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Memphis Belle

Play trailer Poster for Memphis Belle PG-13 1990 1h 48m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
At a U.S. Army Air Force base in England, the crew members of B-17 bomber Memphis Belle prepare for their 25th and final sortie into enemy German territory. Bomber Capt. Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine) knows the mission is a dangerous one, but he's under pressure from Army public relations man Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer (John Lithgow) to earn a decisive victory for the Allies. Now, the Memphis Belle prepares to take flight as apprehension and dissention grow among Dearborn's crew.
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Memphis Belle

Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Unashamedly commercial. Its moral fabric is thinner than that of other David Puttnam productions. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Sensitive, gripping, oddly old-fashioned cinema. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Memphis Belle is worth watching, although this odyssey deserved better. [Full review in Spanish] Oct 26, 2022 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine With a surging sound track reminiscent of Chariots of Fire, it is a simplistic tale of fun-loving lads who learn that war is hell. Oct 14, 2019 Full Review Burl Burlingame Honolulu Star-Advertiser What's memorable about the film is the high degree of accuracy. There are a number of gaffes, due primarily to filmmaking compromises. Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 8, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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grey g I wonder why this film has a kind of honoured status. 34 years after its release, the movie now seems undramatic, flimsy, filled with tired war movie clichés, soap-opera characterisations, and unrealistic action sequences consisting of about a fifth of the aircraft these bombing missions had. And that’s massively understating it: some of these missions had hundreds of bombers. The only part that credits mentioning is a very short scene using actual footage. It includes voice-overs of letters from the families of men KIA, thanking the commander for his letter about their sons and husbands. Disturbingly, this history of the US daylight bombing crews deserves to be told to venerate the young crews who flew these deadly missions with courage and fortitude. Instead, we are served up this drivel. The mini-series Masters of the Air is far, far better and even the much older Twelve O’clock High pays greater homage to the crews by dramatising the incredible stress they were under. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/23/24 Full Review Chiena A If you were looking for an engaging, heartbreaking film about bomber boys in WWII? Look elsewhere. “Memphis Belle” is a banal, cliche-riddled mess of a movie. The acting is horrible. While, the direction and screenplay are bland, Hollywood schlock. The entire film does a huge disservice to the brave young airmen, who sacrificed themselves in the thousands, to cripple the German war machine. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Kandy A Great storyline that showcases the bravery and sacrifice of these courageous aviators. Excellent casting and great acting. Very believable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/04/24 Full Review Bernard D An absolutely fantastic movie that honors the sacrifice made by so many brave American men and women. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/02/23 Full Review Wolfgang G Memphis Belle ist ein britischer Kriegsfilm der die Ereignisse unmittelbar vor und während des 25. Feindfluges eines Bombers mit Namen Memphis Belle, der 8th Air Force, einer Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress, nach Deutschland (Bremen) am 17. Mai 1943 wiedergibt. Monte Merrick schrieb das Drehbuch, und Michael Caton-Jones führte die Regie. Ein echter Klassiger aus dem Jahre 1990, mit Großartige Besetzung junger Schauspieler. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/22/22 Full Review Audience Member Good story, historically inaccurate. Characters are composites, not the real crew of Memphis Belle. Incidents (as the Bf109 chopping the tail of one B17) were generally correct. But the way Memphis Belle came in from her last mission, the account seemed more in line with what happened to Ye Olde Pub, late in the war. That aircraft was totally shot up, like Memphis Belle, nothing worked, not even the compass, and a kind hearted Luftwaffe pilot saw no point in shooting down the now one engine airplane and killing the crew. So he pointed them north to England. And like Memphis Belle, they made it. Overall enjoyed it with or without popcorn. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Memphis Belle

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Cast & Crew

Von Richthofen and Brown 56% 33% Von Richthofen and Brown Watchlist Anzio 67% 42% Anzio Watchlist Doc Hollywood 67% 51% Doc Hollywood Watchlist TRAILER for Doc Hollywood Flight of the Intruder 25% 51% Flight of the Intruder Watchlist Saints and Soldiers 66% 77% Saints and Soldiers Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis At a U.S. Army Air Force base in England, the crew members of B-17 bomber Memphis Belle prepare for their 25th and final sortie into enemy German territory. Bomber Capt. Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine) knows the mission is a dangerous one, but he's under pressure from Army public relations man Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer (John Lithgow) to earn a decisive victory for the Allies. Now, the Memphis Belle prepares to take flight as apprehension and dissention grow among Dearborn's crew.
Director
Michael Caton-Jones
Producer
David Puttnam, Catherine Wyler
Production Co
Enigma Films, BSB, Warner Bros.
Rating
PG-13
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.5M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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