The Cold Blue is a tribute to the young American airmen who flew with the 8th Air Force in bombing missions over Europe during World War II.
Directed and produced by Erik Nelson, the documentary is made up of restored footage shot for the 1943 film The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Nelson found more than 30 reels of 16mm color outtakes from Memphis Belle in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
To film Memphis Belle, the then 40-year-old director William Wyler and his team flew in B-17 bombers during daytime missions across Europe. During production, one of Wyler’s three cinematographers — Lieutenant Harold J. Tannenbaum — died when his plane was shot down during a combat mission.
So, press the top left play button on the above feature image so the trailer can pop up for you to watch.
Some 50 percent of B-17 crews from the 8th Air Force were killed while serving during the war. Nine surviving veterans of 8th Air Force, now in the 90s, provide voice-over commentary for The Cold Blue, which had limited theater release and was screened on HBO.
Watch the clip below about how Wyler’s film was restored.