The Purple Heart [1944] (Directed by: Lewis Milestone)

• Q1: How does the film relate to the chapter in Foner?

The chapter in Foner really illustrates a great coming together for all of America when it comes to it's soldiers, so The Purple Heart really makes a statement about people who receive purple hearts. It brings about a respect for soldiers and what they are willing to do for their cause and for their country, and this was relevant to this chapter and this time period. Even though it is clear at the end of the film Capt. Harvey Ross and his men do not make it out of this "trial" alive, it is very evident the sacrifice they made for their cause and to follow orders, which is to be commended, because honestly, I don't know if I could have kept my mouth shut under threat of torture. Also, another interesting note is at the beginning of the film, when the delegates from other countries are being let into the trial, the representative from Moscow was not allowed in, which comments also on America's fear of communism.

• Q2: What can we learn about American culture during the time period by interpreting the film as a primary historical document?

Like stated above, America came together in a great war effort so this film relaly personified that in a big way. However, more can be learned about what really happened in the war from this film. The Purple Heart shows Sgt. Jan Skvoznik meeting with Capt. Harvey Ross, because Skvoznik is seen as the "weakest link", and he promises to his commanding officer that he will follow orders and keep his secret. In the trial, Skvoznik comes back traumatized from the torture that the Japanese put him through. This continued for most of Ross' men, which was a real look inside what happened in this war, which gives even more triumph for American soldiers. It was interesting to note that toward the end of the film, Ross calls Japan "undemocratic" and this was seen as a bad thing. I think this fed into the "democracy is best" way of thinking, but it was interesting that it really was in a mass media item, such as a movie.

• Q3: What does the film reveal about attitudes toward gender, race, and class?

Class and gender were really not explored in this film, but race was. Clearly the Japanese are made out to be evil, sneaky people. It even goes farther when the Chinese governor lies to keep the soldiers there and makes up ridiculous lies in the court trial. The film really begins to say that all Asians are to be seen as unfair and barbaric because they refuse to give the prisoner's of war any rights that are listed in the Geneva Convention.

• Q4: What was the most important scene in the film?

To me, there were two important scene's. The first had to do with what was said in the scene. In the scene where Capt. Harvey Ross meets with Gen. Ito Mitsubi and they are talking about the soldiers and the way that they fight in the two different countries. Mistusubi then says that they are "willing to sacrifice 10 million lives, how many lives is the white man willing to sacrifice?", it was really important because it really personified what I read in all the textbooks from history classes, that the Japanese government really didn't care all that much about the lives of their military, that it was just a number to them. The other important scene was the very end of the film after the American soldiers have essentially been condemned to a death sentence begin walking down the hallway out of the court room. The way they are walking and the looks on their faces really portray a sense of pride to be dying for their country and for the right cause, even if they don't think they're going to win the war.

• Reviews

IMDb Review
NY Times Review

• My Review

The Purple Heart really spoke to me because both my paternal Grandparents were in World War II. My Grandfather was a medic in the 99th infantry division and my Grandmother was a nurse in the army. Being that my Grandmother had just recently died, it was especially interesting, sad, and enlightening to see a film that was supposed to realistically depict the hardships of overseas World War II. However, it receives my review of 3 out of 5. While it was an average movie and related moderately to the chapter in Foner, it was mostly just mundane talking between Motsabi and Ross with an occasional emotional and meaningful outburst. And it was really hard to understand the Japanese and Chinese people in the movie with their accents. But overall, the movie was okay.