I've got a hole in my head, but I'm not blind.
    Käte: Dance with me.
    Manfred von Richthofen: No. Better not... No. I am an infernally miserable dancer.
    Käte: Imagined you're flying...
    Emperor Wilhelm II: You're looking disposed, my dear Baron.
    Manfred von Richthofen: Yes, your Majesty. I'm fine. I always am. Sometimes even irritated, sir.
    Emperor Wilhelm II: How can you be "irritably fine?"
    Manfred von Richthofen: It happens out here. We kill a couple of men. And while they fall down in flames, we feel just fine. I find this irritating.
    Emperor Wilhelm II: My soldiers, do not... kill people. They simply destroyed the enemy.
    Manfred von Richthofen: Well, the effects seems to be the same.

## Taglines

* Heroes Rise. Empires Fall. Legends Endure.
* One warrior ruled the sky.

## Cast

* Matthias Schweighöfer — Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen
* Lena Headey — Nurse Käte Otersdorf
* Til Schweiger — Leutnant Werner Voss
* Volker Bruch — Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen
* Maxim Mehmet — Leutnant Friedrich Sternberg
* Hanno Koffler — Leutnant Lohmann
* Tino Mewes — Oberleutnant Kurt Wolff
* Steffen Schroeder — Oberleutnant Karl Bodenschatz
* Axel Prahl — General der Kavallerie Ernst von Hoeppner
* Joseph Fiennes — "Captain" Roy Brown

## External links

* The Red Baron quotes at the Internet Movie Database