The Purple Heart (1944)

A stock WW2 era drama which was produced for morale purposes.

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Jerome Cady (screenplay), Darryl F. Zanuck (story) (as Melville Crossman)

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, Farley Granger

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dana Andrews	...	Capt. Harvey Ross
Richard Conte	...	Lt. Angelo Canelli
Farley Granger	...	Sgt. Howard Clinton
Kevin O'Shea	...	Sgt. Jan Skvoznik
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Lt. Peter Vincent (as Donald Barry)
Trudy Marshall	...	Mrs. Ross
Sam Levene	...	Lt. Wayne Greenbaum
Charles Russell	...	Lt. Kenneth Bayforth
John Craven	...	Sgt. Martin Stoner
Tala Birell	...	Johanna Hartwig - Berlin News Correspondent
Richard Loo	...	General Ito Mitsubi
Peter Chong	...	Mitsuru Toyama

Storyline

This is the story of the crew of a downed bomber, captured after a run over Tokyo, early in the war. Relates the hardships the men endure while in captivity, and their final humiliation: being tried and convicted as war criminals.

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Plot Keywords:

bomber | prisoner of war | death | murder | son murders father | 

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Taglines:

AN EPIC SAGA OF RAW COURAGE! (print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Cactus Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - April 22, 1945- all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1950 20th Century-Fox theatrically reissued this film on a bill with Belle Starr (1941) and Guadalcanal Diary (1943).

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Goofs

When the Swiss Red Cross representative is escorted into the office, the guard places his rifle "order arms" on his left side, rifle butt on floor. The Red Cross man then passes the guard by. The guards rifle is now on his right side "order arms". There couldn't have been enough time to relocate the rifle.

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Quotes

Title Card: "Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen." - Geo. Washington, General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Aug. 7 1782

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Connections

Featured in Going Hollywood: The War Years (1988)

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Soundtracks

Turkey in the Straw
Traditional
Played briefly during Ross' flashback

User Reviews

What would you do in their shoes?

This is a beautiful movie. The story is about what happens to the captured crew of an American Army Air Corps bomber in Japan during WWII.

The performances of the actors are excellent and deeply felt (remember that it was filmed during the war). Once you have watched the first 30 minutes, you must stay to learn their fate at the hands of the Japanese.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

23 February 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Purple Heart

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1