256. The Cold Blue; movie review

THE COLD BLUE
Cert PG
101 mins
BBFC advice: Contains real war violence, mild bad language

How would you have reacted if you had been conscripted to go to war? Would you have been a hero or would you have dissolved under pressure?
War had been so common in the first half of the 20th century that, during my childhood, it was seen as almost inevitable that we would have to fight sooner or later.
It seemed likely that the enemy would be Russia because of the intensity of the Cold War. Mercifully, that remained a diplomatic clash.
Indeed, the only war Britain fought during my first 20 years was in The Falklands - and I recall fearing that if the conflict with Argentina was prolonged that we might be called up.
This seems an entirely irrational thought now but back then we had been regaled with so many stories of war that our own participation in one seemed like a fait accompli.
I am now 56 years old and, thankfully, I have never been in the Armed Forces but when I see movies such as The Cold Blue I wonder how I would have reacted to war.
Would I have been a hero or a coward? Would I have done my duty or been a shivering jelly?
I fear the latter but I will never know and I am glad that I never found out.
I doubt very much that I would have been brave enough to have been among those who fought the Second World War from the air.
They set out on every raid knowing that the chances of their return were pitifully low.
The Cold Blue alights upon the American crews of B-17s such as the Memphis Belle who took part in daytime sorties over Europe - often into the heart of Germany.
They faced a barrage from the ground, firing from the sky and even the real possibility of death because of mid-air accidents among each other.
Erik Nelson's movie features restored footage and outtakes from William Wyler's 1944 documentary "The Memphis Belle, A Story Of A Flying Fortress".
It charts how, in 1943, top Hollywood director Wyler went to Europe to document the air war in progress.
He and his crew flew actual combat missions on B-17s in extremely dangerous conditions.
The colour footage was recently discovered in the vaults of the American National Archives and has undergone meticulous restoration.
It and the accompanying narratives offer a great testament to bravery which I find difficult to comprehend but admire greatly nevertheless.

Reasons to watch: Some incredible colour footage of World War 2 fighter pilots

Reasons to avoid: Presumes a tad of knowledge

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Of the 12,750 B-17s produced, Memphis Belle is famous for being the first Eighth Air Force bomber to complete 25 combat missions over occupied Europe without a crewman being killed and returning to the United States.

The final word. Erik Nelson: "I embarked on a treasure hunt to locate colour footage of World War II airplanes, Within a day of embarking on my search, there were 34 reels of William Wyler’s footage, of outtakes from his Memphis Belle movie and within a second, a search for footage became a mandate to make this movie." Hotcorn

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