Memphis Belle (film)

Last updated

Memphis Belle
Memphis belle poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Caton-Jones
Written by Monte Merrick
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography David Watkin
Edited by Jim Clark
Music by George Fenton
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release dates
  • 7 September 1990 (1990-09-07)(United Kingdom)
  • 12 October 1990 (1990-10-12)(United States)
Running time
107 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$23 million (estimated)[ citation needed ]
Box office$27 million (USA)

Memphis Belle is a 1990 British-American war drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones and written by Monte Merrick. The film stars Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, and Harry Connick Jr. (in his film debut). Memphis Belle is a fictional version of the 1944 documentary Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress by director William Wyler, about the 25th and last mission of an American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, the Memphis Belle , based in England during World War II. [1] The 1990 version was co-produced by David Puttnam and Wyler's daughter Catherine and dedicated to her father. The film closes with a dedication to all airmen, friend or foe, who fought in the skies above Europe during World War II.

Contents

Plot

The Memphis Belle, a B-17 Flying Fortress, and her crew are set to complete 25 missions, a prerequisite for the crew to complete their tour of duty. Along with the rest of the squadron, Belle is given the task of attacking a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft manufacturing plant in Bremen, Germany. Though initially escorted by P-51 Mustangs, the short-range fighters have to eventually withdraw, leaving the vulnerable bombers to fend for themselves to the target and back. The success of Belle carries a lot of significance in that she would be the first in the Eighth Air Force to complete her tour. Army publicist Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Derringer intends on using Belle's fame accrued from her record to sell vital war bonds.

Over Germany, Belle takes over as lead ship when the formation begins to take losses from flak and enemy planes. A smoke screen initially obscures the target, though on the second pass the formation successfully drops their payload on the now visible area. Returning home, the formation is continuously harassed by German planes. Radioman SSgt. Danny Daly is severely wounded, and damage causes a fire in one of the engines which Captain Dearborn is forced to extinguish by diving the plane, risking the aircraft in the process.

Further battle damage destroys the plane's electric systems that power the landing gear, though the crew successfully deploy the gear manually just prior to landing. Back on friendly soil, Lt. Colonel Derringer and the ground crew run to the plane to celebrate its victory, with Captain Dearborn opening a stowed bottle of Champagne aboard the aircraft with his crew. The closing credits state that the Memphis Belle flew her 25th and final mission on May 17, 1943, and that over a quarter of a million aircraft saw action over Western Europe during World War Two, with 200,000 airmen losing their lives and the film being dedicated in theirs and every serviceman's honour.

Cast

Production

B-17G Sally B in 2014 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress '124485 - DF-A' (G-BEDF) (14423153306).jpg
B-17G Sally B in 2014

Five real B-17 warbirds were used in the filming of Memphis Belle, out of eight B-17s that were airworthy during the late 1980s. Two were located in the United States (N3703G and N17W), two were in France (F-BEEA, which was destroyed in a takeoff accident [2] and F-AZDX The Pink Lady), and one was in England (G-BEDF Sally B ). N17W is currently on static display at Museum of Flight in Tukwila, WA. The original Memphis Belle was a B-17F model, so any B-17Gs used in the film were heavily modified to look like an earlier F model, having chin turrets removed, tail gun positions retrofitted with older designs and being painted olive drab green. During filming, two B-17s portrayed the Belle (one was the movie version of the Memphis Belle (N3703G) and the other was Sally B for scenes requiring pyrotechnics such as smoke and sparks indicating machine gun "hits") while the rest had nose art and squadron markings changed numerous times to make it appear there were more aircraft. [3]

Ground sequences for the movie (including takeoff and landing scenes) were filmed at the non-operational RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire, England with a period control tower and vehicles being placed on site. Flying sequences were flown from the airfield site of the Imperial War Museum Duxford. All the extras for the film were obtained from auditions held in the area and included current and former members of the Royal Air Force. The filmmakers also used Pinewood Studios to shoot interior scenes and to shoot various models of B-17s. [4]

A North American B-25 Mitchell was used to film the majority of the aerial scenes with several fixed and trainable cameras also mounted on the available B-17s and fighter aircraft for action shots. A Grumman TBM Avenger (with its tail section painted the same olive drab tones used on the B-17s) was used as back-up for a short time when the B-25 became unserviceable during filming. [5]

The film pilots were warbird display pilots coming from the UK, USA, France, Germany, New Zealand and Norway, the roster changing several times as pilots had to return to their full-time jobs during filming. The flying sequences were devised and planned under the coordination of Old Flying Machine Company (OFMC) pilots Ray Hanna and his son Mark, who also acted as chief pilots for the fighter aircraft used and flew the camera-equipped fighter and TBM Avenger aircraft during filming. [6]

Due to a shortage of actual B-17 airframes, wooden silhouette mock-ups were made and placed at distant parts of the airfield.

Filming accident

The incident aircraft in 1970 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, France - Institut Geographique National JP12461.jpg
The incident aircraft in 1970

A French B-17G (F-BEEA), used as a filming platform, hit a tree and a pile of gravel after losing engine power and swinging during takeoff from Binbrook and was destroyed by the subsequent fire. All 10 of the crew escaped with only minor injuries, the most serious of which being a broken leg. While lined up on runway 21 awaiting takeoff, a puff of smoke was observed by a ground engineer from the vicinity of engine three which he conjectured could have been due to an over-boost. The aircraft commenced its ground roll and after about 100 yards (91 m) swung slightly to the left, which the commander (the handling pilot) corrected with the rudder and by reducing power to number 3 and 4 engines. Once corrected full power on all engines was resumed but the aircraft swung right. The commander applied corrective rudder and reduced power to number 1 and 2 engines, but this was not immediately effective and the aircraft left the runway before straightening, parallel to the runway. Knowing that the aircraft was capable of being operated from grass landing strips, the pilot opted to continue the takeoff; however, after 400–500 yards (370–460 m) and at an airspeed of 90–95 miles per hour (145–153 km/h) the aircraft swung right and its course was obstructed by a tree which was hit by the left wing and a pile of gravel which was hit by the number 4 propeller. The aircraft yawed to the right and came to rest in a cornfield; the fuselage broke into two sections aft of the bomb bay and caught fire. [2]

Historical accuracy

After the release of the film Robert Hanson, the real Memphis Belle's radio operator, spoke to his grandson's high school class. When asked if what happened in the film was true, he replied "No, it didn't all happen to the Memphis Belle, but everything in the movie happened to some B-17". [7] With the exception of the aircraft names, the film is fiction. The characters are composites, the names are not those of the actual crew of the Memphis Belle, and the incidents shown are supposed to be representative of B-17 missions in general. The characters and situations of the film bear little resemblance to the crew of the actual Memphis Belle, the nature of her final mission, the accuracy of strategic bombing, or Allied policy on the bombing of civilians. No optimistic official celebration on the evening before the Belle's 25th mission occurred, and there was no special welcome for the crew when the mission was over.[ citation needed ]

For the fighters, seven P-51 Mustangs were used. Five of the P-51s were painted in the markings of the first USAAF Merlin-engined Mustang squadron to operate in Britain (a few months later in 1943 than the actual mission). [N 1] As there were no surviving flyable Messerschmitt Bf 109s, Luftwaffe fighter aircraft were represented by Ha-1112s, a Spanish version of the Bf 109 (which were also used to represent Bf 109s in the 1969 film Battle of Britain) in mid-war generic paint schemes.[ citation needed ]

Soundtrack

Memphis Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
George Fenton
Released1 October 1990
Recorded Abbey Road Studios,
CTS Studios, and
Angel Recording Studios,
London, England
Genre Soundtrack
Length42:47
Label Varèse Sarabande
Producer

"The Chestnut Tree", performed by Glenn Miller And His Orchestra and written by Tommie Connor, Jimmy Kennedy and Hamilton Kennedy is featured in the film playing over the Memphis Belle's radio, but isn't on the soundtrack album. The upbeat version of "Danny Boy" performed by Connick at the party is not found on the soundtrack album; a slower version performed by Mark Williamson appears instead. [9] The film score, by George Fenton, was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Original Film Score in 1991.

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, CTS Studios, and Angel Recording Studios in London, England. [10] Included is Glenn Miller and His Orchestra performing "I Know Why (And So Do You)".

Track listing

  1. "Londonderry Air" / "Front Titles: Memphis Belle" (traditional / George Fenton) - 3:50
  2. "Green Eyes" (Nilo Menendez, Eddie Rivera, Eddie Woods) - 3:25
  3. "Flying Home" (Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Sydney Robin) - 2:57
  4. "The Steel Lady" (Fenton) - 1:44
  5. "Prepare For Take Off" ("Amazing Grace") (traditional) - 2:39
  6. "The Final Mission" (Fenton) - 3:51
  7. "With Deep Regret..." (Fenton) - 2:02
  8. "I Know Why (And So Do You)" (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) - 2:55 - performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
  9. "The Bomb Run" (Fenton) - 1:30
  10. "Limping Home" (Fenton) - 2:25
  11. "Crippled Belle: The Landing" (Fenton) - 3:26
  12. "Resolution" (Fenton) - 1:06
  13. "Memphis Belle" (End Title Suite) (Fenton) - 7:37
  14. "Danny Boy" (Theme from Memphis Belle) (Frederic E. Weatherly) - 3:20 - performed by Mark Williamson

Reception

Memphis Belle received mixed reviews, with Roger Ebert stating the film was "entertaining" yet filled with familiar wartime cliches. "This human element in the experience of the Memphis Belle crew somehow compensates for a lack of human dimension in the characters. We can't really tell the crew members apart and don't much care to, but we can identify with them." [11] UK film reviewer Andy Webb had similar reservations. "Despite its good intentions to highlight the risks and heroics of the brave men who flew dangerous bombing missions deep into enemy soil during World War II, the one thing which you can't miss about Memphis Belle is that it is a cliche commercial production." [12]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 68% based on reviews from 25 critics. [13] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade A on scale of A to F. [14]

Box office

The film opened in the UK on 266 screens and grossed £1,174,250 in its opening week, ranking number one at the box office. [15] It was number one in its second week too. [16] It went on to gross £4,924,000 in the UK. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress</span> American WWII-era heavy bomber

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater of Operations and dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II. It is the third-most produced bomber of all time, behind the American four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the German multirole, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88. It was also employed as a transport, antisubmarine aircraft, drone controller, and search-and-rescue aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Polebrook</span> Airport in Northamptonshire, England

Royal Air Force Polebrook or more simply RAF Polebrook is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east-south-east of Oundle, at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England. The airfield was built on Rothschild estate land starting in August 1940.

<i>Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress</i> 1944 film by William Wyler

The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress is a 1944 documentary film which provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. In May 1943 it became the third U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe, but the first to return to the United States.

<i>Memphis Belle</i> (aircraft) Boeing B-17F bomber

The Memphis Belle is a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used during the Second World War that inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress and the 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle. It was one of the first United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-17 heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions, after which the aircrew returned with the bomber to the United States to sell war bonds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">91st Bombardment Group</span> WW2 US Army Air Forces unit

The 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as "The Ragged Irregulars" or as "Wray's Ragged Irregulars", after the commander who took the group to England. During its service in World War II the unit consisted of the 322nd, 323rd, 324th, and 401st Bomb Squadrons. The 91st Bomb Group is most noted as the unit in which the bomber Memphis Belle flew, and for having suffered the greatest number of losses of any heavy bomb group in World War II.

<i>Air Force</i> (film) 1943 film by Howard Hawks

Air Force is a 1943 American World War II aviation film directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Garfield, John Ridgely, Gig Young, Arthur Kennedy, and Harry Carey. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner. Conceived by then - Lieutenant General “Hap” Arnold in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, it was originally scheduled for release on December 7, 1942, on the first anniversary. It became impossible to meet that deadline, and it premiered in New York City on February 3, 1943 and was released on March 20. The film's storyline revolves around an actual event that occurred on December 7, 1941. An aircrew ferries an unarmed 1940 series Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress heavy bomber, named the Mary-Ann, across the Pacific to the United States Army Air Forces base at Hickam Field. They fly right into the middle of the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of America's major involvement in the Second World War. An uncredited William Faulkner wrote the emotional deathbed scene for Ridgely, who played the commander and pilot of the Mary-Ann.

<i>The Wild Blue</i> 2001 book by Stephen Ambrose

The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys who Flew the B-24s over Germany, by historian and best selling author Stephen Ambrose, was a New York Times best selling non-fiction book published in 2001. It details the lives and World War II experiences of pilots, bombardiers, navigators, radio operators and gunners flying B-24 bombers of the U.S. Army Air Force against Nazi Germany. The book entails a recounting of George McGovern's exceptional career as a chief pilot of a B-24 with the 455th Bomb Group in Italy, encompassing 35 bombing missions. With the odds of surviving all 35 missions as low as 50 %, the bomber crews flew during dangerous daylight hours, in risky tight flying formations, and despite bad weather and assaults of heavy, deadly, flak from ground-based German anti-aircraft guns.

<i>Target for Tonight</i> 1941 film by Harry Watt

Target for Tonight is a 1941 British World War II documentary film billed as filmed and acted by the Royal Air Force, all during wartime operations. It was directed by Harry Watt for the Crown Film Unit. The film is about the crew of a Wellington bomber taking part in a bombing mission over Nazi Germany. The film won an honorary Academy Award in 1942 as Best Documentary by the National Board of Review. Despite purporting to be a documentary there are multiple indicators that it is not quite as such: film shots include studio shots taken from the exterior of the aircraft looking into the cockpit whilst "in flight"; several stilted sections of dialogue are clearly scripted; on the ground shots of bombing are done using model trains; and several actors appear. The film does give a unique insight into the confined nature of the Wellington's interior and some of the nuances of day to day operation such as ground crew holding a blanket over the engine while it starts to regulate oxygen intake.

<i>Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby</i> Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft that flew 28 missions in WWII and is preserved and on display

Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, originally Shoo Shoo Baby, is a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II, preserved and currently in storage at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, awaiting transfer to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. A B-17G-35-BO, serial number 42-32076, and manufactured by Boeing, it was named by her crew for a song of the same name made popular by The Andrews Sisters, the favorite song of its crew chief T/Sgt. Hank Cordes. Photographs of the bomber indicate that a third "Shoo" was added to the name at some point in May 1944 when the original aircraft commander completed his tour of duty and was replaced by another pilot.

<i>Combat America</i> 1945 documentary film

Combat America is a 1945 documentary film produced in World War II, narrated by Clark Gable. At the time of the film's production in 1943, Gable was a 1st Lieutenant in the Eighth Air Force, part of the United States Army Air Forces. While he was stationed in England, Gable flew five combat missions from May 4–September 23, 1943, and during one of them, his boot was struck by an anti-aircraft shell, and he was nearly hit by other flak bursts. Gable's film crew included MGM cameraman Andrew J.McIntyre; 1st Lt. Howard Voss, a sound engineer; Master Sgt. Robert Boles, a cameraman; Master Sgt. Marlin Toti, another cameraman; and 1st Lt. John Mahlin, a scriptwriter."

<i>Old 666</i> Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber

Old 666 was a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress heavy bomber, serial number 41-2666, assigned to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 19th and 43rd Bombardment Groups in 1942–1943. It is notable for being the aircraft piloted by Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer Jr. on the 16 June 1943 mission which earned him and 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski each a Medal of Honor, and all other members of the aircrew the Distinguished Service Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident</span> Aerial Incident of WW2

The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident occurred on 20 December 1943, when, after a successful bomb run on Bremen, 2nd Lt. Charles "Charlie" Brown's B-17F Flying Fortress Ye Olde Pub of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was severely damaged by German fighters. Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled bomber but did not do so, and instead escorted it over and past German-occupied territory so as to protect it. After an extensive search by Brown, the two pilots met each other 50 years later and developed a friendship that lasted until Stigler's death in March 2008. Brown died only a few months later, in November of the same year.

This is a partial list of accidents and incidents involving the Boeing-designed B-17 Flying Fortress. Combat losses are not included except for a very few cases denoted by singular circumstances. A few documented drone attrition cases are also included.

<i>Fortress</i> (2012 film) 2012 American film

Fortress is a 2012 war film directed by Michael R. Phillips and stars Bug Hall, Donnie Jeffcoat, Sean McGowan and Joseph Williamson. The film was released by Bayou Pictures and although initially intended for wider release, was a direct-to-video release on July 31, 2012 made by Monarch Video. Fortress takes its name from the iconic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress World War II bomber that was the centerpiece of the aerial battle in Europe.

<i>Dauntless Dotty</i>

Dauntless Dotty is the nickname of a Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress during the Second World War that led the first B-29 raid on Tokyo on 24 November 1944, the first bombing attack of the Japanese capital since the Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942.

<i>Hot Stuff</i> (aircraft)

Hot Stuff is the nickname of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 41-23728, of the 8th Air Force that was used in World War II. It was the first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete twenty-five missions in Europe in World War II.

The Mi Amigo memorial is a war memorial at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, England, marking the World War II crash site of the USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress Mi Amigo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett Ernest Blakely</span> World War II hero and career officer in the USAF

Everett Ernest Blakely was a career officer of the United States Air Force. He was a highly decorated B-17 pilot with the “Bloody Hundredth” Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force in Europe during World War II. He received eleven medals for his service including the Silver Star for “gallantry in action”, the Distinguished Flying Cross for “heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight” and the Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters. Blakely and the crew of his plane “Just A Snappin” long held the record for the most enemy aircraft shot down on a single mission. The crew of Just A Snappin was credited with 9 enemy aircraft shot down. He also received his Pilot Wings with 3 stars from the Colombian Air Force.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ P-47 Thunderbolts were the escort at the time in 1943. [8]

Citations

  1. ↑ Orriss 1984, p. 83.
  2. 1 2 "Boeing B17G Flying Fortress, F-BEEA 11-89 ." Air Accident Investigation Branch . Retrieved: 27 October 2014.)
  3. ↑ Farmer 1990. p. 31.
  4. ↑ "Original print information: Memphis Belle (1990)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: 27 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Carlson 2012 p. 120.
  6. ↑ Farmer 1990. p. 37.
  7. ↑ Oliver, Myrna (10 October 2005). "Robert Hanson, 85; Last Living Crewman of the Memphis Belle". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Farmer 1990. p. 32.
  9. ↑ "Memphis Belle Soundtrack." soundtrackcollector.com . Retrieved: 11 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Memphis Belle." CD Universe, 17 October 1990. Retrieved: 11 October 2010.
  11. ↑ Ebert, Roger (12 October 1990). "Memphis Belle]". Chicago Sun Times – via Roger Ebert.com.
  12. ↑ Webb, Andy. "Memphis Belle (1990)". The Movie Scene, 2014. Retrieved: 27 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Memphis Belle". Rotten Tomatoes .
  14. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "U.K. Top 10 Films". Variety . 17 September 1990. p. 56.
  16. ↑ "U.K. Top 10 Films". Variety . 24 September 1990. p. 40.
  17. ↑ "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 26.

Bibliography

  • Carlson, Mark. Flying on Film: A Century of Aviation in the Movies, 1912–2012. Duncan, Oklahoma: BearManor Media, 2012. ISBN   978-1-59393-219-0.
  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN   978-0-83062-374-7.
  • Farmer, James H. "The Making of Memphis Belle." Air Classics, Volume 26, Number 11, November 1990.
  • Morgan, Robert, and Ron Powers. The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. ISBN   0-451-20594-4.
  • Orriss, Bruce. When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War II. Hawthorne, California: Aero Associates Inc., 1984. ISBN   0-9613088-0-X.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.