Customer Reviews

Memphis Belle

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This in NOT the orginial Memphis Belle documentary! This is a British remake/rehash of the original with altered narration and altered editing.

It appears most of the original footage is included (I _wish_ I had the orginal to compare--it's the one I thought I was getting), but the original narration has been replaced, eliminating some of the most affecting parts (the WWII blood-donor pitch, for one--about how blood donations from the folks at home might have saved some of the returning wounded fliers), as well as the first-hand, on-the-scene sense of tension that the original had.

This version isn't terrible, and does continue the Memphis Belle story past their successful final bombing mission, and includes some extra b&w footage. But is--I repeat--NOT the original.

A poor documentary based on the original. The narration is terrible and the drama and emotion of Wyler's moive are lost. Such a shame. I do not recommend this at all.

I just watched this documentary about the Memphis Belle, first American 8th Air Force bomber and crew to complete the required 25 bombing missions before being retired from combat duty and being sent back to the states from England. The documentary was filmed by Hollywood legend William Wyler, including actual combat air footage shot over Germany.

The strengths of this documentary include the no-nonsense approach to the seriousness and great accomplishment it was in 1943 for any air crew to complete 25 combat missions, the professionalism of the young men who flew and fought in the skies above fortress Europe, and the actual combat footage that conveys WWII air combat.

There was also a bonus feature including a history of the 8th Air Force that was built from the ground up under the command of Major General Carl Spaatz. It was actually a miracle in and of itself that the 8th was able to be established, acquire and build air bases, and keep its planes flying in the light of high casualty rates, and losses and combat damage to planes. A nice addition. Also includes all WWII era footage.

Of course, as other reviewers have mentioned, this version of this documentary has narration from someone from England rather than the original American narration I'd seen in another version of this film.

As for the narration, it didn't detract greatly for me.

All in all, a great record of an historic event.

4 solid stars.

There were many war time documentaries put together during world war two. Many were either not very good or were pure propaganda
films. But this one, along with a few others, stand out. They did an excellent job depicting the events covered and the people
involved. And when you get right down to it, that is about as high of praise as can be given to a documentary.
This is the story of the Memphis Belle, her crew, and to an extent, the others in their airbase and airgroup. Real life in a bad
situation.

The Memphis Belle says it all. In war the winds of death blow each way you turn and it holds true in everyday life. We've got to work with the team, not against it. Some of us will make it, some wont'.

The crew of the Memphis Belle was a team and a team has to work together in war if you hope to win the battle against an enemy you can't see. Somebody always gets hurt. But with a little help from your crew mates you can make it. In war life and death are always staring you in the face, telling you don't count on anything. If you make it call it luck. In war you live or die. Nobody knows if you're going to make it. In my case I made it. I was lucky. The guys on the Memphis Belle made it. They were lucky. It could have gone the the other way, like the plane that got cut in two by a damaged enemy plane.

War is the great enemy. Whoever wins turns out to be a loser.

Call it luck on a plate of ice.

Best wishes.