The Purple Plain (1954)
Reference View | Change View
- Approved
- 1h 37min
- Adventure, Drama
- 26 Nov 1954 (Finland)
- Movie
In World War II Burma, a Canadian bomber pilot becomes reckless after losing his bride in a Luftwaffe air-raid.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gregory Peck | ... |
Squadron Leader Bill Forrester
|
|
| Win Min Than | ... |
Anna
|
|
| Brenda de Banzie | ... |
Miss McNab
(as Brenda De Banzie)
|
|
| Bernard Lee | ... |
Dr. Harris
|
|
| Maurice Denham | ... |
Blore
|
|
| Lyndon Brook | ... |
Carrington
|
|
| Anthony Bushell | ... |
Group Captain Aldridge
|
|
| Josephine Griffin | ... |
Mrs. Bill Forrester
|
|
 |
Ram Gopal | ... |
Mr. Phang
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dorothy Alison | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
|
|
| Peter Arne | ... |
Flight Lieutenant (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ernest Blyth | ... |
Man Dancing at Wedding (uncredited)
|
| Kurt Christian | ... |
(uncredited)
|
|
|
|
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)
|
|
|
John A. Tinn | ... |
Burmese Jeweler (uncredited)
|
|
|
Soo Ah Wong | ... |
Old Woman (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Robert Parrish | ||
Written by
| H.E. Bates | ... | (novel) |
| Eric Ambler | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| John Bryan | ... | producer |
| Earl St. John | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| John Veale | ||
Cinematography by
| Geoffrey Unsworth | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Clive Donner | ||
Editorial Department
| Joan Bridge | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
| Roy Fry | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Jack Maxsted | ||
| Donald M. Ashton | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Geoffrey Rodway | ... | makeup artist |
| Iris Tilley | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Roy Goddard | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| David W. Orton | ... | assistant director (as David Orton) |
Art Department
| Dario Simoni | ... | set dresser |
| Alan Withy | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Eric Boyd-Perkins | ... | sound editor |
| Gordon K. McCallum | ... | sound recordist |
| Dudley Messenger | ... | sound recordist |
| Harry Miller | ... | sound editor |
| Peter Davies | ... | sound re-recordist (uncredited) |
| Ted Karnon | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Charles Staffell | ... | special effects |
| Bill Warrington | ... | special effects |
| Philippo Guidobaldi | ... | optic special effects (uncredited) |
| Sydney Pearson | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Bernard Ford | ... | model photography: clapper loader (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James Bawden | ... | camera operator |
| John Cabrera | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| James Devis | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Marc Hyams | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Muir Mathieson | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Joan Foster | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Arthur Alcott | ... | production controller for Pinewood Studios, London, England |
| Jean Tisdall | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- J. Arthur Rank Organisation (presents)
- Two Cities Films
Distributors
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1954) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1955) (United States) (theatrical)
- J. Arthur Rank Film (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- J.Arthur Rank-Film (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1955) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2016) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Mon Inter Comerz (2016) (Spain)
- Pidax Film (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
- Pidax Film (2014) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Premium Cine (2022) (Spain) (video)
- Rai Movie (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Sonoro Filme (Portugal)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- B & D Film (logo)
- Members of the Royal Air Force (the producers of this film gratefully acknowledge the co-operation received from)
- The Air Ministry (the producers of this film gratefully acknowledge the co-operation received from)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After losing his bride in a Luftwaffe air raid, bomber pilot Forrester becomes a solitary killing machine, who doesn't care whether he dies. The reckless Canadian pilot is both admired and feared by the rest of his squadron in World War II Burma. The squadron physician is assigned to determine the embittered Bill Forrester's fitness for duty. To break through the nightmare-haunted man's wall of silence, the physician drives Forrester to visit an outpost of English-speaking refugees, which includes an alluring young Burmese woman. Written by David Stevens |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | HIS PEAK OF ADVENTURE! (original print ad - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $2,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Soundtracks | Onward Christian Soldiers See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: BURMA 1945 See more » |
| 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. See more » |