Memphis Belle

Amazon.com

If 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 cliché 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 clichés 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

Customer Reviews:

Not great.......2007-09-17

This movie is not great. If you have nothing else to do, watch
it. The cast is good.

memphis belle.......2007-08-26

as we havent yet recieved this dvd we cannot review it. it is over a week overdue. so is the battle of britian we ordered.

Sentimental, But It Works!.......2007-06-17

1990's "Memphis Belle" may be sentimental and sometimes corny, but as a story about bomber crews flying dangerous missions over Nazi Germany, it works wonderfully well. Only the most cynical of viewers will fail to be moved by its simple but appealing presentation.

"Memphis Belle" is a fictionalized account of what happened to a real B-17 crew on its 25th and final mission in Europe before being eligible to rotate home. In the movie, the crew's mission is a daylight run over the heavily-defended target of Dresden. An ensemble cast headed by Matthew Modine as the sober young pilot-in-charge goes through its flight preparations, while a series of short vignettes introduces the viewer to the individual members of the crew. The stand-out young cast includes Eric Stoltz as a radio operator with aspirations of being a poet; Tate Donovan as the cocky, attention-seeking co-pilot; Billy Zane as a bombardier who is about to pay a price for living a lie; DB Sweeney as the flak-happy navigator; and in a superb cameo, jazz musician Harry Connick, Jr, as the tail gunner. Connick, by the way, does a impressive job on an improvised version of "Danny Boy" early in the movie.

The action involving the aircrew on its mission is nicely balanced by a subplot on the ground, as a war-weary Bomber Group commander (earnestly played by David Straitharn) must reel in a cynical public affairs officer (John Lithgow). Their confrontation provides context to what is happening to the Memphis Belle in the air.

The final mission turns into a nightmare of flak, enemy fighters, casualties, and mechanical failures, as the crews ends up nursing a stricken bomber towards its home field in England. The final minutes of the movie should leave no viewer unmoved.

This movie is highly recommended to those looking for an entertaining but fairly realistic movie on the bomber campaign against Hitler's Germany.

The key to enjoying this movie..........2007-05-21

...is to realize that, although no single plane and crew experienced everything that's shown happening to the Memphis Belle in this film -- and certainly not on a single mission -- nevertheless, everything that is shown undoubtedly happened to many, many planes and crews during the long bombing campaign in the European theater. To watch this movie is to get a small taste of the fear, tragedy, and triumph experienced by those brave men (and boys).
Several years ago, I stood in my back yard and watched a vintage P-51 Mustang (the "little friends" of this movie) roar overhead at low altitude on its way to an air show at a nearby airport. I was stunned at the raw power of that 60 year old aircraft, which made today's small Cessna-type aircraft seem like mosquitos in comparison. Watching "Memphis Belle", I couldn't help but feel that the 40s were in some way the peak of manned flight. Today we have supersonic or hypersonic flight, and are beginning to see pilot-less combat aircraft. It seems to me that none of them compare to those big, lumbering, steel and plexiglass B-17s and their young, inexperienced crews.

Good Show.......2007-03-24

I liked this movie. The airplanes in this movie are getting rare, and I like the historical aspect of the movie. We should all remember what those men did for our freedom. I would not have wanted to be in their shoes. I am thankful to be an American!

Average customer rating:

Memphis Belle is High and Mighty -- Powerful WWII Aviation Flick

The Memphis Belle Deluxe Edition
Starring: Jimmy Stewart Robert Morgan Vince Evans Jacob L. Devers Haywood Hansell Eugene Kern Charles B. Leighton Harold Loch Stanley Wray King George VI Casimer Nastal John Quinlan Queen Elizabeth Jamese Verinis Clarence Winchell Arthur Kennedy Ed Kern
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: Periscope Film
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JSI636
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Product Description

Shot in 1944 in England and over the skies of war-torn Europe, the documentary "The Memphis Belle" is perhaps the most famous film to emerge from WWII. Filmed by legendary Hollywood director William Wyler, the movie chronicles the 25th and final combat mission of a B-17 and its crew.
A moving and real portrait of courage, "Memphis Belle" stands as the definitive chronicle of the air war.

Featured on this new,Special Deluxe Edition is a new, digitallly enhanced transfer of "The Memphis Belle" and four rare films made during WWII about the B-17 Flying Fortresses and the U.S. Army Air Corps. These include "Winning Your Wings" featuring actor-turned-aviator Jimmy Stewart, "Mission Accomplished" and "The Case of the Tremendous Trifle" showing how bombing missions against Germany were planned and accomplished.

Color and black and white films. Over 110 minutes of material.Please note: this DVD is in the DVD-R format and may not be compatible with older DVD players. Check your DVD player's manual for more information.

Customer Reviews:

Memphis Belle is High and Mighty -- Powerful WWII Aviation Flick.......2006-11-15

When I first saw "The Memphis Belle" as a kid, I was absolutely riveted to the screen. This is the legendary movie that inspired a Hollywood film (not great but not terrible -- made just before digital effects came into the world that would have produced a far better film) and has become the touchstone document of what WWII was like for the bomber crews. It's been said that none other than George Lucas used Memphis Belle in the rough cuts of Star Wars to create battle sequences. One watching of this movie and you will understand why -- harrowing close calls and dead on the screen as B-17s tumble out of control, it just leaves you breathless. The moving commentary and score make it all that more amazing. It still blows all but the best that Hollywood made, such as "12 O'Clock High" off the screen. This deluxe edition version of the film is truly outstanding, and features several other films about the B-17 and has a wonderful recruiting movie starring who else but James Stewart, my favorite Hollywood actor.

Average customer rating:

Poweful Film, Bad Copy
The Real Thing
A fascinating wartime look at America's flying fortresses
Great Film
Memphis Bell

The Memphis Belle
Starring: Robert Morgan (XII) , Vince Evans , Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother , Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell , and Staff Sergeant John P. Quinlan
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005QJJZ
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Customer Reviews:

Poweful Film, Bad Copy.......2005-02-25

This documentary film is powerful in a way no Hollywood movie about the Memphis Belle can ever be--this film is real. Real people, drawn out of their ordinary lives, do extraordinary service in deadly conditions. Being a film done at the time gives an immediacy to the events. This isn't a 'look back', it's a 'look _now_' in the film's perspective and that strengthens the effect. Even the 'propaganda' aspects serve to enhance the moving effect (like the blood donor pitch--propanda? yes. intense and powerful? definitely.)

But a bad copy of the film on this DVD... The video level is overblown, wiping out much detail. The film transfer--actually it looks like a telecine/video transfer with scan lines painfully visible--is ghastly. If a new, better copy of Memphis Belle comes out, I'll be replacing this one.

The Real Thing.......2004-06-12

It's like this ; I have watched this video dozens of times, and the copy I have is worn out. That is why I am on here looking for a new one; maybe two. The BEST documentary I have ever seen! Enough said? By the way, the descriptions given in the previous reviews by Rob and Lynn are TOTALLY accurate.

A fascinating wartime look at America's flying fortresses.......2004-02-16

This wartime documentary celebrates the successful return of the B-17 bomber Memphis Belle, named after pilot Robert Morgan's girlfriend, from its twenty-fifth and final bombing mission over German soil, but it also makes clear the fact that this was only one of many such planes filled with heroic young men prepared to die for their country and for freedom. Director William Wyler basically takes the viewer through a typical day in the lives of the American men serving at an undisclosed air base in Britain. Ground crewmen prepare the B-17s for flight and load the bombs they will drop, pilots and crew receive their briefing on the mission ahead, death is delivered to the German homeland in the form of fire from the sky, and the pilots bring their bombers home - if they can. The bravery of the ten men who served onboard each B-17 bomber is beyond question; while these incredible airplanes earned the right to be called flying fortresses, each mission bordered on the suicidal. The bomber was a large and slow yet deadly aircraft; the pilots had to hold formation and concentrate on dropping their bombs amidst anti-aircraft fire from the ground, the pursuit and attack of much quicker German fighters, and constant bursts of flak all over the sky; with no fighter escort, the gunners stationed atop, behind, and astride each plane had their hands full trying to shoot down enemy planes. This film, built around actual combat footage taken from 16mm and 35mm onboard cameras, presents a telling and impressively realistic look at the incredible dangers all bomber crewmen faced.

Some speak about the propaganda aspects of this film. It is true that the war in Europe raged on when the film was released by the War Department in April 1944, and it is also true that Wylie used footage from several missions as well as some film from a second air combat unit, but the heroism on display here rises far above propaganda. To return home from a bombing mission was a small miracle in and of itself, as can clearly be seen in the extensive damage to both crew and aircraft for many of those that did make it back to the base. What makes the Memphis Belle such a legend is the fact that the crew took the plane out on twenty-five bombing runs and returned home each and every time. As the film shows us, this accomplishment earned all ten of the Memphis Belle's crewmen distinguished service medals, a visit from the King and Queen of England, and a trip back to the States to help teach future crewmen how to fly the B-17 bombers that continued to prove themselves instrumental in the eventual Allied victory over the Third Reich.

I might make note of the fact that this film is actually in color - not a vibrant sort of color but color nonetheless - and runs a little short of forty-five minutes in length. Those with an interest in aerial combat or World War II in general should find much to interest them in this inspirational look at the Memphis Belle and the brave American men who flew her.

Great Film.......2003-07-11

This is not a movie but an Oscar winning documentary. This is the real deal not Hollywood make-believe. When you see a plane crash those are real people dying. If you want the Hollywood version DON'T BUY THIS, because I do not want to see people saying this is not want they expected and saying this film sucks, because it doesn't.

May God forbid all wars in the future.

Memphis Bell.......2002-07-15

This is the Original WWII Memphis Bell War Department Film. For any real WWII Buff - it blasts away Hollywood's fictional account produced recently. The film is made by war photographers on real missions with real footage showing the Air War in Europe over Germany and the B-17 Memphis Bell finishing her 25th Mission. Has all the pomp and circumstance of all the WWII, "V for Victory" type patriotic movies. For the 6.99 Price Tag BUY IT!

Average customer rating:

Don't Be Fooled: THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL
NOT the Orignial Memphis Belle Documentary

Memphis Belle
Director: Louis Hayward , and William Wyler
Manufacturer: SHANACHIE
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002A6CGE
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Description

Memphis Belle tells the remarkable story of the legendary B-17 Flyng Fortress that flew through the flak and fighter filled skies over the Third Reich during World War II. Surviving the loss of a total of nine engines, both wings, both landing gear and two tails, she was the first to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive. The color combat footage in Memphis Belle was shot by Hollywood film director William Wyler on the Belle's 25th and final bombing run.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Be Fooled: THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL.......2005-07-15

A poor documentary based on the original. The narration is terrible and the drama and emotion of Wyler's moive are lost. Such a shame. I do not recommend this at all.

NOT the Orignial Memphis Belle Documentary.......2005-02-02

This in NOT the orginial Memphis Belle documentary! This is a British remake/rehash of the original with altered narration and altered editing.

It appears most of the original footage is included (I _wish_ I had the orginal to compare--it's the one I thought I was getting), but the original narration has been replaced, eliminating some of the most affecting parts (the WWII blood-donor pitch, for one--about how blood donations from the folks at home might have saved some of the returning wounded fliers), as well as the first-hand, on-the-scene sense of tension that the original had.

This version isn't terrible, and does continue the Memphis Belle story past their successful final bombing mission, and includes some extra b&w footage. But is--I repeat--NOT the original.

The Memphis Belle (60th Anniversary Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

No Substance
Poor quality retransfer w/ total gimmick second disc
Real heroes
Best copy I've seen of a classic
MEMPHIS BELLE "Restored" DVD Review

The Memphis Belle (60th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
Director: Louis Hayward , and William Wyler
Manufacturer: Aircraft Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002RAP4M
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Description

For this 2-DVD set, Aircraft Films worked with the National Archives and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to rebuild the best possible transfer of the William Wyler 1944 documentary. Presented here in both widescreen and normal aspect ratio, the film was rebuilt using new digital transfers from the original camera reels. The result is the best available copy of this classic presentation.

Disc two features special bonus films on the B-17, along with outtakes from the production of the film, in long form new transfers, some silent, some with sound. Overall the 2-DVD set contains over 4 1/2 hours of material.

Customer Reviews:

No Substance.......2007-01-04

Don't waste your time.It's way overpriced for the amount of content.Too much silent film that offer nothing in the way of historical info.Too short also.

Poor quality retransfer w/ total gimmick second disc.......2006-12-12

While I enjoyed the movie "Memphis Belle" I have to say that this transfer of the film is not good. The people who made this DVD may claim that it's a superlative transfer, best ever made, 60th Anniversary Edition blah blah and that they worked with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on this, but I don't believe it. I've seen better transfers aired on the History Channel and that's saying something. What these people don't tell you is that their "great" transfer is put on a DVD with so much compression noise in the image that it looks like German flak. Well, I might be exaggerating there.

The other thing that just left me feeling ripped off was the "widescreen version" of the film, which turns out to be the same film you know and love with a stupid-looking black matte placed over the top and the bottom. So no, there was never a widescreen version of this film, and the one offered on this DVD set is a joke. You may as well just put some black electrical tape over your TV set for gosh sakes! As for the outtakes, they are interesting but hardly worth the extra cash -- there's a reason this stuff got cut out by William Wyler. A better idea is, look for another version of the film sold on Amazon, one that is not a gimmick but a real restoration.

Real heroes.......2005-08-23

Excellent film, a must see!!!
Did a great job digitally remastering the original version, came out beautifully, the extra footage section has lots of cool stuff.

Basically a must for enthusiasts!!

Best copy I've seen of a classic.......2004-12-02

The 1944 William Wyler film "Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress" is a classic. Featuring some of the most compelling footage of the war in the skies over Europe, this version is, by far, the best looking I've ever seen.

While the "widescreen" version loses the top and bottom to fit, I personally think the "fullscreen" version (both of which are provided) looks crisp and sharp. The chapter notes provided with the set explain that the opening graphics were not available in original form at the Archives and National Air and Space Museum, so those portions have not been restored.

And the extra bonus footage is superb. I have some of the other Aircraft Films products (the F4U and F4F disc sets) and most of it has crisp, clear footage. I, too, would love to have more sound on future releases, but having the footage, much of which I've never seen and isn't available elsewhere, is very nice.

I recommend the set highly.

MEMPHIS BELLE "Restored" DVD Review.......2004-11-22

I've Always LOVED This WW2 B-17 Documentary, Ever Since I First Saw It... So I was Very Excited to Hear About This NEW "Fully Restored" 2 Disk DVD Set. I Took a Chance & Quickly Ordered it... I Rate it as "OK" at Best. Not at All Worth $30. A bit Dissapointing.... Unfortunately, some Back Woods Company "Redpepper Films" did the Digital Transfer. Nope, Never Heard of 'Em... I'm Guessing they used some sort of Cheap, Outdated Digital Transfer Equipment. It's Not as Clean & Clear as it should be. I Really Wish a Professional Film Studio like Turner Classics or Spielberg could have given this Historical Piece of Americana it's Proper Restoration. Of Key Note is the Opening Title Sequence. It's Completely Worn, Fuzzy, Faded & Deteriorated. ?????!!!!! This is Completely Inexcusable. I've seen CHEAP $5 Versions of This Documentary on VHS at the Supermarket, that are of Better Quality. Both "Restored" Versions of the Film in this set have Scratches, Boogers, Stringers & Faded Colors throughout. Certainly Not the High Quality of other Restored Films. My Only Hope is that "Redpepper Films" didn't Screw Up the Original Negative and Slop Bar-B-Que Sauce all over it.... The Only Saving Grace is Disk 2. It has an Hour or Two of Rare Color Out-Takes from the Original Film. Very Interesting, but a bit Creepy & Boring as it's all Silent. No Attempt was made at Music,, Narration or Anything. They just Didn't Care and Slapped it All Together. I Guess We're Supposed to Finish This Set Ourselves...

B-17 Flying Fortress and Memphis Belle Film Collection DVD - WWII Aerial War and Battle Films

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B-17 Flying Fortress and Memphis Belle Film Collection DVD - WWII Aerial War and Battle Films

Manufacturer: The Historical Archive
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Memphis Belle

ASIN: B000NJSWFI

Product Description

This DVD is a collection of films on the B-17 Flying Fortress and includes the classic The Memphis Belle directed by William Wyler as well as many other excellent films of this classic plane. This collection also includes footage of the B-24 Liberator. Here are all the films that make up this historical collection: The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944) - Sound, Color Run time: 43:18; Mission Accomplished: The Story of the Flying Fortress (ca. 1942) - Sound, Black & White Run time: 10:42; Armed Forces display U.S. Might On Observance Day, 1956/05/21 (1956) - sound, Black & White Run time: 17:19; Aviation In The News, 1944/06/22 (1944) - sound, Black & White Run time: 1:05

Memphis Belle/Combat America - The Eigth Air Force in Color

Average customer rating:

Memphis Belle/Combat America - The Eigth Air Force in Color

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Classic Film directed by William Wyler,remains one of the finest documentaries produced by the War Department during WWII. It details the final mission of the B-17 Memphis Belle as it leads a squad of bombers in a daring daylight raid of the U-boat pens at Wilhelmshaven. 1943, 43 minutes. Combat America features Clark Gable as he narrates this dramatic story of the 351st Bomb Group of the USAAF, from its training in Colorado, to a mission over Germany. Shows crews and gunners at a base in England and includes actual combat footage. 1943, 62 minutes.

Average customer rating:

Not great
memphis belle
Sentimental, But It Works!
The key to enjoying this movie...
Good Show

Memphis Belle [Region 2]
Starring: Matthew Modine , Eric Stoltz , Tate Donovan , D.B. Sweeney , and Billy Zane
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00004TXKD

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Not great.......2007-09-17

This movie is not great. If you have nothing else to do, watch
it. The cast is good.

memphis belle.......2007-08-26

as we havent yet recieved this dvd we cannot review it. it is over a week overdue. so is the battle of britian we ordered.

Sentimental, But It Works!.......2007-06-17

The key to enjoying this movie..........2007-05-21

Good Show.......2007-03-24

Average customer rating:

Not great
memphis belle
Sentimental, But It Works!
The key to enjoying this movie...
Good Show

Memphis Belle [Region 2]
Starring: Matthew Modine , Eric Stoltz , Tate Donovan , D.B. Sweeney , and Billy Zane
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004WZJJ

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Not great.......2007-09-17

This movie is not great. If you have nothing else to do, watch
it. The cast is good.

memphis belle.......2007-08-26

as we havent yet recieved this dvd we cannot review it. it is over a week overdue. so is the battle of britian we ordered.

Sentimental, But It Works!.......2007-06-17

The key to enjoying this movie..........2007-05-21

Good Show.......2007-03-24

Average customer rating:

Combat America/Memphis Belle
Starring: Combat America , and Memphis Belle
Manufacturer: Vidtape
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BB1NHW
Release Date: 2005-10-25

DVD:

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