The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 23, 2016

The horrors of war are gracefully examined in 1954’s “The Purple Plain,” which downplays military valor to cut to the center of psychological ruin facing a fighter pilot who wants to die in combat, only to find heroics instead. Director Robert Parrish guides this sensitive study of depression, with Gregory Peck capably managing layers of quiet intensity in the lead role, which demands an exhaustive performance that indentifies the shattering of a soul and its eventual repair through the possibility of love.

“The Purple Plain” isn’t a rigid war picture, but it does offer numerous combat highlights, showcasing air disasters and crash landings that motivate the stories of survival presented here. However, true action is fleeting, with most of “The Purple Plain” focused on matters of the heart, tracking Peck’s character as personal tragedy reduces him to a shell of a man, though his will to die is often credited as fearlessness, adding additional confusion to an already blurred existence. Superior officers don’t know what to do with him, and a Burmese woman responds to his unspoken need, creating a true journey for the feature, which is adapted from a novel by H.E. Bates.

The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation makes due with a slightly roughed up, aged source, which displays sustained speckling and bursts of scratches, with a few severe points of damage encountered along the way. Detail is adequate, isolating beads of sweat and pained looks as the drama increases, and locations retain depth and texture. Colors are a bit erratic, showing some fade during the viewing experience, but nothing's problematic, finding skintones within reason and costuming comfortable. Delineation is passable, though most of the presentation looks slightly brightened.

The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix isn't an ideal listening event, with the track coming through slightly muddy and quiet, requiring a significant boost in volume to help bring it to life. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable considering the age of the movie, but clarity isn't a priority here, managing dramatic extremes with basic attention to intelligibility. Scoring is big but also somewhat dulled, though a general sense of mood is always available. Sound effects are the most volatile addition to the track, with bombs and nightmare sequences creating intended chaos.

The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Purple Plain Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Purple Plain" eventually divides into two movies, with the second half transforming into a survival story, pitting characters against the elements and the enemy, losing a degree of intimacy the opening act enjoys. Still, core pathos remains, delivering a fascinating look at mismanaged grief and a tentative restoration of the soul, guided superbly by Peck, who hits precise notes of despair to help the feature in its quest to expose a different side to war.