The Hasty Heart (1949)

In the final days of WW2, in a M.A.S.H. unit in Burma, a severely wounded corporal watches in dismay as fellow soldiers pack-up to return home but a caring nurse and five remaining soldiers bring him solace.

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screenplay) (as Ranald Macdougall), John Patrick (play)

Stars:

Ronald Reagan, Patricia Neal, Richard Todd

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ronald Reagan	...	Yank
Patricia Neal	...	Sister Parker
Richard Todd	...	Lachie
Anthony Nicholls	...	Lt. Col. Dunn
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	Tommy (as Howard Marion Crawford)
Ralph Michael	...	Kiwi
Orlando Martins	...	Blossom
John Sherman	...	Digger
Alfie Bass	...	Orderly

Storyline

It's 1945, Burma, the day the war is over! For many this means they've survived and will be going home. But not for everyone. A Scottish soldier, Corporal Lachlan "Lachie" MacLachlan is the victim of a wound to the lower back on this day. He's moved to a M.A.S.H. unit and undergoes surgery. As time goes by he begins to recover and watches, in dismay as soldiers pack up and head for home. The doctors have told him he needs to remain "for observation". The Colonel takes Sister Parker, the unit head nurse, into his confidence and tells her that the real reason Cpl. MacLachlan can't go home is because the wound he sustained destroyed one of his kidneys and the other one is defective and will shut down in three to four weeks. He asks her to put Lachlan up with some other soldiers she has waiting to go home so that he can spend his last days with friends. But Cpl. MacLachlan wants nothing to do with friends and prefers his own privacy to "idle chat". He's a hard nut to crack and their work ...

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | burma | nurse | military hospital | bagpipes | 

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Taglines:

They had 30 days to teach their hearts to behave ... !

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hasty Heart

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the Broadway play of the same title that opened at the Hudson Theatre, 141 W. 44th St. on January 3, 1945 and ran for 204 performances until June 30, 1945.

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Quotes

Sister Parker: He's a foundling, his father left his mother before he was born. Do you know what that means?
Yank: He sure is!

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Connections

Referenced in The Hasty Hare (1952)

User Reviews

nothing but good things to say about this film

This film is one of Reagan's best. I'm of Scottish descent and the

Scots are not exactly portrayed in the best light, yet I still loved it. Excellent movie, excellent cast. It makes you cry, it makes you laugh. What more can you ask for in a film? People of different races and cultures getting along is a sight for sore eyes these days. Bring back the old movies and maybe people will learn something about unity.It's a heart-warming film and those who don't get that just don't GET IT. I had to watch this again after President Reagan passed away and it made me sad in a whole new way.Things took on a different meaning but that's okay. What didn't change was the quality of the film.