Simply A Masterpiece

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

There's a reason why they don't make war films like this anymore: it's hard these days to sell the idea (Desert Storm aside) of a good and noble war. Which makes this dramatic re-creation of a World War II bombing mission (by the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete a full tour of duty) an anachronistic throwback to those crowd-pleasing propaganda movies made while the conflict was still being fought. Much effort went into the airborne battle scenes, some of which are undeniably exciting despite the obvious F/X work, but the film collapses whenever there's a break in the action. Monte Merrick's one-dimensional screenplay presents the horror of modern mechanical warfare as a grand adventure fought by reluctant heroes: those magnificent stock characters in their flying machines. And the triumphant, champagne-popping finale has all the emotional credibility of an Air Force recruitment ad. Let's get real: a war film, in this day and age, with a happy ending?

As one of Reichsmarshall Goering's erstwhile targets I have every reason to be grateful to the young men of the Mighty Eighth who travelled halfway across the world to risk their lives flying 7 miles high in the freezing skies of Europe in broad daylight to damage the Nazis' industrial might. 35 years ago I took my two young sons to the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth to watch a showing of William Wyler's "Memphis Belle"in order that they too should be aware of the debt we owed to the Americans. The 1990 fictionalised version of that documentary is competent enough but uninvolving. The stars,mostly potential "young guns",have failed to grasp(or had never been informed)that two or three generations back,people behaved differently,had different attitudes,spoke differently. This was not the "Me" generation we're talking about.More the "What can I do for my country?" one. The oleaginous Mr H.Connick jr with his knowing grins and winks typifies what Hollywood thinks WW2 aircrew should have been. Nice piano player but his acting is strictly AmDram stuff. It was nice to see the "Sally B" in her various disguises flying round Cambridgeshire,and, as in the earlier and forgotten "The War lover", it's the "Big - Assed Bird" that is the real star of the film. Infinitely superior in every way is "12 o' clock high". Made when the war was still fresh in the minds of the cinema - going public,it's taut,brilliantly acted,and very moving.A film from another age - perhaps even another planet.

What prompted me to write this review 20 years after I saw the movie in the theater was listening to an interview withy Catherine Wyler on the ICONS Radio network. I have had the DVD for many years.The Wyler father and daughter came full circle with this movie - made 47 years later from the original Memphis Belle documentary.It was famous because a crew-member in the 8th AAF had a 1 in 3 chance of being killed or seriously wounded before the required 25 sorties were complete. The Memphis Belle was the first plane - and crew - to accomplish this.Catherine stated that her desire in this movie as to detail each of the drew members.I believe that the movie really detailed the life - in 24 hours - of a B17 crew member, with fear and boredom.

Based loosely on a true story about a B-17 bomber which ran raids on occupied Europe along with many other craft in WWII, Monte Merrick's tale of the "Memphis Belle's" final run is an enjoyable entertainment.The crew of the "Memphis Belle" are about to embark on their last mission. Having completed twenty-four bombing runs, they are only one flight away from successfully finishing their tour of duty. Whilst many of their comrades are very excited, the boys do not share their enthusiasm, knowing that thoughts of fame, glory and going home are dangerous and may affect their chances of getting back safely."Memphis Belle" is a very well crafted film, and the era has been recreated splendidly, with every detail, including the impressive B-17's, very convincingly restored. Michael Caton-Jones' (who brought us "Doc Hollywood" a year later) film falls short of the powerful, inspirational war films of recent times (although most of those covered Vietnam), however the movie does have one real plus, and that's the cast.The young crew are ably portrayed by Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Harry Connick Jnr., Billy Zane, Sean Astin, Tate Donovan, D.B. Sweeney, Courtney Gains, Neil Giuntoli and Reed Edward Diamond, all of whom bring the right level of vitality and individuality to each character. John Lithgow and David Strathairn are also good in supporting roles.Although it may be derivative of (or perhaps inspired by) "The Mission", a short film which was directed by Steven Spielberg and featured in "Amazing Stories", it remains an entertaining and likable picture. Features one special moment shared between the two side gunners.Saturday, January 8, 1994 - Video