Elephant Walk (1954)

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, visiting England at the end of World War II, wins and weds lovely English rose Ruth 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; and by the hovering, ominous menace of the hostile elephants...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elefantenpfad

Filming Locations:

Kiri Vihara, Polonnaruwa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$3,000,000, 31 December 1954

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

When trying to leave Elephant Walk in their vehicle, Dick Carver and Ruth Wiley are stopped at a gate with a quarantine warning sign due to a cholera outbreak. Immediately after, they are shown still driving and having to stop again due to the roadblock.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #4.35 (1954)

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Soundtracks

Many Dreams Ago
Music by Franz Waxman
Lyrics by Mack David

User Reviews

Old fashiond fun

Corny but fun film of the 50's. Except for her first scene in the bookstore, Liz Taylor looks gorgeous, especially outfitted as she is. Every curve and then some shows. A bit talky at first, but gains momentum as picture goes on. Lush scenery, although some process shots look...well like process. Peter Finch is good as the head of the tea plantation and is a bit ruthless at times. Good guy Dana Andrews shows up as a good romantic interest when needed. Whom will Liz end up with? The elephant stampede at the end is well worth the price of admission. By the way, the DVD transfer is great. Worth a look just to see the 50's style filming..No sex, violence, foul language. OK for the whole family.