Jump to content

Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
GrahamBould (talk | contribs)
26,238 edits
Added film Infobox, royal connection
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Film
| name =Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
| image =
| caption =
| director = [[William Wyler]]
| producer = [[First Motion Picture Unit]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]]
| writer = Jerome Chodorov and William Wyler
| starring = The crew of the ''Memphis Belle''
| music = [[Gail Kubik]]
| narration = Eugene Kern
| cinematography = [[Harold J. Tannenbaum]] and [[William H. Clothier]]
| editing =
| distributor =
| released = 1944
| runtime = 45 min
| language = English
| budget =
| imdb_id =
}}


'''''The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress''''' is a 1944 documentary film which provides an account ostensibly of the final mission of the ''[[Memphis Belle (B-17)|Memphis Belle]]'', a [[B-17]] bomber whose aircrew was the first in the U.S. [[Eighth Air Force]] to complete 25 missions as a crew over [[Germany]] and German-occupied Europe.
'''''The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress''''' is a 1944 documentary film which provides an account ostensibly of the final mission of the ''[[Memphis Belle (B-17)|Memphis Belle]]'', a [[B-17]] bomber whose aircrew was the first in the U.S. [[Eighth Air Force]] to complete 25 missions as a crew over [[Germany]] and German-occupied Europe.


The dramatic 16mm color film of actual battles was made by cinematographer First Lieutenant [[Harold J. Tannenbaum]]. The film was directed by Major [[William Wyler]], narrated by Eugene Kern, and had scenes at its [[RAF Bassingbourn|Bassingbourn]] base photographed by Hollywood cinematographer Captain [[William H. Clothier]]. It was made under the auspices of the [[First Motion Picture Unit]], a branch of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (to which future [[US President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] also belonged). The film actually depicted the next to last mission of the crew (see below) on [[May 15]], [[1943]], and was made as a [[morale]]-building inspiration for the [[Home Front]] by showing the everyday courage of the men who manned these planes.
The dramatic 16 mm color film of actual battles was made by cinematographer First Lieutenant [[Harold J. Tannenbaum]]. The film was directed by Major [[William Wyler]], narrated by Eugene Kern, and had scenes at its [[RAF Bassingbourn|Bassingbourn]] base photographed by Hollywood cinematographer Captain [[William H. Clothier]]. It was made under the auspices of the [[First Motion Picture Unit]], a branch of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (to which future [[US President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] also belonged). The film actually depicted the next to last mission of the crew (see below) on [[May 15]], [[1943]], and was made as a [[morale]]-building inspiration for the [[Home Front]] by showing the everyday courage of the men who manned these planes.


The crew on the mission filmed included:
The crew on the mission filmed included:
*Captain [[Robert Morgan|Robert K. Morgan]] ([[pilot]])
* Captain [[Robert Morgan|Robert K. Morgan]] ([[pilot]])
*Captain James A. Verinis (co-pilot)
* Captain James A. Verinis (co-pilot)
*Captain Vincent B. Evans ([[bombardier]])
* Captain Vincent B. Evans ([[bombardier]])
*Captain Charles B. Leighton ([[navigator]])
* Captain Charles B. Leighton ([[navigator]])
*Technical Sergeant Robert J. Hanson (radio operator)
* Technical Sergeant Robert J. Hanson (radio operator)
*Technical Sergeant Harold P. Loch (engineer and top turret gunner)
* Technical Sergeant Harold P. Loch (engineer and top turret gunner)
*Staff Sergeant Casimer A. Nastal (waist gunner)
* Staff Sergeant Casimer A. Nastal (waist gunner)
*Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell (waist gunner)
* Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell (waist gunner)
*Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Scott (ball turret gunner)
* Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Scott (ball turret gunner)
*Staff Sergeant [[John P. Quinlan]] (tail gunner)
* Staff Sergeant [[John P. Quinlan]] (tail gunner)


Morgan's crew had not flown all of its missions together. Captain Verinis had originally been Morgan's co-pilot at the beginning of their combat tour but had become a "first pilot" (aircraft commander) in his own right on [[December 30]], [[1942]], after which he flew 19 missions as commander of a replacement B-17 he named ''[[Connecticut Yankee]]'' after his home state. Nor was Morgan's crew the one originally selected by Wyler for filming. He had been following Captain Oscar O'Neill (whose plane was named ''Invasion 2nd'') of the 401st Bomb Squadron until O'Neill's B-17 and five others were shot down over [[Bremen]], Germany, on [[April 17]], [[1943]]. Morgan was then selected and his crew re-united by the Eighth Air Force to complete its tour together and to return to the United States for a [[war bond]] drive.
Morgan's crew had not flown all of its missions together. Captain Verinis had originally been Morgan's co-pilot at the beginning of their combat tour but had become a "first pilot" (aircraft commander) in his own right on [[December 30]], [[1942]], after which he flew 19 missions as commander of a replacement B-17 he named ''[[Connecticut Yankee]]'' after his home state. Nor was Morgan's crew the one originally selected by Wyler for filming. He had been following Captain Oscar O'Neill (whose plane was named ''Invasion 2nd'') of the 401st Bomb Squadron until O'Neill's B-17 and five others were shot down over [[Bremen]], Germany, on [[April 17]], [[1943]]. Morgan was then selected and his crew re-united by the Eighth Air Force to complete its tour together and to return to the United States for a [[war bond]] drive.

The late [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King]] and the late [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother]] are seen congratulating the crew upon its successful return.


In [[2001]] the United States [[Library of Congress]] deemed the original version "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]].
In [[2001]] the United States [[Library of Congress]] deemed the original version "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]].
Line 24: Line 47:


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{imdb title|id=0036152|title=The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)}}
* {{imdb title|id=0036152|title=The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)}}
*[http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/movies/memphis_belle_movie The Real Memphis Belle Movie (1944)] - Watch the entire movie online
* [http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/movies/memphis_belle_movie The Real Memphis Belle Movie (1944)] - Watch the entire movie online
*[http://www.archive.org/details/TheMemphisBelleAStoryofaFlyingFortress You can download William Wyler's documentary in different formats here] - It's free to download in the public domain
* [http://www.archive.org/details/TheMemphisBelleAStoryofaFlyingFortress You can download William Wyler's documentary in different formats here] - It's free to download in the public domain


{{documentary-stub}}
[[Category:1944 films]]
[[Category:1944 films]]
[[Category:Documentary films]]
[[Category:Documentary films]]
Line 34: Line 56:
[[Category:United States National Film Registry]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry]]
[[Category:Films set on an airplane]]
[[Category:Films set on an airplane]]

[[Category:American propaganda films]]
[[Category:American propaganda films]]

[[sv:The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress]]
[[sv:The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress]]

Revision as of 09:10, 2 December 2006

Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
Directed byWilliam Wyler
Written byJerome Chodorov and William Wyler
Produced byFirst Motion Picture Unit of the United States Army Air Forces
StarringThe crew of the Memphis Belle
CinematographyHarold J. Tannenbaum and William H. Clothier
Music byGail Kubik
Release date
1944
Running time
45 min
LanguageEnglish


The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress is a 1944 documentary film which provides an account ostensibly of the final mission of the Memphis Belle, a B-17 bomber whose aircrew was the first in the U.S. Eighth Air Force to complete 25 missions as a crew over Germany and German-occupied Europe.

The dramatic 16 mm color film of actual battles was made by cinematographer First Lieutenant Harold J. Tannenbaum. The film was directed by Major William Wyler, narrated by Eugene Kern, and had scenes at its Bassingbourn base photographed by Hollywood cinematographer Captain William H. Clothier. It was made under the auspices of the First Motion Picture Unit, a branch of the United States Army Air Forces (to which future US President Ronald Reagan also belonged). The film actually depicted the next to last mission of the crew (see below) on May 15, 1943, and was made as a morale-building inspiration for the Home Front by showing the everyday courage of the men who manned these planes.

The crew on the mission filmed included:

  • Captain Robert K. Morgan (pilot)
  • Captain James A. Verinis (co-pilot)
  • Captain Vincent B. Evans (bombardier)
  • Captain Charles B. Leighton (navigator)
  • Technical Sergeant Robert J. Hanson (radio operator)
  • Technical Sergeant Harold P. Loch (engineer and top turret gunner)
  • Staff Sergeant Casimer A. Nastal (waist gunner)
  • Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell (waist gunner)
  • Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Scott (ball turret gunner)
  • Staff Sergeant John P. Quinlan (tail gunner)

Morgan's crew had not flown all of its missions together. Captain Verinis had originally been Morgan's co-pilot at the beginning of their combat tour but had become a "first pilot" (aircraft commander) in his own right on December 30, 1942, after which he flew 19 missions as commander of a replacement B-17 he named Connecticut Yankee after his home state. Nor was Morgan's crew the one originally selected by Wyler for filming. He had been following Captain Oscar O'Neill (whose plane was named Invasion 2nd) of the 401st Bomb Squadron until O'Neill's B-17 and five others were shot down over Bremen, Germany, on April 17, 1943. Morgan was then selected and his crew re-united by the Eighth Air Force to complete its tour together and to return to the United States for a war bond drive.

The late King and the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother are seen congratulating the crew upon its successful return.

In 2001 the United States Library of Congress deemed the original version "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

1990 fictionalized version

A fictionalized version of the story (see Memphis Belle (film)) was produced in 1990 by David Puttnam in England.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Memphis_Belle:_A_Story_of_a_Flying_Fortress&oldid=91562625"