Walk the Proud Land (1956)

An agent sent from Washington in 1874 takes charge of an Apache reservation and has the oppressive US Army back off, which creates conflicts and causes the Indians to have great respect for him.

Director:

Jesse Hibbs

Writers:

Gil Doud (screenplay), Jack Sher (screenplay)

Stars:

Audie Murphy, Anne Bancroft, Pat Crowley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audie Murphy	...	John Philip Clum
Anne Bancroft	...	Tianay
Pat Crowley	...	Mary Dennison
Charles Drake	...	Tom Sweeny
Tommy Rall	...	Taglito
Robert Warwick	...	Chief Eskiminzin
Jay Silverheels	...	Geronimo
Eugene Mazzola	...	Tono
Anthony Caruso	...	Disalin
Victor Millan	...	Santos
Ainslie Pryor	...	Capt. Larsen
Eugene Iglesias	...	Chato
Morris Ankrum	...	Gen. Wade
Addison Richards	...	Gov. Safford
Maurice Jara	...	Alchise

Storyline

Indian Agent sent to try new approach to peace with Apaches based on respect for automomy rather than submission to Army. Wins over reservation chiefs and the Indian widow (Bancroft) given to him as housekeeper. Through use of diplomacy and demonstrations of faith in Apache leaders, reservation is put on the road to automomy. Conflicts arise between Apache widow and Eastern wife but latter has a lot to learn.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | apache territory | chiricahua apache | san carlos reservation arizona | san carlos arizona | 

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Taglines:

HE TAMED APACHE WAR-LUST WITH THE POWER OF HIS FAITH...and conquered a savage warrior in a showdown of raw courage!

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Genres:

Biography | History | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the knife fight scene where Clum breaks up the war dance, his opponent slashes at Clum and hits a tree. When the two separate, the knife is obviously pulled from the tree. In the next scene the two are on the ground fighting, but the knife is stuck in the tree.

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Quotes

John Philip Clum: Taglito, it doesn't appear you have too many friends here in this town.
Taglito: I think I as many as you have... maybe.
John Philip Clum: Why do you Apaches use the word *maybe* so much?
Taglito: It is because we are never sure of anything... maybe.

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Connections

Referenced in What's My Line?: Miss Universe 1956 Carol Morris & Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley (1956)

User Reviews

Apaches for the first time are allowed rifles to sustain the meat supplies

An enjoyable movie for a lazy afternoon. But there was a lot of schmaltz and predictable action, and the dialog was a little fake. But at times there was a nicely presented humorous edge to conversations as in the "maybe" style. I also enjoyed it for the typical Old Tuscon movie set location having been there a number of times myself. Being based on a true story the screen writer did a good job. I feel this movie is a good example of the style of westerns of which John Wayne was a good example. It remains simple in format, clear in style, and does not contain excessive goofs. One simple goof I noticed was how clean the Agent's suit was after he had just been rolling in the dirt. A nicely told story, enjoyable to watch, and the kind of movie experience I enjoy without the excessive violence, vulgar language, and smut contained in many modern works.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Walk the Proud Land

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1