The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Jerome Chodorov (writer)
Lester Koenig (writer)

Release Date:

13 April 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | History | War

Tagline:

Fly and Fight with the Crew on an Actual Bombing Mission Over Germany!

Plot:

Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a B17, the "Memphis Belle". The "Memphis Belle"...

Plot Keywords:

Bomber | Propaganda | Aviation | Military | Public Domain

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert Morgan	...	Himself (pilot)
Vince Evans	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jacob L. Devers	...	Himself (commander, European theatre)
Ira C. Eaker	...	Himself (commander, 8th Air Force)
Haywood Hansell	...	Himself (USAAF)
Technical Sergeant Robert J. Hanson	...	Himself (radio operator on The Memphis Belle)
Eugene Kern	...	Narrator
King George VI	...	Himself (congratulates crew of Memphis Belle)
Captain Charles B. Leighton	...	Himself (Navigator on the Memphis belle)
Technical Sergeant Harold P. Loch	...	Himself (Engineer and top turret gunner on The Memphis belle)
Staff Sergeant Casimer A. Nastal	...	Himself ( 19 year-old waist gunner on The Mephis Belle)
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother	...	Herself (congratulates crew of Memphis Belle)
Staff Sergeant John P. Quinlan	...	Himself
Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Scott	...	Himself (turrett gunner and oldest crew member on The Memphis Belle)
Captain James A. Verinis	...	Himself (Co-pilot on The Memphis Belle)
Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell	...	Himself - waist gunner on The Memphis Belle
Stanley Wray	...	Himself (group commander)

Also Known As:

The Memphis Belle (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

RAF Bassingbourn, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

First Motion Picture Unit, United States Army Air Forces

Trivia:

Director William Wyler was injured when an anti-aircraft shell exploded close to where he was sitting in the aircraft, resulting in him losing most of his hearing in one ear.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Belle and the Glory Boys: The Making of 'Memphis Belle' (1990) (TV)

Ordinary men who faced the enemy head on and became heroes

Having met most of the men who flew this B-17 as well as the men commanding and the ground crew; it was confirmed to me that ordinary men do what was necessary to do during the War. They faced the enemy and did the job; in spite of a gnawing fear, they flew and became heroes. Men of courage mixed with pure guts most times. I know -----I married one who flew another plane of the same group and gave a part of himself so we could all live in freedom. We were also friends with the Crew Chief of the Memphis Belle.My husband was the Eastern Division Secretary for twelve years while Paul Chryst, Joe Camelleri, Joe Giambrone were Co Chairmen and Treasurer. The 91st Bombardment Group (H) Memorial Association was a wonderful outfit and we had many Rallies and Reunions all over the United States and Europe.