Memphis Belle (1990)

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writer (WGA):

Monte Merrick (written by)

Release Date:

12 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

The "Memphis Belle" is a World War II bomber, piloted by a young crew on dangerous bombing raids into Europe...

Plot Keywords:

Crew | Bomber | Bombing | B 17 Bomber | Crash Landing

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Capt. Dennis Dearborn
Eric Stoltz	...	Sgt. Danny "Danny Boy" Daly
Tate Donovan	...	1st Lt. Luke Sinclair
D.B. Sweeney	...	Lt. Phil Lowenthal
Billy Zane	...	Lt. Val "Valentine" Kozlowski
Sean Astin	...	Sgt. Richard "Rascal" Moore
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Sgt. Clay Busby
Reed Diamond	...	Sgt. Virgil Hoogesteger (as Reed Edward Diamond)
Courtney Gains	...	Sgt. Eugene McVey
Neil Giuntoli	...	Sgt. Jack Bocci
David Strathairn	...	Col. Craig Harriman
John Lithgow	...	Lt.Col. Bruce Derringer
Jane Horrocks	...	Faith
Mac McDonald	...	Les (as Mac Macdonald)
Jodie Wilson	...	Singer
Keith Edwards	...	S-2
Steven Mackintosh	...	Stan the Rookie
Greg Charles	...	Adjutant
Bradley Lavelle	...	Sergeant (as Bradley Lavell)
Ben Browder	...	Rookie Captain
Mitch Webb	...	Group Navigator
Paul Birchard	...	Lieutenant
Bill Cullum	...	Farmer
Eric Loren	...	Cook
Cathy Murphy	...	Jitterbugger
Morag Siller	...	Jitterbugger
Steve Elm	...	Footballer
Jason Salkey	...	Footballer
Martin McDougal	...	Footballer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Francis	...	Bandleader (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Caton-Jones

Writing credits (WGA)
Monte Merrick		(written by)

Produced by
David Puttnam	....	producer
Eric Rattray	....	associate producer
Catherine Wyler	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Jim Clark

Casting by
Marion Dougherty
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Stuart Craig

Art Direction by
Norman Dorme		(supervising art director)
John King
Alan Tomkins

Set Decoration by
Ian Giladjian

Costume Design by
Jane Robinson

Makeup Department
Anna Cobley	....	makeup artist
Pamela Haddock	....	hair stylist
Maureen Hannaford-Naisbitt	....	hair stylist
Joan Hills	....	key makeup artist
Meinir Jones-Lewis	....	chief hair stylist
Anne McEwan	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mary Richards	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Devis	....	second unit director: aerial unit
Anthony Ford	....	third assistant director: aerial unit
Cliff Lanning	....	third assistant director
Terry Needham	....	assistant director: aerial unit
Adam Somner	....	third assistant director: aerial unit
Gerry Toomey	....	second assistant director
Bill Westley	....	first assistant director
Kevin Westley	....	second assistant director
Natasha Ross	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alan Adams	....	prop storeman
Brian Bishop	....	scenic artist
Doug Bishop	....	scenic artist
Laurence Burns	....	stand-by crew
Anthony Caccavale	....	stand-by crew
Cloe Chloerty	....	scenic artist
Stan Cook	....	dressing props
Miranda Diamond	....	art department researcher
Peter Dorme	....	art department assistant
Bob Douglas	....	dressing props
Michael R. Driscoll	....	supervising stagehand (as Michael Driscoll)
Colin Fox	....	drapes
George Gibbons	....	stand-by crew
Peter Hancock	....	property master
Brian Hartnoll	....	stand-by crew
Robert Hill	....	stand-by props
Brian Humphrey	....	dressing props
Clive Ingleton	....	lettering artist
Michael Lamont	....	assistant art director
Leonard Lawrence	....	supervising rigger
Joe Lear	....	supervising plasterer
Bert Long	....	assistant construction manager
Steve Macdonald	....	stand-by props (as Steve McDonald)
Dave Midson	....	dressing props (as David Midson)
John Moore	....	dressing props
Jim Morahan	....	draughtsman (as James Morahan)
John O'Shaughnessy	....	production buyer
Gordon Phillips	....	dressing props
Michael G. Ploog	....	storyboard artist (as Michael Ploog)
Tony Rimmington	....	draughtsman
Ron Seers	....	stand-by crew
Arthur Smith	....	supervising painter
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
Don Taylor	....	stand-by crew
Bob Walker	....	lettering designs (as Robert Walker)
Peter Wallis	....	dressing props
Bill Welch	....	construction manager
Paul Wescott	....	supervising painter
Alan Williams	....	stand-by crew
Tony Youd	....	assistant construction manager (as Anthony Youd)

Sound Department
Paul Cridlin	....	boom operator
Michael Crouch	....	sound effects editor
Martin Evans	....	dialogue editor
Richard Finney	....	sound maintenance
Ian Fuller	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Holding	....	sound recordist: aerial unit
David John	....	sound mixer
Ray Merrin	....	sound re-recording engineer
Bill Rowe	....	sound re-recording engineer
Sandy Buchanan	....	post-production sound assistant (uncredited)
Andy Kennedy	....	synclavier operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Conway	....	special effects supervisor
Martin Grant	....	special effects floor supervisor
Bob Hollow	....	senior special effects technician
Brian Mann	....	special effects editor
Trevor Wood	....	aerial rigs: aerial unit
Andrew Eio	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Dave Eltham	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Steve Hamilton	....	special effects floor supervisor (uncredited)
David McCall	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Nigel Nixon	....	special effects model maker (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Addison	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Dennis Bartlett	....	blue screen supervisor: model unit
Nigel Brackley	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Terry Bridle	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Nicholas Brooks	....	visual effects
Mark Challenor	....	assistant director: model unit (as Mark Challoner)
Frank Clissold	....	electrician: model unit
Richard Conway	....	director: model unit
Peter Davy	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Steve Drevett	....	travelling matte coordinator (as Steve Drewett)
David Eithim	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Nick Finlayson	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Steve Hamilton	....	modeller and technician: model unit (as Stephen Hamilton)
John Holmes	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Bill Howe	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Alan Johnson	....	stand-by crew: model unit
David Jones	....	focus puller: model unit
Andrew Kelly	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Stuart King	....	electrician: model unit
Brian Lince	....	modeller and technician: model unit
David Litchfield	....	camera operator: model unit
Ray Lovell	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Roy Masters	....	modeller and technician: model unit
David McCall	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Ed McDermott	....	electrician: model unit
Mike McGillivray	....	gaffer: model unit (as Michael McGillivray)
Kaye Moss	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Keith Muir	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Terry Newvell	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Harry Oakes	....	cameraman: model unit
Stephen Onions	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Wally Parker	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Peter Pickering	....	modeller and technician: model unit
William Poynter	....	stand-by crew: model unit (as Bill Poynter)
Jonathan Richardson	....	model unit trainee
Mike Smith	....	stand-by crew: model unit
Vic Smith	....	electrician: model unit
Tony Strachan	....	additional photographer: model unit
Peter Talbot	....	focus puller: model unit
Jamie Thomas	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Keith Thomas	....	focus puller: model unit
Leslie Wheeler	....	modeller and technician: model unit (as Les Wheeler)
Tim Willis	....	modeller and technician: model unit
Ken Worringham	....	blue screen technician: model unit (as Ken Warringham)
Martin Body	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)
Zoe Cain	....	optical effects technician (uncredited)
Craig Chandler	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)
Andrew Coates	....	assistant optical camera (uncredited)
Mark Gardiner	....	motion control camera operator (uncredited)
Antony Hunt	....	executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (uncredited)
Stuart Pitcher	....	rostrum cameraman (uncredited)
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Val Wardlaw	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dizzy Addicott	....	pilot: B-25 Mitchell camera plane
David Appleby	....	still photographer
Neil Binney	....	camera operator: aerial unit
Steve Brooke Smith	....	clapper loader: aerial unit
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator (as Derek Browne)
Fred Brown	....	electrician
Peter Butler	....	camera grip
Giles Christopher	....	clapper loader: aerial unit
James Devis	....	director of photography: aerial unit
Geoff Dibben	....	camera trainee (as Geoffey Dibben)
Ron Dick	....	camera air-to-air liaison (as Air Vice Marshall Ron Dick)
Alfie Emmins	....	electrician
Chuck Finch	....	gaffer
Tommy Finch	....	best boy (as Tom Finch)
John Foster	....	clapper loader: aerial unit
Mike Frift	....	camera operator: aerial unit
Alan Grosch	....	electrician
Steve Harvey	....	electrician
Simon Hume	....	focus puller
Kate Hunt	....	camera trainee
Ted Jaffrey	....	camera grip
Jeremy Jones	....	focus puller: aerial unit
Steve Leverington	....	crane operator
Billy Merrell	....	best boy (as Bill Merrell)
Simon Mills	....	focus puller: aerial unit
Mark Milsome	....	clapper loader: aerial unit
Mark Moriarty	....	assistant camera: additional photography: second unit
Steve Murray	....	focus puller: aerial unit (as Steven Murray)
Brian Osborne	....	camera grip: aerial unit
Nick Penn	....	clapper loader
Stuart Reid	....	electrician
Natasha Ross	....	camera trainee
Mike Rutter	....	camera operator: aerial unit
Toby Tyler	....	electrician
Robin Vidgeon	....	additional photographer: second unit
Chris Warren	....	video operator: aerial unit
Simon Werry	....	camera operator: aerial unit

Casting Department
Owens Hill	....	additional casting: USA
Patsy Pollock	....	additional casting: UK

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ken Crouch	....	wardrobe assistant (as Kenny Crouch)
Peter Edmonds	....	wardrobe assistant: aerial unit
Catherine Halloran	....	wardrobe assistant
David Murphy	....	costume coordinator
Philip Rainforth	....	wardrobe assistant
David Whiteing	....	wardrobe assistant
Kirsten Wing	....	wardrobe mistress
Bob Worth	....	advisor: military costumes
Richard Thomas	....	costume painter (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jude Andrews	....	editor trainee
Nick Moore	....	first assistant editor
Cressida Shaffer	....	editor trainee
Debbi Slater	....	editor trainee (as Debbie Slater)
Steve Spencer	....	assistant editor (as Steven Spencer)
Andy Stears	....	assistant editor
Len Tremble	....	assistant editor
Michael Trent	....	assistant editor
Bettina Woolgar	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
George Fenton	....	orchestrator
Keith Grant	....	music recording engineer
Geoff Young	....	music recording engineer
George Fenton	....	conductor (uncredited)
Greg Francis	....	musical director: dance music (uncredited)
Gerry O'Riordan	....	assistant music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mark White	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Andy Andrews	....	location cashier
Simon Atherton	....	armorer
Barbara Back	....	location manager: aerial unit
Chris Bevan	....	pilot: fighter
Tania Blunden	....	production coordinator (as Tania Windsor)
Peter Brown	....	consultant aeronautical engineer
Paul Chaplin	....	pilot: fighter
Jean-Phillipe Chivot	....	provider: B-17 Flying Fortress F-AZDX
Don Clark	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress N-17W
Sue Clegg	....	assistant continuity
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist (as Susan D'Arcy)
Allen Davies	....	assistant accountant (as Allan Davies)
Rob Dean	....	pilot: fighter
Walter Eichorn	....	pilot: Messerschmitt 109
Andrew Fletcher	....	armorer
Roger A. Freeman	....	technical advisor (as Roger Freeman)
Tommy Garcia	....	technical advisor
Jean-Pierre Gattegno	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress F-BEEA
Jo Gregory	....	production accountant
Stephen Grey	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Reg Hallam	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Mark Hanna	....	aerial coordinator
Mark Hanna	....	pilot: fighter
Ray Hanna	....	chief pilot
David Hillman	....	title designer
Allan James	....	location manager
Peter Jarvis	....	pilot: fighter
Peter John	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Tim Knatchbull	....	production runner: aerial unit
Rolf Meum	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Richard Morrison	....	provider: titles
Bruce Orriss	....	technical advisor
Julia Overton	....	production assistant
Hoof Proudfoot	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Bob Richardson	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress N-17W
Julie Robinson	....	continuity: aerial unit
Anders Saether	....	pilot: P-51 Mustang
Jean Salis	....	provider: B-17 Flying Fortress F-AZDX (as Jean Sallis)
Elly Sallingboe	....	provider: B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF
Carl Schofield	....	pilot: fighter (as Carl Scofield)
Keith Sisson	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF (as Keith Sissons)
Brian Smith	....	pilot: fighter
Alan Steele	....	computer operator
David Tallichet	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress N3703G
David Tallichet	....	provider: B-17 Flying Fortress N3703G
Peter Thompson	....	helicopter pilot
David Toguri	....	choreographer
Alan Walker	....	pilot: B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF
Rebecca West	....	publicity assistant
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor (as Angela Noakes)
Alan White	....	photographic transparencies
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot
Mike Woodley	....	aviation ground coordinator
Jerry Grayson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Ray Hanna	....	pilot: Messerschmitt 109 (uncredited)
Jay Lance	....	publicity assistant (uncredited)
Natasha Ross	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Art Smith Jr.	....	researcher (uncredited)

Thanks
Keith Ansell	....	acknowledgment
Leonard Cheshire	....	acknowledgment (as Group Captain Leonard Cheshire)
Harry Friedman	....	acknowledgment (as Dr. Harry Friedman)
James W. Gavin	....	acknowledgment (as Jim Gavin)
R.J. Howard	....	acknowledgment (as Group Captain R.J. Howard)
Skip Lehmann	....	acknowledgment
Marc Pierre	....	acknowledgment
M.J. Pilkington	....	acknowledgment (as Air Vice Marshal M.J. Pilkington)
Margaret Polk	....	acknowledgment
Christian Roy	....	acknowledgment
J.D. Spottiswood	....	acknowledgment (as Air Vice Marshal J.D. Spottiswood)
Colin Waterworth	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• BSB
• County Natwest Ventures
• Enigma Film
• Fujisankei
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (compositing)
• Peerless Camera Company (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Abbey Road Studios  music recording
• Angel Studios  music recording
• B-17 Preservation Ltd.  B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF
• Blowup  stills processing
• CYMA Petroleum Limited  aviation fuel
• Elstree Film Opticals  optical effects
• Fotherley Ltd.  optical effects
• General Screen Enterprises  optical effects
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound re-recording
• Grip House  grip equipment
• Institut Geographique National  B-17 Flying Fortress F-BEEA
• JDC Limited  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Magic Camera Company, The  optical effects
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Mike Uden Opticals  optical effects
• Optical Film Effects  optical effects
• Peerless Camera Company  optical effects
• Pentagram  title design
• Plume Partners  titles
• Scandinavian Historic Flight  P-51 Mustang N167F prvided by
• Studios CTS  music recording
• Thaxton Green Studios Inc.  film library research
• The Old Flying Machine Co.  fighter aircraft
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | Japan | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:12 (cinema release) | UK:PG (video rating) (cut) | Iceland:L | Norway:10 (theatrical rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

BSB

Trivia:

The navigator of the real Memphis Belle was Charles Leighton. From Flint Michigan, he retired as a teacher and counselor. He saved the Belle and more B-17's after identifying false German radio beacons designed to lure unwary B-17s into harms way.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Memphis Belle takes off, interior shots show Virge standing just behind the pilot/co-pilot seats. In exterior shots, no one is standing there.

Quotes:

Luke Sinclair: Fuel gauge is shot. How long can we fly on one engine?
Dennis Dearborn: I don't know. I guess we'll find out.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Know Why (and So Do You)

Bandit's At Five O'clock

True story of the valiant B-17 bomber "Memphis Belle's" 25th and last bombing run over the German port city of Bremen on May 17, 1943. Having flown 24 bombing missions over Nazi occupied Europe since it's first bombing run on November 7, 1942 over the city of Brest France this if successful, it's 25th bombing run, would be the planes and crews ticket out of WWII.

It had been determined by the US general staff that 25 bombing and combat missions over Europe were the limit that a bomber crew, in order to keep casualties down, can take before they start to fall apart from the stress and cease to be effective. The crew of the "Memphis Belle" are the first to almost reach that goal, 25 successful bombing missions.

The unbelievably ferocious German resistance from it vaunted Luftwaffa and ground anti-aircraft batteries over the skies of Europe cost the USAAF and RAF some 35,000 planes, fighters and bombers, and their crews, over 150,000 airmen, during the bombing of Germany and German controlled Europe from 1942 to 1945. Thats just how savage and bitter the fighting was for air supremacy over that war-torn continent.

Stirring story with fine performances from the "Memphis Belle's" Captain Dennis Dearborn, Matthew Modine, on down. As the legendary bomber weathers wave after wave of deadly German ME 109 Messershmitt fighter planes from the sky and massive and murderous German AK AK anti-aircraft fire from the ground. As the "Memphis Belle" flies over Bremen and drops it's bomb payload and then limps back to England. With it's crew battered and bloody but safe and alive to be the first bomber crew to survive 25 missions over German controlled Europe.

The spectacular air combat photography was the best I've ever seen in a war movie and the cast was on par with the "Memphis Belle" with no one outshining the others but all equal up to their task just like the famed bomber was.

Back on the ground there was another drama played out with officer Col. Harriman, David Strathaim, who sent out the "Memphis Belle" and the other 23 B-17's of his bomber squadron on their mission over Bremen Germany. Col. Harriman didn't go along with Col. Derringer, John Lithgow, the US public relation officer who seemed too eager to reward the "Memphis Belle" crew with honors and glory even before they successfully finished their 25th mission. Not realizing that he was making the bombers crew and Col. Harriman very nervous with his not understanding how dangerous their mission was and even possibly jinxing them.

Tense and terrific the movie has already become a war classic without the false heroics that was so common in war movies made during WWII by Hollywood in order to boost the US morale at home and on the battlefield. The crew of the "Memphis Belle" were just as normal and scared as anyone of us would be if we were in the same situation that they were in. But it was that very fear that brought the best in strength and courage out of them and made them the hero's that they eventually became.