The Purple Heart (1944)

Passed   |    |  Drama, History, War

The Purple Heart (1944) Poster

This is the story of the crew of a downed bomber, captured after a run over Tokyo, early in the war. Relates the hardships the men endure while in captivity, and their final humiliation: ... See full summary »

6.6/10
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Photos

  • Sam Levene in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • Sam Levene in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • Sam Levene in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • Sam Levene in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • Dana Andrews and Farley Granger in The Purple Heart (1944)
  • Dana Andrews and Richard Loo in The Purple Heart (1944)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Jerome Cady (screenplay), Darryl F. Zanuck (story)
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Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
22 February 2003 | rsbrandt
That Fine Attention to Detail
From the beginning I was impressed with Lewis Milestone's direction. The film opens in a darkened courtroom (although the emblem of the rising sun can be discerned on the far wall). A man in uniform enters and switches on the lights. Another man enters with a pitcher of water and begins preparing for the ritual of the judges' entrance. The first man begins opening the window blinds. This leisurely accumulation of detail gives these moments a documentary feel that lends verisimilitude to the events that follow. Even when the American heroes respond to their captors with caustic patriotic speeches, there's still an aura of realism that makes it hard to classify this movie along with the cruder propaganda efforts of the times.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film reunites co-stars Dana Andrews and Farley Granger with director Lewis Milestone after The North Star (1943). Andrews and Granger would also co-star in Edge of Doom (1950) and I Want You (1951) under the direction of Mark Robson.

Quotes

Title Card: "Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen." - Geo. Washington, General and Commander-in-Chief of the ...

Goofs

When the Swiss Red Cross representative is escorted into the office, the guard places his rifle "order arms" on his left side, rifle butt on floor. The Red Cross man then passes the guard by. The guards rifle is now on his right side "order arms". There couldn't have been enough time to relocate the rifle.

Soundtracks

Hail to the Chief
Music by James Sanderson
Played during the opening credits

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Drama | History | War

Details

Release Date:

23 February 1944

Language

English, Japanese

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,500,000

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