[flaps]

I was/am watching Memphis Belle and really enjoying it, but remember reading negative things about it, what was it that some did not like, that I can not remember. I am guessing there were inaccuracies but wondering what they are so I know.

Flaps

[Canucklehead]

Harry Connick Jr. has never served in the military in any capacity. He has been marshal at several New Orleans Mardi Gras parades, but that's it.

For real though? Some minor historical stuff was altered for a more dramatic presentation.
a) The Belle" wasn't damaged on it's last mission at all. That wouldn't have been very exciting though would it?
b) As early on in the war as the Belle's final mission was, their escort whould probably have been P-47s, not P-51s.
c) The last mission of the Belle wasn't actually to where it was stated in the movie. Were they going to Bremen in the movie? I can't remember as it's been a year or two since I've seen it.
It's still an okay flick though, these aren't reasons to like it any less. I still think 12 O'Clock High was better though.

[mustangdriver]

Well let's see. I think that the movie could have been very good, had they just called the feature plane something else. The Belle was severely damaged on a few missions, but not at tall on the last mission to submarine pens in France. The crew names have all been changed, the noseart is different. Overall I think it was a good flick. I also love 12'oclock high, but there is way more B-17 footage in Memphis Belle.

[STARMAN 352ND]

I liked the Memphis Belle movie.
We all know how Hollywood always goes off the subject a little after the fact.
Because in real life it was a little boring so they spice it up a little.
All in all the movie was pretty good.
JP

[Tyler109]

From the standpoint of the movie itself I think it's a great movie. But like everyone has said from a historical standpoint it's not very accurate at all. I've never seen 12 o'clock high is it available on dvd?

[JC Woodman]

[quote=Canucklehead;1578]Harry Connick Jr. has never served in the military in any capacity. He has been marshal at several New Orleans Mardi Gras parades, but that's it.

Yeah, he croons real good though! I understand he was fabulous in the musical "Memphis Belle" which sadly was never released here. There just aint enough good WW 2 musicals...

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Tyler109

From the standpoint of the movie itself I think it's a great movie. But like everyone has said from a historical standpoint it's not very accurate at all. I've never seen 12 o'clock high is it available on dvd?

Yes i have it.
JP

[Waltz41]

I remembering seeing it somewhere that everything that happened to the "Belle" in the movie actually happened during the war, just not to the real crew of the Memphis Belle. Like the tomato soup / flak damage scene!

[Steve1971]

Capt Bob Morgan and Ed Gates said the movie Memphis Bell was a complete joke, thats what I was told. First of all the Belle didnt suffer the major damage on her last mission as was depicted in the movie and they had 354th FG Mustangs escourting the heavies in the movie. That never happened. They were escourted by P-47's.

Do I like the movie? Ya I do because it features the B-17 and it has alot of action. Hollywood fabricates alot of stuff because they need to draw people and they will sacrifice accuracy to achieve that very goal. Just look at Pearl Harbor starring Ben Affleck. All the vets that were there that morning on Dec 7th said they never saw P-40's nearly scraping the run ways between hangers running from the Jap fighters. It seems that alot of movies now days need a love story intertwined in between like Titanic did.

The best B-17 movie so far has been 12 O' Clock High with Greg Peck in my book.

[mustangdriver]

I have actually heard that the P-40's did indeed go around flying in between hangars aat certain points. As for the Belle, yes most of the stuff in the movie happened to the Belle over it's 25 missions. Over it's career it had a new set of wings, 16 engines, a new tail, and many other parts. No crewman were ever lost in the airplane, although one fill in top turret gunner got frost bite.