Valerie (1957)

John Garth (Sterling Hayden) is tried for critically wounding his wife Valerie (Anita Ekberg) and murdering her parents (John Wengraf and Iphigenie Castiglioni.) His testimony is one of ... See full summary »

Director:

Gerd Oswald

Writers:

Laurence Heath (original screenplay), Emmett Murphy (original screenplay)

Stars:

Sterling Hayden, Anita Ekberg, Anthony Steel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sterling Hayden	...	John Garth
Anita Ekberg	...	Valerie Horvat
Anthony Steel	...	Rev. Blake
Peter Walker	...	Herb Garth
John Wengraf	...	Mr. Horvat
Iphigenie Castiglioni	...	Mrs. Horvat
Jered Barclay	...	Mingo (as Jerry Barclay)
Robert Adler	...	Lundy
Gage Clarke	...	Lawyer Griggs
Tom McKee	...	Dave Carlin
Sydney Smith	...	Judge Frisbee
Stanley Adams	...	Dr. Jackson
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Sheriff
Juney Ellis	...	Nurse Linsey
Darryl Duran	...	Earl Davis

Storyline

John Garth (Sterling Hayden) is tried for critically wounding his wife Valerie (Anita Ekberg) and murdering her parents (John Wengraf and Iphigenie Castiglioni.) His testimony is one of disappointment with Valerie, her unfaithfulness with Reverend Blake (Anthony Steele),and the continual nagging by her parents; a combination of events that drove him to violence. He makes no mention of having a bad childhood. Valerie, from her hospital bed, testifies of a nightmarish marriage, constant brutality and an unreasonable suspicion of Reverend Blake who befriended her in her misery.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | adultery

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Taglines:

EKBERG is the hottest tornado that ever ripped through the West as "VALERIE"

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Sadist

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal R. Makelim Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Valerie"
Music by Albert Glasser
Lyrics by Hal Richards

User Reviews

femme fatale or victim of her husband?

This is an interesting western about a husband (Sterling Hayden) who shoots his wife (Anita Ekberg) and her parents. The story is told in flashback from both husband and wife, each story contradicting the other. It gives a chance for Anita to act, a chance she did not have in most of her films, where what counted was her physical presence. She is at her best when she uses her power of seduction with Hayden's brother. Hayden is very good as John Garth, a man who fought in the war for the Union, where his job was to get confessions from prisoners. Even Anthony Steel, who was married to Anita in real life and never was much of an actor is good here as the Rev. Blake who leaves us in doubt if he is having an affair with Anita or not.