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The Purple Plain

  • 19541954
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
The Purple Plain (1954)
AdventureDramaWar
In WW2 Burma, a Canadian bomber pilot becomes reckless after losing his bride in a Luftwaffe air-raid.In WW2 Burma, a Canadian bomber pilot becomes reckless after losing his bride in a Luftwaffe air-raid.In WW2 Burma, a Canadian bomber pilot becomes reckless after losing his bride in a Luftwaffe air-raid.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Robert Parrish
    • H.E. Bates(novel)
    • Eric Ambler(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Gregory Peck
    • Bernard Lee
    • Win Min Than
    • Robert Parrish
    • H.E. Bates(novel)
    • Eric Ambler(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Gregory Peck
    • Bernard Lee
    • Win Min Than
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards

    Photos103

    The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Jack McNaughton in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Bernard Lee and Harold Siddons in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain (1954)
    Gregory Peck and Maurice Denham in The Purple Plain (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gregory Peck
    Gregory Peck
    • Squadron Leader Bill Forrester
    Bernard Lee
    Bernard Lee
    • Dr. Harris
    Win Min Than
    Win Min Than
    • Anna
    Brenda de Banzie
    Brenda de Banzie
    • Miss McNab
    • (as Brenda De Banzie)
    Maurice Denham
    Maurice Denham
    • Blore
    Lyndon Brook
    Lyndon Brook
    • Carrington
    Anthony Bushell
    Anthony Bushell
    • Group Captain Aldridge
    Josephine Griffin
    Josephine Griffin
    • Mrs. Bill Forrester
    Ram Gopal
    • Mr. Phang
    Dorothy Alison
    Dorothy Alison
    • Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Arne
    Peter Arne
    • Flight Lieutenant
    • (uncredited)
    Ernest Blyth
    • Man Dancing at Wedding
    • (uncredited)
    Kurt Christian
    Kurt Christian
      Richard Duke
      • Nightclub Patron on Dance Floor
      • (uncredited)
      Jack McNaughton
      • Sgt. Ralph Brown
      • (uncredited)
      Lane Meddick
      • Radio Operator
      • (uncredited)
      Harold Siddons
      • Navigator Williams
      • (uncredited)
      Mya Mya Spencer
      • Dorothy
      • (uncredited)
        • Robert Parrish
        • H.E. Bates(novel)
        • Eric Ambler(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Win Min Than's husband was so jealous about losing her to the film's "decadent" Hollywood star Gregory Peck, he ordered his wife to eat garlic before romantic scenes with Peck. Fortunately, the production crew was able to convince her husband that Peck and the others were respectful of her so he went home leaving her to finish the picture in peace.
      • Goofs
        When Peck's co-pilot looks out at the starboard engine, it is leaking some kind of fluid, but that fluid is running down the side of the engine. It's not showing any sign of what would have to be, at least a 200 mph wind, passing over the nacelle.
      • Quotes

        Anna: It's not good to die inside.

        Squadron Leader Bill Forrester: It's like living a bad dream.

        Anna: Here we bury the dead in the earth not in our hearts. Is the dream over now?

        Squadron Leader Bill Forrester: I think so.

      • Crazy credits
        Opening credits prologue: BURMA 1945
      • Soundtracks
        Onward Christian Soldiers
        (uncredited)

        Music by Arthur Sullivan and lyrics by Sabine Baring-Gould

      User reviews41

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      9/10
      Unusual, well written, acted and produced love/war movie.
      This is a Rank Company (British) medium budget production of a post war H. E. Bates novel. Well directed by Robert Parrish, the screen writing by Eric Ambler is quite good. It was shot on site in, what was then, Ceylon. (Same location as "Bridge on the River Kwai")

      The young Gregory Peck plays Bill Forrester a Canadian pilot in the RAF serving in far off Burma in the closing months of WWII. He flies a two seat Mosquito fighter-bomber. (The actual aircraft was provided through the cooperation of the RAF and repainted in accurate camouflage and markings, for once.) Forrester, it seems, has gone "round the bend" after losing his new wife in the Blitz. He's self destructive, wanting to end it all in combat. "You'd think that would be easy in a war", he explains to Anna, "but I just kept getting medals instead." Anna is a small, slim, pretty teacher, played very well by Win Min Than, a Burmese actress (how refreshing). They, of course, fall in love (It's a MOVIE, folks) and his life really seems to be turning around. But, on a routine flight, he and two others go down in a very remote desert area of Burma's central plain (hence, the title). From there on we have a rather good, believable survival saga.

      The English love eccentric characters and this story has several, all well depicted by some of those fine performers who bounce back and forth between the British "legitimate" stage and cinema. Watch for Brenda De Banzie, who plays Miss McNab, an elderly missionary. (Ya couldn't miss her!)

      The Purple Plain is a good movie, a fine movie really. Not too heavy, it's historically accurate with good production values. Forrester's growth curve coming out of his personal hell is quite interesting. I found the depiction of the native Burmese was respectful without being condescending. For instance, the love between Bill and Anna is portrayed in a very reserved manner, as it would be between a Westerner and a Christian Asian woman in real life. All in all, the story line and performances are very believable and very enjoyable. I highly recommended The Purple Plain, if YOU can find it.
      helpful•64
      2
      • SmilingBrian
      • Nov 11, 2004

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • November 26, 1954 (Finland)
        • United Kingdom
        • English
      • Also known as
      • Filming locations
        • Elephant Pass, Sri Lanka
      • Production companies
        • J. Arthur Rank Organisation
        • Two Cities Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • 1 hour 40 minutes
        • Color

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