Back in 1942, John Wayne starred opposite Joan Blondell in Lady for a Night.
The film follows a female casino steamboat owner who eventually owns a plantation and negotiates her marriage with the previous owner to enter the upper classes.
But did you know that the movie’s Memphis Belle steamboat inspired the name of the World War 2 B-17 bomber?
Marking the film’s 83rd anniversary this week, Wayne’s estate posted the 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 added: “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.”
