Memphis Belle (4/10) Movie CLIP - Letters from Loved Ones (1990) HD

CLIP DESCRIPTION:
Col. Harriman (David Strathairn) shows Lt.Col. Derringer (John Lithgow) letters written by the families of the deceased.

FILM DESCRIPTION:
Unabashedly sentimental, this war film was produced by David Putnam in partnership with Catherine Wyler, whose father William Wyler directed an acclaimed documentary about the real-life events depicted in the film. The ensemble cast is composed of ten young actors portraying the crew of the World War II B-17 bomber "Memphis Belle," anticipating their 25th and last mission before they will be able to go home. Having won fame with their exemplary war record and amazing lack of casualties, they expect their final assignment to be a cakewalk, but instead they are ordered to bomb Bremen, a heavily defended German city that will mean almost certain loss of life. Led by their experienced captain, Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine), the crew shoulders its responsibility despite mounting fears, while their commanding officer (David Strathairn) and a public relations specialist (John Lithgow) wait anxiously for their return. Aboard the bomber, there's friction between Dearborn and his disgruntled co-pilot Luke Sinclair (Tate Donovan), and between medical officer Val Kozlowski (Billy Zane) and the rest of the crew when it's learned that Val lied about his qualifications. Despite impressive technical credits and a popular Generation-X cast, Memphis Belle (1990) was a box-office disappointment, its enthusiastic patriotism considered a throwback to a bygone era of filmmaking.

CREDITS:
TM & © Warner Bros. (1990)
Cast: John Lithgow, David Strathairn
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Producers: David Puttnam, Eric Rattray, Catherine Wyler
Screenwriter: Monte Merrick

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[Sigma]

A scene that I really appreciate as it show that Col. Harriman genuinely does care about the men he sends up into the air and how much it affects him when a plane is lost as he's the one who has to give the news to the families and why he doesn't want to celebrate prematurely.

[Wherethehellarewegoing]

The acting from Lithgow here is phenomenal. How his expression changes the smallest increment but it speaks volumes

[thegryphgaming]

"Come with me"
the only few words that send chills down an officers spine

[mattmenefee]

Makes me tear up every time I hear Lithgow read the words

[Sam-pnkc]

I use to watch Memphis belle on repeat as a child at my grandmas. never got sick of it

[Bobbymaccys]

I have watched this movie HUNDREDS of times; and I always get a lump in my throat when John Lithgow is reading the letters.

[billparker]

"I have 24 crews up there and they're all special to me." You're god damned right. I didn't remember this scene until I served overseas and came home myself. It rung in my mind from time to time for 14 years and I was always grateful that I and most service members today never had to do anything nearly that dangerous.

[msb]

Although fictional, the initial letter highlights the father's admiration for the Colonel's ability to provide a detailed description of his son, down to his boots. This signifies the Colonel's serious commitment to understanding each and every young man he sends into battle, fully aware that some may not return alive.

[top_gallant]

I saw this film in theaters as a kid and this what stuck with me the most.

[sharpshooterify]

I think it’s goes to show how much Col. Harriman truly cares for his men when he only needs a quick glance to know who’s family the letter was for and how they lost their life

[ariochiv]

It is a shame that this clip is cut short; it's one of the most moving scenes in the movie.

[johnnycalv]

Always cry at this scene average age of 18 to 24 let that sink in 😔

[wotan]

The movie was very realistic about this. I guess by 1990 the filmmakers were allowed to talk about this frankly. The 8th Air Force casualty rate to maintain the strategic bombing against Germany was simply horrendous. The 8th Air Force's 4 months cessation of operation after the two disastrous Schweinfurt raids costing 2X60 4 - engine bombers, plus the dozens of landed but unrepairable ones and the wounded and dead, which those yielded, made the unit lick its wounds. Rumor has it the crews were close to mutiny at that point, because at that casualty rate, not a chance in Hell they were going to survive the 25 mission target. That is why the Memphis Belle was so important. It represented hope to the rest.

[matthewnewland]

This movie really touches my heart because I was in aircrew member on two different airframes C5 Galaxy out of Dover and C-130 out of dyess Air Force Base. The true companionship that you obtain with your fellow aircrew members is unheard of lot of people think that we just put flight suits on and we look cool but it's so much more than that I respect anybody that has ever flown the skies and seen things that they never thought they would see

[ericscottstevens]

I think all the former crewmen would have approved of David Strathairn's performance, and they would have flown for Colonel Craig Harriman.

[midnyte]

Carry on with the party boys! it's still on!😄

[actioncom]

I don't fault Lithgo's character for wanting a party. But he crossed the line when he started to cheap shot the colonel.
The Colonel shoved it right back at him with a candle on it.

[Captainkebbles]

"More Americans died in the skies of Europe than on the beaches of the Pacific"
-Masters of the Air

[tomservo]

1 in 20 American KIA's in the entirety of WW2 were in the 8th Air Force.

[Teuchter-ahoy]

David Strathairn is a phenomenal actor and he was perfect for this role. Maybe I’m biased because I’m Scottish and his surname has Scottish origins, but I do believe I’m right!