The Purple Plain (1954), British WWII Drama

[dvdjunkie]

Just received as a gift (early birthday present) a film that I have never heard of. It stars Gregory Peck in what I think is one of more memorable roles. The film takes place in Burma in 1945, and Peck plays Forrester, an American pilot who, after seeing his wife killed during the Blitz has one thing on his mind: his own death. This very British film features a cast good actors including Brenda De Banzie, Bernard Lee, Maurice Deham, Lyndon Brook and a very beautiful Burmese actress Win Min Than, who plays Anna, whose love of life, brings out the good in Peck. Forrester is a Canadian pilot serving in the RAF in Burma in the waning days of World War II and has been psychologically changed by the death of his new wife, and everything he does to destroy himself earns him new medals. After meeting Anna in the Missionary complex in Burma, Peck has a new lease on life, and is looking forward to returning from an assignment to see her again, when his plane (an authentically decaled, painted and marked Mosquito) crashes in the desert. Along with his two injured passengers, Peck seeks to survive against the elements to bring his mates home safely and to see his new found love once again

British director Robert Parrish brings a realism to this film which was made in what is now called Sri Lanka. His characters are very real, and lovable, especially De Banzie, who plays a Missionary with lots of zeal.

I can highly recommend this movie for all Gregory Peck fans and all fans of historical WWII drama, because this film is factual down to the smallest details. If you haven't seen it, I can recommend that you do. I think that there is something in this movie for everyone. I would give it a strong 4/5 stars.

[Geoffies]

I've not heard of this one either. But then I always thought the Burma Campaign had been won single-handed by Errol Flynn!

[filmguy2328]

I think it has to be one Peck's most overlooked films. I saw it sometime in the late 1960's and had pretty much forgotten about it. Earlier this year TCM ran it and I rediscovered what a good film it is. It won't knock his performance in "Mockingbird" off the top of my favorites, but is certainly worth seeing.