The film features an allstar cast with matthew modine, eric stoltz, and harry connick jr. The documentary, directed by noted hollywood producer and director william wyler, was released to the public in 1944, and a dramatization of the original film was produced in 1990. The stars of the 1990 feature film memphis belle pictured left to right. World war ii memphis belle bomber comes alive in dayton. Army air forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over europe and return to the united states. Documentaire oorlog film geregisseerd door william wyler. Memphis belle, a united states army air forces boeing b17 flying fortress used in world war ii. Memphis belle is a 1990 britishamerican war drama film directed by michael catonjones and written by monte merrick. The old fashioned doc complete with a commanding narrator focuses on the real memphis belle and follows the crew through its mission briefing, take off, bomb run, and return. Rentals include 7 days to start watching this video and 7 days to finish once started. Real b17s were filmed at real wartime airfields, and theres a barebones authenticity about a lot of it. Directed by legendary hollywood film director william wyler, this 1944 film follows the famous b17 flying fortress known as the memphis belle on her 25th and final mission during world war ii. Original footage from the 1944 documentary memphis belle by william wyler, father of coproducer catherine wyler, is used for the guaranteed tearjerking scene, with letters from parents of dead.
Smithsonian channel documentary on famed memphis belle. Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a b17, the memphis belle and the flying fortress. In a terse, exciting 41 minutes, the film assembles footage from several allied bombing missions into. Wwii bomber memphis belle is lovingly restored and put on. In may of that year, memphis belle became one of the first b17s to. Filming the mock air war in memphis belle we talk with the filmmakers about the fleet of b17s used to create the movies aerial sequences.
Memphis belle air force historical support division fact. This documentary film is powerful in a way no hollywood movie about the memphis belle can ever bethis film is real. Nov 10, 2019 the b17 memphis belle and her 10 crew members managed to beat these odds, becoming the first b17 to earn a trip home. Memphis belle air force historical support division. While the film purportedly chronicles the first american heavy bomber to. National broadcasting company history files, the nbc history files document the activities of the first national broadcasting network in the united states. At the beginning of the film, the belles crew had successfully completed twentyfour missions in the toughest theater of the air war in europe. If you really like wwii history, then you will probably like this film. A scene from the 1944 propaganda film memphis belle featuring a squadron of american fighter planes is shown above. Watch memphis belle 1944 full movie free online streaming.
Memphis belle, a 1990 fictional film inspired by the 1944 documentary. The scenes inside the memphis belle, where most of the movie takes place, do an excellent job of showing you how cramped, cold, and noisy a place like that could be. Originally released in april 1944, the film follows the exploits of one b17 crew as they thread the needle, completing 25 missions safely before rotating back to the states on a publicity tour to raise war bonds. For more information and to download this film, please visit many big hollywood directors saw active. This film is a war documentary produced by one of the hollywood colonels, william wyler, who joined the air force film unit and recorded the sights and sounds of the last mission of a b17 bomber known as the memphis belle, named after the girlfriend of the pilot. A story of a flying fortress contributor names united states army eighth air force. Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a b17, the memphis belle. Author book signings inside the museums gift shop and film screenings of the 1944 documentary about the memphis belle and the 1990 hollywood movie of the same name are planned, also. A good documentary about the memphis belle, but probably not everyones cup of tea. A story of a flying fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the memphis. Hollywood has never let facts get in the way of a good story.
An unforgettable movie collects recently discovered color. Sweeney, eric stoltz, and sean astin as members of a b17 bomber crew who must complete one more mission to become the first to survive their entire tour. Memphis belle internet movie firearms database guns in. Apr 20, 2011 while the memphis belle flew its last missions, an army air forces film crew flew aboard it and other aircraft of its group to produce footage for a documentary movie. Hollywood fame two films, a 1944 william wyler documentary called. Feb 14, 2020 wyler started filming first and figuring out the story later, says nelson. Memphis belle, a documentary that director william wyler took a huge risk to film, is the true story of a bombing mission. A story of a flying fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the memphis belle, a boeing b17 flying fortress. Memphis belle poster for 1944 war activities film directed by william wyler courtney gains sean astin tate donovan harry connick jr eric stoltz billy.
Aug 08, 2012 original movie made by the 8th air force of the b17 bomber crews and the crew of the memphis belle. A story of a flying fortress, and a 1990 hollywood film, memphis belle, marked the planes. This unique film was the brainchild of legendary film director william wyler. The memphis belle, directed by william wyler, is a tribute to the crew of the united states air forces 324th squadron, 91st heavy bomber unit, an airplane more familiarly known as the memphis belle. All aerial combat film was exposed during air battles over enemy territory see. The b17f named memphis belle was repossesed by the us air force some 3 or 4 years ago because they did not think memphis was taking care of.
A story of a flying fortress, and a 1990 hollywood feature film, memphis belle. Vivid film of daylight bomb raid depicts daring of our air. In a terse, exciting 41 minutes, the film assembles footage from several allied bombing missions into one. A story of a flying fortress 1944 in the air force museum. The aircraft was one of the first b17 united states army air corps heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions with her crew intact. Matthew modine full metal jacket e eric stolz anaconda guidano il dinamico cast di memphis belle, unavventura ispirata alle eroiche imprese dellaviazione alleata nella seconda guerra mondiale. At the beginning of the film, the belles crew had successfully completed twenty four missions in the toughest theater of the air war in europe. Today, we now know that the memphis belle was actually the second choice for that. A story of a flying fortress is een amerikaanse documentaire uit 1944 geregisseerd door william wyler. On their way they encountered heavy aa fire and interceptors. While the film purportedly chronicles the first american heavy bomber to complete 25 missions in wwii, in. For more information and to download this film, please visit itemmbrs00009301 many big hollywood directors saw active.
The usaaf chose the aircraft for a highlypublicized war bond tour from juneaugust 1943, and its crew was celebrated as national heroes. The memphis belle has received a lot of attention over the years. Memphis belle is a fictionalization of the 1944 documentary memphis belle. The b17 memphis belle and her 10 crew members managed to beat these odds, becoming the first b17 to earn a trip home. The exploits of the b17 were detailed in a 1944 documentary the memphis belle, made by william wyler. A story of a flying fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an account of the final mission of the. All aerial combat film was exposed during air battles over enemy territory. Created for the office of war information by director william wyler and a crew of photographers, this film documents several missions of the memphis belle b17 bomber in 1943. A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the memphis belle, a b17 in the us. The postwar movie 12 oclock high was partially based on belles history, as was the 1990 film memphis belle. A story of a flying fortress 1944 focused on attack strategies and how to distract, fooling the enemy. The result was a documentary called the memphis belle. A story of a flying fortress 1944 out of 4 william wyler directed this documentary that takes a look at a group of b17 flyers on their 25th and final mission over europe. They must have felt very confident by this point of the war going at it so openly, not hiding the way they trash the nazis.
The memphis belle took part in a bombing raid on the ship yards in kiel, germany. A story of a flying fortress 1944 directed by william wyler. A story of a flying fortress by director william wyler, about the 25th and last mission of an american boeing b17 flying fortress bomber, the. Its final mission was recalled in a fictionalized 1990 feature film memphis belle. The collection includes memoranda, correspondence, speeches, reports, policy statements, and pamphlets covering the creation of.
Filmed in color, the memphis belle has long been held up as a model wartime documentary. May 17, 2018 a scene from the 1944 propaganda film memphis belle featuring a squadron of american fighter planes is shown above. In 1944, this boeing b17 flying fortress bomber was the subject of a documentary, entitled memphis belle. A story of a flying fortress increased the aircraft and crews already substantial fame. A story of a flying fortress 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Memphis belle exhibit may 2018 national museum of the. The film s credits note that paramount distributed memphis belle under the auspices of the owi through the wars activities committee, motion picture industry. Army air forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over europe, but the first to return to the united states. A story of a flying fortress by director william wyler, about the 25th and last mission of an american boeing b17 flying fortress bomber, the memphis belle, based in england during world war ii. The surviving copies of the film are not a good representation of the film that was shown in 1944, so utilizing naras 4k scans, he has painstakingly reassembled wylers film with vibrant color.
While the memphis belle flew its last missions, an army air forces film crew flew aboard it and other aircraft of its group to produce footage for a documentary movie. It is a documentary about the eighth air force in wwii and in particular the boeing b17f which was the first bomber to complete 25 missions over occupied europe. Boeing b17f memphis belle exhibit opening may 17, 2018. While the latter was fictional it borrowed exploits of many bombers, that and other movies have brought renewed attention to an aircraft that deserves a permanent spot in the hearts of americans. Memphis belle is a 1990 wwii film directed by michael catonjones and starring matthew modine who wears the uniform and jacket of his reallife b17 pilot uncle, wylder modine, in the film, tate donovan, billy zane, harry connick jr. A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the memphis belle, a b17 in. If you already own a documentary about the memphis belle, this may be the same one only in a different package. The documentary was selected for preservation by the national film registry. Memphis belle is the nickname of a boeing b17f flying fortress during the second world war that inspired the making of two motion pictures. This film follows the crew of the b17 flying fortress memphis belle as it prepares for a mission. While most combat documentaries made that year focused on techniques and mastering ones vehicle, the memphis belle.
International and operational law department, the united states army judge advocate genrals. An added benefit to this project is that nelson was able to use footage from the original outtakes to reconstruct wylers memphis belle. Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a flying fortress, the memphis belle. The story of a flying fortress 1944 a documentary film which of the final mission of the crew of the memphis belle, a boeing b17 flying fortress. A story of a flying fortress sd, 40 min presented in standard definition with dolby digital 2. Wyler started filming first and figuring out the story later, says nelson. Read the full synopsis of memphis belle, 1944, directed by lt. Sweeney, eric stoltz, and sean astin as members of a b17 bomber crew who must complete one more mission to. Law of armed conflict documentary supplement, 2015 law of armed conflict documentary supplement international and operational law department the united states army judge advocate generals legal center and school charlottesville, va fifth edition preface the purpose of the documentary. Oct 10, 2005 the exploits of the b17 were detailed in a 1944 documentary the memphis belle, made by william wyler. A story of a flying fortress is possibly the most unique and wellknown military documentary ever made. May 16, 2018 an added benefit to this project is that nelson was able to use footage from the original outtakes to reconstruct wylers memphis belle. In a terse, exciting 41 minutes, the film assembles footage from several allied bombing missions into one single representative flight of the famed flying fortress known as the memphis belle.
A story of a flying fortress, a 1944 documentary film about the real aircraft and crew on its final mission. A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the memphis belle, a b17 in the us 8th air force. They were also the focus of william wylers 1944 film, memphis belle. May 17, 2018 the 1944 documentary movie memphis belle.
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