Watch Bitter Harvest
- 1963
- 1 hr 31 min
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6.1 (323)
Bitter Harvest is a gripping drama film that was released in 1963. The film is set during World War II and revolves around the life of a young British soldier named Jim Graham, who is stationed in North Africa in 1942. Jim is a brave and dedicated soldier who is deeply committed to the Allied fight against the Axis powers. He is also a talented artist and finds solace in drawing and painting when he is not on the battlefield.
The film opens with Jim and his best friend, Harry, surviving a brutal battle that leaves most of their comrades dead. They are then sent to Egypt to recover and rest up before being sent back into combat. While in Egypt, Jim meets a beautiful and captivating young woman named Mary, who is working as a nurse at a local hospital. Jim and Mary quickly fall in love and begin a passionate love affair. However, their happiness is short-lived as Jim is soon called back to the front lines.
The film then follows Jim and his platoon as they fight their way across North Africa, battling the Germans at every turn. Jim witnesses some horrific scenes of war, including the death of his friend Harry and the torture of innocent civilians. He is haunted by these images and turns to his art for solace. He draws and paints scenes of the war, capturing the harsh realities of battle and the emotional toll it takes on soldiers.
Meanwhile, back in England, Jim's mother, played by the legendary actress Ethel Barrymore, is worried sick about her son. She has not heard from him in weeks and fears the worst. Her anxiety is compounded by the fact that her husband was killed in World War I, and she knows firsthand the toll that war can take on families.
As the war progresses, Jim and his platoon find themselves in Italy, fighting some of the toughest battles of the war. Jim's talent as an artist catches the attention of his commanding officer, who sees the potential to use Jim's skills to help the allies in their propaganda campaign. Jim is tasked with creating posters and other artwork that will inspire the troops and boost morale back home.
Despite the horrors of war, Jim remains determined to survive and make it back home to Mary. However, fate has other plans, and Jim soon finds himself facing his toughest challenge yet. Will he be able to overcome the odds and make it home to the woman he loves? Or will he become just another casualty of war?
Bitter Harvest is a moving and powerful film that captures the horror and bravery of World War II. The performances by the lead actors, including Janet Munro, John Stride, and Alan Badel, are exemplary, and the cinematography is breathtaking. The film does an excellent job of depicting the emotional toll that war can take on soldiers and their families, and it is a thought-provoking reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom.