Customer Reviews

The Memphis Belle Deluxe Edition

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first saw "The Memphis Belle" as a kid, I was absolutely riveted to the screen. This is the legendary movie that inspired a Hollywood film (not great but not terrible -- made just before digital effects came into the world that would have produced a far better film) and has become the touchstone document of what WWII was like for the bomber crews. It's been said that none other than George Lucas used Memphis Belle in the rough cuts of Star Wars to create battle sequences. One watching of this movie and you will understand why -- harrowing close calls and dead on the screen as B-17s tumble out of control, it just leaves you breathless. The moving commentary and score make it all that more amazing. It still blows all but the best that Hollywood made, such as "12 O'Clock High" off the screen. This deluxe edition version of the film is truly outstanding, and features several other films about the B-17 and has a wonderful recruiting movie starring who else but James Stewart, my favorite Hollywood actor.

This is it, folks, the standard by which all WWII aviation flicks must be measured. A documentary, yes, but brilliant and riveting. Only "12 O'Clock High" comes close to the artistry of this movie. By contrast, the modern-day, Hollywood-ized "Memphis Belle" makes me retch. A must-see for any aviation buff!!! Also, Bob Morgan's book, "The Man Who Flew The Memphis Belle" is a good complement to this film.

This is an excellent docudrama type government propaganda collection of short films that are done very well, given the time frame of the mid 40s. I had seen the film "the Memphis Belle" several years back and with this "Deluxe" version as a background, it rounds off and completes the the whole event for a very special time in our Air Force history well worth remembering.

First of all I thought it was the movie and second of all it won't play. I need to return it.

Shari