John Wayne and Joan Blondell starred in Lady for a Night, an American romantic drama film that inspired the name of the World War 2 B-17 bomber, Memphis Belle
In 1942, John Wayne and Joan Blondell starred in the Hollywood film Lady for a Night. The plot revolves around a woman who owns a casino steamboat and eventually a plantation, negotiating her marriage with the previous owner to ascend to the upper classes.
Interestingly, the movie’s Memphis Belle steamboat inspired the name of the World War 2 B-17 bomber. This week marks the film’s 83rd anniversary, and Wayne’s estate commemorated it by posting this fact on his official Instagram.
The post reads: “From the deep romantic south comes another thrilling drama of love and intrigue. John Wayne is pictured in promotional stills for the film alongside costar Joan Blondell.
The two stars are also pictured goofing around behind the scenes. This film inspired the name of one of the most famous World War II bombers, the B-17 Memphis Belle, one of the first to complete a full combat tour of 25 missions against targets in Germany in May 1943.”
The post further explained: “The aircraft was the namesake of pilot Captain Robert K. Morgan’s sweetheart, Margaret Polk, a resident of Memphis, Tennessee. Morgan originally intended to call the B-17, Little One, after his pet name for her, but after Morgan and his co-pilot, Jim Verinis, saw this movie in which the leading character owns a riverboat named the Memphis Belle, he proposed that name to his crew. After their combat service, the Belle and her crew were sent home on highly successful war bond tour. They were also featured in an award-winning 1944 documentary by William Wyler.”, reports the Express.