Memphis Belle 2 disc DVD set

[Larry Kraus]

I was finally able to buy this item which I first saw reviewed in The Aeroplane magazine a couple of years ago.Disc one contains 2 versions of the original movie.One is a widscreen HD version.Since I don't have the proper equipment for viewing in ths format,I can't comment on the quality.However,the other version is the best quality presentation that I've seen in over 30 years.The color and clarity are excellent.

The second disc contains "additional footage".Some of this is quite interesting and includes good quality shots of B-17's on the ground and in the air.There are numerous takes of "spontaneous" scenes,such as several versions of a debriefing of the Memphis Belle crew presumably following the 25th mission.There is also a considerable amount of coverage of the War Bond Tour in mid 1943,including a stop at the Douglas Long Beach plant.Most of this contains no audio.The most interesting sequences here are several good buzz jobs pror to landings during the tour.

I bought this item through Historic Aviation.com.It may be available in other places,but I haven't seen it listed anywhere else,at least in the USA.This isn't exactly a new item.The copyright is 2004.The complete title is:"The Memphis Belle,60th Anniversary 2 DVD Collector's Edition".

I paid $24.95 plus shipping and handling and I consider it to be well worth the price.

[CH2Tdriver]

I too own this set and I think it's great. The quality and clarity of the restored film on DVD is phenomenal compared to the old worn out copies we see on the documentaries.

The extra footage is priceless. About those spontaneous outakes....There is a scene in the movie where the Belle taxies in and the crew is waving, and the waist gunner makes a v for victory and spirals it down indicating a kill. Well they shot that scene about 5 times and you see each one. By the fifth time instead of waving they are all flipping the camera guy the bird! Classic!

The other thing is the footage of the Belle at the war bond rallies at the various aircraft factories. Except for the fashions, you be hard pressed to see a difference between the folks crowding around the Belle and the crowds gathering around the Collings bombers 65+ years later. Except I couldn't figure out what everyone was walking around drinking, until the camera man happened to zoom in on a beauty that caught his eye. Everyone on that hot day was drinking milk in a brown paper container. No Coke and bottled water here!