The Memphis Belle: 60th Anniversary Collector's Edition

Rating:
Summary: Not accurate
Review: I'm sorry but this movie is not accurate on many levels. Back when this movie first came out about 12 years ago, I watched it with my father, who was a B-17 bomber pilot over Europe. After we were done, we asked him what he thought about it, and that was when I learned about how inaccurate it is. When a crew is flying over 20,000 feet in a non-pressurized cabin, what do you think the temperature is outside... Well, temperatures of 50-100 below 0 were typical. This crew didn't dress accordingly. And, the number of times and amount of time spent without their air masks on.... They wouldn't have survived. Even the specifics of the story are not accurate. This never happened to the Memphis Bell, not on their last mission, not ever... It probably happened to some bomber crew though, but as depicted with dress indicating 30-50 temperatures and at ground level oxygen. If you want to see a good depiction of the air war in Europe, I recommend 12 O'Clock High.

Rating:
Summary: MEMPHIS BELLE "Restored" DVD Review
Review: I've Always LOVED This WW2 B-17 Documentary, Ever Since I First Saw It... So I was Very Excited to Hear About This NEW "Fully Restored" 2 Disk DVD Set. I Took a Chance & Quickly Ordered it... I Rate it as "OK" at Best. Not at All Worth $30. A bit Dissapointing.... Unfortunately, some Back Woods Company "Redpepper Films" did the Digital Transfer. Nope, Never Heard of 'Em... I'm Guessing they used some sort of Cheap, Outdated Digital Transfer Equipment. It's Not as Clean & Clear as it should be. I Really Wish a Professional Film Studio like Turner Classics or Spielberg could have given this Historical Piece of Americana it's Proper Restoration. Of Key Note is the Opening Title Sequence. It's Completely Worn, Fuzzy, Faded & Deteriorated. ?????!!!!! This is Completely Inexcusable. I've seen CHEAP $5 Versions of This Documentary on VHS at the Supermarket, that are of Better Quality. Both "Restored" Versions of the Film in this set have Scratches, Boogers, Stringers & Faded Colors throughout. Certainly Not the High Quality of other Restored Films. My Only Hope is that "Redpepper Films" didn't Screw Up the Original Negative and Slop Bar-B-Que Sauce all over it.... The Only Saving Grace is Disk 2. It has an Hour or Two of Rare Color Out-Takes from the Original Film. Very Interesting, but a bit Creepy & Boring as it's all Silent. No Attempt was made at Music,, Narration or Anything. They just Didn't Care and Slapped it All Together. I Guess We're Supposed to Finish This Set Ourselves...

Rating:
Summary: Best copy I've seen of a classic
Review: The 1944 William Wyler film "Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress" is a classic. Featuring some of the most compelling footage of the war in the skies over Europe, this version is, by far, the best looking I've ever seen.

While the "widescreen" version loses the top and bottom to fit, I personally think the "fullscreen" version (both of which are provided) looks crisp and sharp. The chapter notes provided with the set explain that the opening graphics were not available in original form at the Archives and National Air and Space Museum, so those portions have not been restored.

And the extra bonus footage is superb. I have some of the other Aircraft Films products (the F4U and F4F disc sets) and most of it has crisp, clear footage. I, too, would love to have more sound on future releases, but having the footage, much of which I've never seen and isn't available elsewhere, is very nice.

I recommend the set highly.

Rating:
Summary: A vivid look back.
Review: Those of us who weren't alive to see it for ourselves remember WWII in shades of newsreel grey. We see the heroism and sacrifice of those who fought through a glass, darkly. William Wyler's Technicolor documentary breaks that glass. In color, the airmen of the Memphis Belle are as alive and real as anyone you know. And so are the airmen who didn't make it, the ones who went spiraling out of control into a wall of flack, or were hauled from their B-17s in green wool blankets.

This edition contains two versions of the film. The first a widescreen anamorphic transfer of the Smithsonian's print. However, since the widescreen version is created by simply matting (cutting off the top and bottom) of the original Academy ratio movie, you are better off with the second version. Re-cut from digital transfers of the original 16mm footage, it keeps the whole Academy ratio image, is much sharper, and has better color. The bonus disc contains that original footage, including some that didn't make it into the film.

The Memphis Belle should be required viewing on Memorial and Veterans day.