The Purple Plainis a 1954 Britishwar filmdirected byRobert Parrish,withGregory Peckplaying aRoyal Canadian Air Forcepilot serving in theRoyal Air Forcein theBurma campaignin the closing months of theSecond World War,who is battling with depression after having lost his wife to German bombing in London. The cast also includedWin Min Than,Maurice DenhamandLyndon Brook.The film was shot atPinewood Studiosandon locationinCeylon.The film's sets were designed by theart directorJack Maxsted.It was nominated for twoBAFTAawards. The film was based on the 1947novel of the same namebyH. E. Bates.
The Purple Plain | |
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![]() Australianfilm poster | |
Directed by | Robert Parrish |
Screenplay by | Eric Ambler |
Based on | The Purple Plain byH. E. Bates |
Produced by | John Bryan |
Starring | Gregory Peck Win Min Than Maurice Denham Lyndon Brook Bernard Lee |
Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
Edited by | Clive Donner |
Music by | John Veale |
Production company | |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors United Artists(US) |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | $1.3 million (US)[1] |
Plot
editBill Forrester, aRCAFpilot serving in the Royal Air Force inBurma,pilots ade Havilland Mosquito,a two-seatfighter-bomber.Forrester is distraught after losing his new wife inthe Blitzin London and has become self-destructive. His reckless conduct concern his commanding officer because it endangers his flight crews, and others become reluctant to fly with Forrester. The commander seeks to have him grounded. However it would require the approval of the base flight surgeon. The doctor agrees reluctantly to examine him, despite the fact that Forrester is highly decorated and the best pilot in the squadron. He convinces Forrester to visit a village, where he is introduced to beautiful Burmese woman named Anna. They strike up a friendship and continue to see each other. He tells Anna about the loss of his wife and his desire to end his own life by dying in action; "You'd think that would be easy in a war, but I just kept getting medals instead." Anna and he begin to fall in love and with Anna's support, Bill begins to recover.
Forrester is allowed to fly a ferry mission. He and his new navigator, Carrington, are assigned to flyFlight LieutenantBlore, riding in the Mosquito's bomb bay, toMeiktila.An engine fire forces them down in a remote arid area controlled by the Japanese. The soil and surrounding hills have a purple hue, thus the name of the film.
Carrington is injured during the crash landing. His leg is badly burned and he is unable to walk. Without supplies and very little water, Forrester decides their best chance is to walk 30 miles to the nearest river, where they can get water. There they would stand a better chance of rescue. Blore, on the other hand, believes they should stay with the plane and wait for rescue, as search parties will surely be looking for them. Forrester points out that being spotted from the air is highly unlikely. They build a stretcher for Carrington out of bamboo and set out for the river, walking at night and resting during the day. Forrester proves to have the strongest will to live.
During the trek, Blore slips and falls down a rocky slope, breaking hiscollarboneand being unable to help carry the stretcher. With water running out, Forrester decides that Blore should go by himself and bring back water, while he stays with Carrington. Blore objects and wants to return to the plane. Forrester tells him to sleep on it, and they can decide once they get some rest.
Upon waking, Forrester discovers that Blore has gone, but he has left the canteen with some water in it. Forrester leaves the canteen with Carrington and sets out after Blore. However, Blore commits suicide before Forrester can reach him. He finds Blore's wallet with a picture of his family in it, a wife and two children. Forrester returns to Carrington.
Forrester carries Carrington on his back. Eventually, Forrester collapses on the desert floor. Carrington convinces him that their only hope now is for Forrester to go to the river and bring back water. Forrester struggles on by himself. He goes up a hill and falls face down, unable to go any further. He hears the sound of water. On the other side is the river. Forrester returns with water for Carrington, and the two are rescued. Forrester, still weak from the ordeal, is greeted by the base doctor who, upon giving him a quick examination, agrees to deliver him by jeep back to the waiting Anna. Forrester finds her asleep in her bed. He lies down beside her without waking her up and promptly falls asleep.
Cast
edit- Gregory Peckas Squadron Leader Bill Forrester
- Win Min Thanas Anna
- Maurice Denhamas Flight Lieutenant Blore
- Lyndon Brookas Flying Officer Carrington (navigator)
- Brenda De Banzieas Miss McNab
- Bernard Leeas Dr. Harris
- Anthony Bushellas Wing Commander Aldridge
- Josephine Griffinas Mrs. Forrester
- Ram Gopalas Mr. Phang
- Dorothy Alisonas Nurse
- Peter Arneas Flight Lieutenant
- Jack McNaughtonas Sergeant Brown
- Lane Meddick as Radio operator
- Harold Siddonsas Navigator Williams
- John A. Tinn as Burmese jeweler
Production
editThe Purple Plainis regarded generally as historically accurate with good production values and attention to detail, and depicts the native Burmese in a respectful manner. The film is based on the 1947 novelThe Purple PlainbyH. E. Bateswho was commissioned into the RAF during World War II.[2]It was one of three novels he wrote after his travels to Burma and India in 1945, on military assignment to write short pieces portraying the Burmese war for American readers. The novel was first serialised in theSaturday Evening Postin September and October 1947.[3]The film script was written by novelistEric Amblerin consultation with Bates.
The film was produced with a relatively modest budget byTwo Cities Filmsand was directed by the American directorRobert Parrish.The film was shot inSigiriya,in what was thenCeylon(nowSri Lanka), and utilised several locations later used inThe Bridge on the River Kwai.The aircraft in the film were repainted in accurateSEACcamouflage and markings, and were provided through the co-operation of the Royal Air Force, which also provided several staff on-site during the filming. Some of these are credited as extras.
CinematographerGeoffrey Unsworthfilmed the production at a time when the British film industry was changing over from 3-strip Technicolor toEastmancolor.The Purple Plainis considered a ‘hybrid’ film as the location filming in Ceylon was in Eastmancolor whilst the interiors at Pinewood Studios were in 3-strip Technicolor. Another known ‘hybrid’ film of this period wasTo Paris with Love.[4][5]
Casting
editGregory Peck had not done a film in Hollywood for approximately four years, preferring the tax incentives of working outside the United States.[6]
The original choice for Anna wasJune Rose,a Burmese royal princess of Australian descent and the great-granddaughter ofPrince Kanaung.[7]She pulled out during the shooting in Ceylon saying "It was so Hollywood, it was ridiculous; it was an insult to anything that had to do with Burma", adding "When the film did come to Burma there was a big hue and cry. Things in the pagoda, things a Buddhist would never do."[8]
She was replaced by Win Min Than who was born Helga Johnston,[9]the wife of Burmese politician and businessman Bo Setkya (1916–1969; aka Thakin Aung Than, Bo Set Kya or Set-kya), in her only film role.[10][11]Her father was Australian and her mother Burmese. In 1964 she shaved her head and became a Buddhist nun inRangoon,adopting the name Daw Wanthalamar. Her husband had fled the country, went underground, and had not been heard of since GeneralNe Winhad taken over the country in March 1962.[12][13]She left the convent a year later and went into business selling gourds.[9]Both Bo Set Kya and Ne Win were members of theThirty Comrades.[14]
Reception
editThe Purple Plainopened to solid reviews withVarietylabeling it a "fine dramatic vehicle" that "vividly establishes the atmosphere,"[15]
Box office
editThe Purple Plainwas successful at the box office, being the 11th most popular film in Britain in 1954.[16][17]According toKinematograph Weeklythe film was a "money maker" at the British box office in 1954.[18]
According toVarietyit earned $1,300,000 in rentals in the US.[19]However it was considered a commercial disappointment in the US.[20]
Awards
editIt was ultimately nominated in the category ofBest British filmof 1954 at the 8thBritish Academy Film Awards,while actorMaurice Denhamwas nominated for the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Blore.
References
edit- ^"The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955."Variety Weekly,25 January 1956.
- ^"BFI | Film & TV Database | The Purple Plain (1954)."BFI,16 April 2009. Retrieved: 10 March 2010.
- ^"The Purple Plain."HEBates.com.Retrieved: 11 September 2021.
- ^Anon (1954). Studio Round-up.Kinematograph Weekly,29 July 1954. p. 27.
- ^Keith.M.Johnston (2021). Eastmancolor and Branding.Colour Films in Britain - The Eastmancolor Revolution.p. 20. BFI/Bloomsbury.ISBN978-1911239574
- ^p. 19 Molyneaux, GerardGregory Peck: A Bio-bibliographyGreenwood Press (30 June 1995)
- ^"A Palace Assassination that Altered Myanmar's History".The Irrawaddy.2 August 2019.
- ^"Renowned beauty was half-Australian princess of Burma".January 2021.
- ^ab"Bits of Show Business."The Milwaukee Journal,18 March 1965.
- ^"Bio for Win Min Than."IMDb.Retrieved: 10 September 2011.
- ^"Win Min Than."Der Spiegel,19 May 1954: Translated to English using Google Translate. Retrieved: 31 August 2011.
- ^"Eurasian Beauty Will Enter Convent."Australian Associated Press (The Age),29 June 1964.
- ^"Actress Enters Buddhist Convent."The Palm Beach Post(United Press International), 27 June 1964.
- ^Yawnghwe 2010, p. 228.
- ^"The Purple Plain".Variety.31 December 1953.
- ^"U.S. Star heads film poll.The Advertiser(Adelaide), via National Library of Australia, 31 December 1954, p. 11. Retrieved: 24 April 2012.
- ^Thumim, Janet."The popular cash and culture in the postwar British cinema industry".Screen.Vol. 32, no. 3. p. 259.
- ^Billings, Josh (16 December 1954). "Other monkey makers".Kinematograph Weekly.p. 9.
- ^"2nd Thoughts on Rank's NY Times Ad".Variety.18 January 1956. p. 5.
- ^"Rank's Rebel Yell".Variety.6 March 1957. p. 10.
Bibliography
edit- Bates, H. E.The Purple Plain.London: Michael Joseph, 1947.ISBN978-0-7451-6934-7.
- Yawnghwe, Chao Tzang.The Shan of Burma: Memoirs of a Shan Exile.Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2010.ISBN978-981-230-396-7.