The Proud Rebel (1958)

A Confederate veteran living in the Yankee North struggles with his son's shock induced muteness and the hate of the Northerners.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Joseph Petracca (screenplay), Lillie Hayward (screenplay)

Stars:

Alan Ladd, Olivia de Havilland, Dean Jagger

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alan Ladd	...	John Chandler
Olivia de Havilland	...	Linnett Moore
Dean Jagger	...	Harry Burleigh
David Ladd	...	David Chandler
Cecil Kellaway	...	Dr. Enos Davis (Quaker)
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Jeb Burleigh (as Dean Stanton)
James Westerfield	...	Birm Bates
Henry Hull	...	Judge Morley
Tom Pittman	...	Tom Burleigh (as Thomas Pittman)
Eli Mintz	...	Mr. Gorman
John Carradine	...	Traveling Salesman
King	...	Lance, David's Dog

Storyline

With his home burned to the ground, his wife killed, and his 10-year-old son, David, rendered mute after witnessing the traumatizing incident, the former Confederate soldier, John Chandler, arrives in a small, post-Civil War Illinois community. Eager to move on with his life, and desperate to find an effective treatment for the boy, instead, John finds himself drawn into a fight with the two sons of the ruthless and unscrupulous sheep-farmer, Harry Burleigh, facing a severe $30 fine or thirty days of incarceration. As the strong, kind, and compassionate rancher, Linnett Moore, decides to intervene for the sake of David, providing food and shelter, before long, John will find himself involved in a long-standing feud. Now, faced with a cruel dilemma, John must choose between running away or putting down roots. But, can a proud Rebel find peace and love in Yankee territory?

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Plot Keywords:

small town judge | sheep ranch | bare chested male | hairy chest | small town gossip | 

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Taglines:

A story that reaches far and wide as the human heart!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

King, the border collie who plays Lance was a Western champion sheepdog.

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Goofs

Alan Ladd's accent is nothing like a Texan accent.

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Quotes

Dr. Enos Davis (Quaker): Mr. Chandler, sometimes I wish I was a minister instead of a doctor. A minister can give you hope, a doctor can only give you facts.
John Chandler: Is it hopeless?
Dr. Enos Davis (Quaker): No. No. There is always hope... and faith. Does he have faith Mr. Chandler?
John Chandler: Some...
Dr. Enos Davis (Quaker): Cause they need a lot of it, though they can become awfully bitter. and bitterness can become a bad habit.
John Chandler: Same as in war.

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Connections

Referenced in Breach (2007)

User Reviews

Classic western and story telling

A very nice classic movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. I disagree with another reviewer that the film is too slow. It develops and moves along fine. The trouble with todays youth, is that everything has too spill out in a minute flat as nearly everyone under 25 has A.D.H.D or is so pumped up on energy drinks. They are so impatient and snappy. That there are no real craftsmen anywhere or in any field nowadays. It is often said all new movies have 1 dimension characters. Well if you pace it slower and show the back round of the characters. You can have fully developed and believable characters. Alan Ladd did a great portrayal of the character, as he did with the Shane character in the movie of the same name, made 5 years earlier and also a western. The actor dosen't act, he becomes the character. The rest of the cast were superb as well. Olivia De Havaland played such a wholesome women. That you'd want to marry her knowing you'd last forever with her. Alan's son played his son in the film, and playing a mute boy made you think that maybe he couldn't speak. He later of course married Cheryl Ladd from Charlie's Angels series. A nice story without CGI effects and explosions and lots of unnecessary sex.

These are storybook stories that embed in peoples minds. Films from this era have been remembered for 70-80 years. How many films from last year can you recall.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Proud Rebel

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Formosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1