Memphis Belle
by Michael Caton-Jones
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Billy Zane, D.B. Sweeney, Eric Stoltz, Matthew Modine, Tate DonovanDirector: Michael Caton-Jones
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: David Watkin
Editor: Jim Clark
Producer: Catherine Wyler
Producer: David Puttnam
Producer: Eric Rattray
Writer: Monte Merrick
DVD: 2 Sides, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Letterbox, 1.85:1
Running Time: 107 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-05-27
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Movie Reviews of Memphis Belle
Movie Review: Their Last Mission
Summary: 3 Stars
In the summer of 1943 the Allied Air Force bombers attacked Germany, the US by day, the British by night. This is the story of a bomber crew created for the 1990s. [You can compare it to "Command Decision".] Was daylight bombing the only way to win the war? Some say this bombing delayed a cross-channel invasion in 1943 and an earlier end to the war. The last B-17 to land explodes for a dramatic effect. Bombers dropped surplus bomb in the Channel before they landed. That idea of a chain of restaurants was anachronistic. Would those men talk about their mission to civilians? Would they drop all those balloons at a party? Rubber was a scarce resource. That box camera would have underexposed film. The sale of film was rationed in Britain.
The assembled crews get their orders: Bremen, the aircraft factory. Strategic bombing picked the critical targets (like ball-bearing factories) to do the most damage. [Didn't they have alternate targets if the main target was clouded over?] Weren't the planes spaced far apart to prevent collision? They are attacked. A "lucky rubber band"? Some letters remind us of the real war. Anti-aircraft fire greets them as they approach the target. Was there such conflicts among the men as shown? The film shows actual film from the war to show bombs exploding. A dangerous maneuver extinguishes an engine fire. The damaged bomber makes it back to England. There is drama in the landing, but we should expect a happy ending.
The credits roll at the end, a lot of people are named. While the details of the story seem authentic, the tone of the story does not match the culture shown in the films of the 1940s. Overall, its worth watching as a dramatic story. There was a real "Memphis Belle" whose crew toured America to help sell war bonds.
The B-24 could fly higher, faster, and further than the B-17. It was not as user-friendly and all models were demolished for scrap at the end of the war. "The Wild Blue" by Stephen E. Ambrose has the story.
Summary of Memphis Belle
The brave young men of the b-17 flying fortress named the memphis belle have just one more mission to fly over nazi occupied europe and they will be on their way home to a heros welcome. But this 25th mission will also be their most dangerous bombing target: bremen. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/08/2005 Starring: Matthew Modine Eric Stoltz Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Michael Caton-jonesIf you've never seen an aviation movie before in your entire life, you'll be blissfully ignorant of the fact that Memphis Belle shamelessly (and yet gloriously) incorporates just about every clich? in the flight-movie handbook. If you're a big fan of aviation movies--especially movies about World War II bomber crews--you'll be glad that the genre's clich?s have been handled with such professional flair. As it follows the crew of a B-17 bomber on its final and most dangerous mission over Germany, Memphis Belle may be little more than a slick and highly authentic presentation of familiar thrills and characters, but it's a rousing piece of entertainment. Featuring an ensemble cast of fresh faces who've since enjoyed thriving careers (including Billy Zane, Sean Astin, Eric Stoltz, D.B. Sweeney, and Harry Connick Jr.), the movie exists as a fitting tribute to the men who fought and often died in the air over hostile territory. It's the Hollywood version of a 1944 wartime documentary made by legendary director William Wyler (whose daughter served as one of this film's producers), and as such it's a bit contrived and melodramatic. And yet, this exciting movie is almost certain to grab and hold your attention, offering an honorable reminder of the bravery and integrity that were crucial ingredients of any bomber's crew. --Jeff Shannon
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