About
In 1943, William Wyler, one of Hollywood’s most renowned and versatile directors, went to Europe to document the Air War in progress. Incredibly, all of the raw color footage Wyler shot for the “Memphis Belle” was recently discovered deep in the vaults of the National Archives, and a new film has been constructed out of the material. “The Cold Blue" is a meditation on youth, war and trauma, and stands as a tribute to one of the world’s great filmmakers, and the men of the 8th Air Force who flew mission after suicidal mission in the Second World War. Nine of the very few surviving veterans were interviewed in the summer of 2017, and their voices take us through the harrowing world that Wyler and his cameramen captured in the summer of 1943.
A Tribute
Constructed from footage captured for renowned Hollywood director William Wyler’s 1943 film 'The Memphis Belle,' The Cold Blue is a meditation on youth, war and trauma, and stands as a tribute to one of the world’s great filmmakers.
11.29.2021
05.10.2018
"You fly a real tough mission, and you're so glad to get back, and everybody says, boy, we made it through that one didn't we? And then next morning they come in, put their flashlight in your face. Alright boys, get up. You're going, you’re going to be leaving. We're going to be flying in two hours. Now that's, that's tough."
William Toombs - 8th Air Force Flight Engineer
05.10.2018
For the creation of TheColdBlue, the raw film was digitized to Ultra High Definition 4K resolution.
TheColdBlue
05.10.2018
All too often, history has been reduced to cliche, or black and white images that immediately distance us from the past. How is it possible to convey in documentary style events that took place over 75 years ago, when both the images and the men behind those images are fast fading?
Director Erik Nelson
The Filmmakers
Erik Nelson Director
Erik Nelson is the president of Creative Differences and Director of "TheColdBlue."
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Peter Hankoff Producer
Peter Hankoff is a writer, director and producer who’s spent the last 18 years making documentary programs.
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Rocky Collins Director of Production
Rocky served as exec producer at Science Channel where he worked...
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Richard Thompson Music
Richard Thompson is one of the world’s most critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters.
Read MoreDavid Hughes Sound Design
Since 1996 David has worked on over one hundred feature films in his career.
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