Purple Heart Diary [1951] [DVD]

Little film directed by Richard Quine (Command Decision) about the tour organized by the singer Frances Langford (This is the Army) with her friends pianist Ben Lessy (Thousand Cheers) and guitarist Tony Romano (Radio Stars on Parade), playing each their own role, to entertain the US soldiers, especially the wounded ones, in the Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea during the Pacific War against Japan.

Frances Langford takes the plot from her own chronicles written as a "Purple Heart Diary" during the war for the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst's corporation. The Purple Heart, as explained, was "the first military decoration of the USA", awarded by George Washington to "valiant American heroes", and then granted to injured ones. The film mixes musical performances with episodes where Frances helps soldiers to fix personal problems.

Frances, Ben and Tony arrive in Port Moresby, Papua, and are welcomed by the pretty strict lieutenant Mike (Judd Holdren, Mystery Submarine). Here she meets Elmo (Warren Mills, here for his final role, Out of the Depths), who has a dedicated photo from her and claims she is his girlfriend. Then in Milne Bay, Papua, and its "bloodthirsty mosquitoes", she meets the lieutenant nurse Cathy (Aline Towne, Harbor of Missing Men), who is in love with the lieutenant Rocky (Brett King, Flying Leathernecks), a former "football legend" but now mutilated.

Finally near Finschhafen, New Guinea, where they crash in the damaged plane piloted by lieutenant Roberts (Harry Guardino, Up Front), they will have to face a Japanese threat which could come from over the sky or from under the sea. This very modest film, played without showing many affects, devoted to a good cause, should through its little adventures keep the public attention until the end. ~ imdb