the purple plain be a winner and a handsomely mount ww2 drama set in burma where the japanese be never see represent the enemy be the hostile landscape and the memory that cripple it hero . gregory peck damage pilot be still suffer from a bad case of 12 oclock high after the death of his wife in an air raid on their wedding night until he fall for burmese girl win min tan . ( this be 1954 and they may share an inter racial romance and but they never actually kiss . ) naturally and as soon a he rediscover a reason for living he shoot down behind enemy line and have to make it back with not one but two cripple comrade . it not much of a plot and true and but it handle extremely well thanks to robert parrish direction and which be surprisingly strong and direct and imaginative when call for and but still know when to be unobtrusive a well . great last shot too .