The Purple Plain
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Movie Reviews of The Purple Plain
Movie Review: 12 O'Clock High Goes Burmese
Summary: 4 Stars
The Purple Plain is a winner, a handsomely mounted WW2 drama set in Burma where the Japanese are never seen: the enemy is the hostile landscape and the memories that cripple its hero. Gregory Peck's damaged pilot is still suffering from a bad case of 12 O'Clock High after the death of his wife in an air raid on their wedding night until he falls for Burmese girl Win Min Tan. (This being 1954, they may share an inter-racial romance, but they never actually kiss.) Naturally, as soon as he rediscovers a reason for living he's shot down behind enemy lines and has to make it back with not one but two crippled comrades. It's not much of a plot, true, but it's handled extremely well thanks to Robert Parrish's direction, which is surprisingly strong, direct and imaginative when called for, but still knows when to be unobtrusive as well. Great last shot too.Movie Review: The Purple Plain
Summary: 4 Stars
An interesting case of a man who finds love again after losing his wife during a bombing. However; that isn't the only focus in this WWII story about a fighter pilot played by Gregory Peck. While flying with his bombadier in their Mosquito they are ferrying another man to a different location when they crashland. Peck must then find a way to get them out of Japanese territory to their own lines. Survival in Burma during the Summer months is grueling and makes their treck back all the harder. The Bombadier was badly burned in the crash and requires the other two to carry him. This is not a well known movie but I think worth at least a rental. Good quality DVD with fair replayability. If you enjoyed this catch 633 Squadron.
CA Luster
Movie Review: SOLID 4-STAR FILM; EXCELLENT DVD PRESENTATION
Summary: 4 Stars
It was unfortunate that the now-defunct MGM (Sony currently owns it) put the "modified to fit your screen" text at the beginning of "THE PURPLE PLAIN" DVD, as it simply was not necessary. Based on my knowledge of aspect ratios, the full-frame (1:33) presentation is likely the most accurate framing for this film. To my eyes, nothing was missing and no panning-and-scanning was to be seen.
According to an online review at DVD Talk, "although the main titles appear to be composed for 1:66, a 1:78 crop-off is too much. Released in 1954 and shot by an English crew, it could have easily been planned as a 1:37 release." So enjoy this film and tell your friends and family about it. It truly is a lost classic and this DVD is a long-overdue treasure.
The Scoffer has spoken...again!
Movie Review: No pan & scan this time
Summary: 4 Stars
The silly lawsuit filed against MGM about nonsensical framing issues shouldn't lead to greet all MGM DVDs with suspicion. I didn't see this movie in theaters, but obviously it wasn't shot in any anamorphic aspect ratio, and widescreen movies in UK were not shot in 1,85:1 at the time. True, the DVD image seems a bit cramped at times, so my guess is, what we have here is an slightly reframed open matte version of a movie with an intended theatrical aspect ratio of 1,66:1 or maybe 1,75:1. But then, it's always difficult to check the exact aspect ratio delivered by a DVD because of the overscan inherent to most TV monitors (give it a try on your PC DVD drive, there's no overscan there)Movie Review: Gregory Peck fan, here....
Summary: 4 Stars
...and I will admit that this isn't my favorite roll of his. But it is a good story, quite suspenseful and well directed. The characters are, well, characters, in the "British" sense. That means, that they are drawn with clearly delineated strengths and weaknesses, and are each rather eccentric in their own way. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes Peck's acting and might have missed this one. And to anyone who likes war movies with a bit of psychology woven into the interaction of the characters.