About The Cold Blue

The Cold Blue is a deeply immersive documentary that offers a unique glimpse of the World War II era through unseen aerial footage shot in 1943. It tells a harrowing story of the brave B-17 bomber boys of the Eighth Air Force, who flew countless missions over Germany in a bid to turn the tide of the Second World War. The film is directed by Erik Nelson and released by HBO.

Making / Production

Originally, the movie was created using a collection of shots filmed by director William Wyler. Director Erik Nelson restored raw color footage from World War II planes, hours of it, into a new, hour-long film. Additionally, nine of the last surviving veterans from the Eighth Air Force provided voices for their young selves. The film added depth and context to the original footage, turning it into a haunting reflection on the realities of war.

Actors

• V.O. Narration: Surviving Eighth Air Force Veterans - They provided the voices for their younger selves and gave viewers a firsthand account of their wartime experiences.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Cold Blue is a restoration of director William Wyler's World War II documentary, "The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress".
• The film contains interviews with nine surviving veterans of the dangerous B-17 missions over Germany, reliving their experiences over 70 years later.
• The film's title, "The Cold Blue", refers to the appearance of the sky at extremely high altitudes.

Quotes

• "You get through the fear because the job demands it." - Eighth Air Force Veteran
• "The only feeling you have is trying to survive." - Eighth Air Force Veteran

Music, Soundtrack

• 'The Cold Blue' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was composed by Richard Thompson.
• The haunting score complements the raw, unfiltered experiences captured in the footage, creating a deeper emotional resonance with viewers.