"Gregory Peck Series ... Only the Valiant (1951) ... Warner Bros."
(1 of 1 Found this Helpful)
September 21, 2008
Warner Bros. presents "ONLY THE VALIANT" (13 April 1951) (105 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) -- Our story line and plot, "Only the Valiant" was based on a novel by Charles Marquis Warren --- As our would be hero Capt. Richard Lance (Gregory Peck) is unjustly held responsible, by his intended Cathy Eversham (Barbara Payton) and his men --- As the previous orders were changed by the Colonel to substitute Lt. Holloway (Gig Young) for Captain Lance --- Holloway is also smitten for the affections of Cathy --- Being the other suitor Lt. Holloway. Holloway is killed while escorting a dangerous Indian chief Tucsos (Michael Ansara) to another fort's prison, and the chief escapes --- Lance knows their fort is in danger of Indian attack, so he volunteers taking a small group of army misfits to an abandoned nearby army fort to defend a mountain pass against the oncoming Indian assault --- Stall for time is their mission until reinforcements from another fort arrive --- The men in this small group of malcontents, deserters, psychopaths and cowards all hate Capt. Lance and wish him dead --- Many of the men recognize that Lance's survival instincts, military knowledge and leadership are the only chance the group has of staying alive --- Among the film's misfits are Ward Bond (who almost steals the film), Lon Chaney Jr., Neville Brand, Warner Anderson and Steve Brodie giving outstanding performances in every scene --- But it's hard drinking Ward Bond who is the scene stealer in this classic oater.
Under the production staff of:
Gordon M. Douglas - Director
William Cagney - Producer
Harry Brown - Screenwriter
Edmund H. North - Screenwriter
Charles Marquis Warren - Book Author
Lionel Lindon - Cinematographer
Franz Waxman - Composer (Music Score)
Walter A. Hannemann - Editor
Robert S. Seiter - Editor
Wiard Ihnen - Production Designer
Armor E. Marlowe - Set Designer
SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1. Gregory Peck:
Date of Birth 5 April 1916 - La Jolla, California
Date of Death: 12 June 2003 - Los Angeles, California
the cast includes:
Gregory Peck ... Capt. Richard Lance
Barbara Payton ... Cathy Eversham
Ward Bond ... Cpl. Timothy Gilchrist
Gig Young ... Lt. William Holloway
Lon Chaney Jr. ... Trooper Kebussyan
Neville Brand ... Sgt. Ben Murdock
Jeff Corey ... Joe Harmony
Warner Anderson ... Trooper Rutledge
Steve Brodie ... Trooper Onstot
Dan Riss ... Lt. Jerry Winters
Terry Kilburn ... Trooper Saxton
Herbert Heyes ... Col. Drumm
Art Baker ... Capt. Jennings
Hugh Sanders ... Capt. Eversham
Michael Ansara ... Tucsos
Nana Bryant ... Mrs. Drumm
David Clarke ... Guardhouse Sentry
John Doucette ... Sergeant
John Halloran ... Wall Sentry
Clark Howat ... Lt. Underwood
Harlan Howe ... Junior Sergeant
Claire James ... Jenny
William Newell ... Corporal of the Guard
William 'Bill' Phillips ... Sgt. Medical Assistant
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow Western Classics --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 105 mins on DVD ~ Warner Home Video ~ (7/01/2008)
Not the greatest Peck film
(3 of 3 Found this Helpful)
September 20, 2008
This wasn't the greatest of Peck's western ventures; just okay. It was a typical army-shootout-with-indians movie with the last-man-standing theme. I found myself spending more time guessing about the succesion of characters killed off rather than the plot. Didn't consider it a waste of time - I'm an admirer of Gregory Peck's work and am glad I saw it; but not the most memorable film.
Hold Down the Fort
(1 of 1 Found this Helpful)
September 11, 2008
A classic made in the making,they just don't do'em' like this anymore,Gregory Peck,one of the true all time great actors with a legendary all star cast surrounding him,Lon Chaney,Ward Bond,Neville Brand,are just a few that make this film a winner,Peck is a Cavalry Captain who is strictly by the book leading a band of misfits to protect an empty fort from hostile Indians,tension builds as each man's past is revealed and setting the stage for the final climax,a helluva Cavalry picture,although filmed in black and white,1951,Only the Valiant,a must see.
Above average western
(8 of 9 Found this Helpful)
August 2, 2008
Very good western with strong cast. Gregory Peck does an excellent job as a captain in the cavalry wrongly blamed for the death of a popular officer at the hands of the Apaches. Film has much in the way of drama and suspense.
The Art of Leadership
(8 of 9 Found this Helpful)
June 21, 2008
A great story on the type of man who can lead, and the many types of men who cannot. A previous reviewer mentioned Robert Ryan as one of the actors in this film. Actually, he's not in it.
