Memphis Belle

Action, Adventure

Sean Astin	Sgt. Richard Moore
Harry Connick
Reed Edward Diamond
Tate Donovan	1st Lt. Luke Sinclair
Courtney Gains	Sgt. Eugene McVey
Neil Giuntoli	Sgt. Jack Bocci
Matthew Modine	Capt. Dennis Dearborn
Eric Stoltz	Sgt. Danny Daly
D.B. Sweeney	Lt. Phil Lowenthal
Billy Zane	Lt. Val Kozlowski
Harry Connick Jr.	Sgt. Clay Busby
Reed Diamond	Sgt. Virgil Hoogesteger (as Reed Edward Diamond)
John Lithgow
David Strathairn

Director	Michael Caton-Jones; William Wyler
Producer	David Puttnam; Catherine Wyler
Writer	Monte Merrick

If you've never seen an aviation movie before in your entire life, you'll be blissfully ignorant of the fact that Memphis Belle shamelessly (and yet gloriously) incorporates just about every cliché in the flight-movie handbook. If you're a big fan of aviation movies--especially movies about World War II bomber crews--you'll be glad that the genre's clichés have been handled with such professional flair. As it follows the crew of a B-17 bomber on its final and most dangerous mission over Germany, Memphis Belle may be little more than a slick and highly authentic presentation of familiar thrills and characters, but it's a rousing piece of entertainment. Featuring an ensemble cast of fresh faces who've since enjoyed thriving careers (including Billy Zane, Sean Astin, Eric Stoltz, D.B. Sweeney, and Harry Connick Jr.), the movie exists as a fitting tribute to the men who fought and often died in the air over hostile territory. It's the Hollywood version of a 1944 wartime documentary made by legendary director William Wyler (whose daughter served as one of this film's producers), and as such it's a bit contrived and melodramatic. And yet, this exciting movie is almost certain to grab and hold your attention, offering an honorable reminder of the bravery and integrity that were crucial ingredients of any bomber's crew. --Jeff Shannon