With an inventory of over 8,000 items available for sale at were proud to offer you the chance to own the ultimate movie collectable. Filmed in the patriotic spirit of previetnamera war pictures, the factbased memphis belle details the climactic mission of a b17 bomber squadron during world war ii. Jan 19, 2020 some aspects of the memphis belle story are true. Then, on january th, 1942, germany had begun launching its uboats german military.
In 1943, the crew of a b17 based in uk prepares for its 25th and last bombing mission over germany before returning home to the usa. Its seven defensive machinegun positions were considered a significant advance in bomber development during the 40s. Movie inspired by a painting, belle is a true story. Army air force that her final assignment was an uneventful milk run.
The propaganda and morale boosting value of her completing her combat life was so important to the u. She flew for 10 months from november 7, 1942 to may 17, 1943. 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. The b17 bomber named memphis belle depicted in the movie is not the same model. The crew only have to make one more bombing raid before they have finished their duty and can go home. 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 is a fictionalization of the 1943 documentary memphis belle. Movie version of memphis belle will rumble over reallife version.
Can you tell me what the memphis belles last mission was, because i keep finding conflicting information about it answer. In 2001, the united states national film preservation board added this documentary to the national film registry. A story of a flying fortress is possibly the most unique and wellknown military documentary ever made. May 05, 2014 an elegantly rendered costume drama that opened friday, belle tells a true story only lately becoming better known in britain and remarkable in its details. The postwar movie 12 oclock high was partially based on belles history.
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. Jan 16, 2017 the story of the american bomber crew of the memphis belle, the first us airmen to complete a full tour of 25 missions during the air battle of europe during the second world war. Few know more about real aerial combat than morganalthough moviegoers are. Can you tell me what the memphis belles last mission was, because i keep. Not a trick is missed not even the faithful dog lifting its loyal head from the grass when a missing plane finds its way back to base. Hope you enjoy this quiz about one of the best true story movies ever made. The postwar movie 12 oclock high was partially based on belle s history, as was the 1990 film memphis belle. Filmed in color, the memphis belle has long been held up as a model wartime documentary. This film follows the crew of the b17 flying fortress memphis belle as it prepares for a mission. The memphis belle s 25th and final combat mission did not result in her returning to base badly crippled as shown in the film. The actors are all pretty good, but the script and direction, whilst adequate to the job in hand, arent top notch. Im doing research on the movie memphis belle and how historically accurate it is. Memphis belle is a boeing b17f flying fortress used during the second world war that inspired the making of two motion pictures. May 17, 2018 memphis belle movie actors with original crew indoor events the b17f memphis belle tm will be placed on permanent public display on thursday, may 17, 2018, with celebratory events on may 1719, 2018.
Jun 07, 2015 hollywood has never let facts get in the way of a good story. Army air force boeing b17f that flew strategic bombing missions from england into continental europe. The postwar movie 12 oclock high was partially based on belles history, as was the 1990 film memphis belle. Memphis belle is a fictionalization of the 1944 documentary memphis belle. The story concerns the 25th and final flight of the titular memphis belle, a b52 bomber of the usaf, operating out of england on sorties over europe. For instance, the b17 bombers of world war il were revered by crew members as the plane that gets you home. If you really like wwii history, then you will probably like this film. In this film the memphis belle is a b17 bomber plane taking flight for its 25 th and final mission during world war ii. A recent movie updated this story in the hollywood style but this is the original documentation based on the true story of the crew of the b17 memphis belle and their mission over europe.
Prop store is the worlds leading vendor of original movie props, costumes and memorabilia. Memphis belle, like many war movies, is a collage of experience that blends many characters, scenes, moments into one 2hour experience. Of course, this in no way detracts from the storied reputation earned by the belle, or from the valor of. Once the 25 th mission is completed the anxious crew can return to the united states as war heroes and members of one of the first american bomber crews to complete combat duty. Although some elements of the plot are accurate memphis belle, tail number 4124485, was assigned to the 324th bombardment squadron, 91st bombardment group heavy. Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a b17, the memphis belle and the flying fortress. Memphis belle is a 1990 britishamerican war drama film directed by michael catonjones and written by monte merrick. B17g the movie memphis belle returns home to geneseo. 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. A giant flying fortress, the memphis belle itself was one of the most impressive flying machines ever seen. Army air forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over europe, but the first to return to the united states. The front of the nose, the top turret and the ball turret were made of a thenrevolutionary material called plexiglass. The memphis belles 25th and final combat mission did not result in her returning to base badly crippled as shown in the film. A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the memphis belle, a.
Can you tell me what the memphis belles last mission was, because i keep finding conflicting information about it. Memphis belle tells the story of the journey of several brave young americans through an anthology of aviation movie cliches. A story of a flying fortress by director william wyler, about the 25th and. The memphis belle the final chapter in memphis, a documentary film by ken axmaker, jr. Memphis belle 1990 with eric stoltz, tate donovan, matthew.
The aircraft was one of the first united states army air forces b17 heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions. Hanson, addressing his grandsons high school class after the feature film was released, was asked if everything in the movie actually happened. The belle was the most famous because she was the first heavy bomber in hitlers european war theatre to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive. 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. Five real b17 warbirds were used in the filming of memphis belle, out of eight b17s that were airworthy during the late 1980s. One might argue that everything that happens in this movie happened to real people at the time, most people didnt experience all of those things at the same time. This site was developed through a partnership of the memphis belle memorial association and the lausanne collegiate school oral history program, this website will primarily be used as an educational tool to preserve the history of the belle and those who flew it. The memphis belle flies its 25th bombing mission on this day in 1943, the crew of the memphis belle, one of a group of american bombers based in britain, becomes the first b17 crew to complete 25. A story of a flying fortress, and a 1990 hollywood feature film, memphis belle. The historical basis for the film is the memphis belle, an american b17 bomber whose tenman crew flew twentyfour successful missions over nazioccupied europe from a base in england. This movie is said to be based on a world war ii documentary by william wyler, but in another sense it is based on the battle of. The importance of the plane is clearly indicated by the fact that a movie, titled memphis belle, was created in 1990. The memphis belle a b17f flying fortress is an integral part of memphis history. In a terse, exciting 41 minutes, the film assembles footage from several allied bombing missions into one.
A movie version of the world war ii b17 memphis belle bomber will roar through the skies above dayton this month when the reallife. In 2004, the memphis belle was reissued into a north american dvd format with some digital remastering. Memphis belle is a 1990 britishamerican war drama film directed by michael catonjones and. The film invents characters, events, and entire missions for the sake of dramatic license. The memphis belle was a model f, which was distinguished by the large square window on each side of the nose that. The film features an allstar cast with matthew modine, eric stoltz, and harry connick jr.
The memphis belle flies its 25th bombing mission history. The memphis belle is a world war ii bomber, piloted by a young crew on dangerous bombing raids into europe. In the briefing before their last flight, the crew discover that the target for the day is dresden, a heavilydefended city that invariably causes many allied casualties. The story behind the film 10 questions tough, 10 qns, plumbus, sep 25 06 the plot and characters seem pretty much covered by the other quizzes on this film. The first heavy bomber to complete 25 missions was. Memphis belle 1990 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers.
A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the memphis belle, a b17 in the us 8th air force. At the beginning of the film, the belle s crew had successfully completed twentyfour missions in the toughest theater of the air war in europe. Memphis belle the memphis belle memorial association. It is hard to understand the true impact of the memphis belle without knowing what was happening in world war ii at the time. A recent movie updated this story in the hollywood style but this is the original documentation based on the true story of the crew of the b17. Memphis belle under restoration, image usaf museum.
The real belle owes its presentday survival to a combination of romance and civic pride. Those too young to remember it from the war may know its story from the fictionalized 1990 movie memphis belle, or from the b17 used in that movie that now tours airshows in belle markings. Apr 21, 2016 however, american morale in 1942 was very low. In october of 2005 that became a reality, and the true restoration of memphis belle was to begin. After appearing in the film, this plane continues to make air show appearances as movie memphis belle in that. Memphis belle movie actors with original crew indoor events the b17f memphis belle tm will be placed on permanent public display on thursday. At the beginning of the film, the belles crew had successfully completed twentyfour missions in the toughest theater of the air war in europe. Memphis belle original movie props and costumes click. If you already own a documentary about the memphis belle, this may be the same one only in a different package. Memphis belle is a 1990 world war ii movie directed by michael catonjones, loosely inspired by the reallife story of the first bomber crew in the us 8th air force to complete a full tour of 25 missions over occupied europe. Belle is an important, engrossing, and incredibly affecting movie. Army air force boeing b17f that flew strategic bombing missions from england into. A good documentary about the memphis belle, but probably not everyones cup of tea. Based on a true story, the film concerns the famous b17 bomber memphis belle, which delivered 25 successful missions before the plane and.
Memphis belle exhibit may 2018 national museum of the. Academy awardwinning director william wyler documented the belle s service in a 41minute color film europe. The story of the american bomber crew of the memphis belle, the first us airmen to complete a full tour of 25 missions during the air battle of europe during the second world war. It sheds light on a story based on true events though fictionalized to a degree here that could have languished in history books and dissertations if not for director amma asante and lead actress mbatharaw, whove turned it into cinematic reality.
An elegantly rendered costume drama that opened friday, belle tells a true story only lately becoming better known in britain and remarkable in its details. In 1941, the japanese had just bombed pearl harbor, and hitler had taken complete control of the german army. Known universally now as the movie memphis belle, due to her starring role in the 1989 film memphis belle, the aircraft was a frequent participant in the famed geneseo air shows of the late 1980s and early 1990s when it was not uncommon to find six, seven or even eight wwii heavy bombers in formation over that hallowed grass field hewn. Its resiliency against battle damage was unmatched with any other aircraft of its tim. Watch memphis belle movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The 1990 film memphis belle, directed by michael catonjones, starred harry connick jr.