Elephant Walk (1953)

The young bride of a rich planter finds herself the only white woman at Elephant Walk tea plantation, British Ceylon.

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Robert Standish (novel), John Lee Mahin

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Dana Andrews, Peter Finch

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Ruth Wiley
Dana Andrews	...	Dick Carver
Peter Finch	...	John Wiley
Abraham Sofaer	...	Appuhamy
Abner Biberman	...	Dr. Pereira
Noel Drayton	...	Planter Atkinson
Rosalind Ivan	...	Mrs. Lakin
Barry Bernard	...	Planter Strawson
Philip Tonge	...	Planter John Ralph
Edward Ashley	...	Planter Gordon Gregory
Leo Britt	...	Planter Chisholm
My Lee Haulani	...	Rayna (as Mylee Haulani)
Madhyma Lanka Nritya Mandala Dancers	...	Dancers

Storyline

Colonial tea planter John Wiley (Peter Finch), visiting England at the end of World War II, wins and weds lovely English rose Ruth (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) and takes her home to Elephant Walk, Ceylon, where the local elephants have a grudge against the plantation. Ruth's delight with the tropical wealth and luxury of her new home is tempered by isolation as the only white woman in the district; by her husband's occasional imperious arrogance; by a mutual physical attraction with plantation manager Dick Carver (Dana Andrews), and by the hovering, ominous menace of the hostile elephants.

---

Plot Keywords:

animal rampage | plantation | tea | ceylon | tea plantation | 

---

Taglines:

One man claimed the land. Two men claimed the woman who lived there.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vivien Leigh's original salary was $225,000.

---

Goofs

One elephant defecates onto the ground when the herd are stampeding in single file down the narrow path towards the house.

---

Quotes

John Wiley: Let them have their Elephant Walk, Ruth. We'll build a new place, a home somewhere else.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Man in the High Castle: Kasumi (Through the Mists) (2018)

---

Soundtracks

Many Dreams Ago
Music by Franz Waxman
Lyrics by Mack David

User Reviews

Impressions of a Nine-Year-Old

My parents took me to this movie when I was nine years old. I have never forgotten it. I had never before seen anything as beautiful as Elizabeth Taylor. (She was twenty-two when she made Elephant Walk) Remember, I'm nine, so the feelings aren't sexual, I just couldn't see anything else on the screen. I just wanted to sit at her feet like a puppy and stare up at her. She has begun to show her age, (She's almost seventy-four) but I still believe her to be one of the most beautiful and breathtaking women to ever have lived.

I have seen the movie several times since, and it is a sappy melodrama. What saves it is, of course, Miss Taylor's beauty, magnificent scenery, the very impressive elephant stampede, and a well-made point on human arrogance in the face of nature.

All in all, a well-spent couple of hours watching the movie channel or a rented video.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elephant Walk

Filming Locations:

Kiri Vihara, Polonnaruwa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1