Product Description: A Cavalry officer volunteers for a suicidal mission to fight the hostile Apaches in an effort to prove his loyalty to his men and the woman he loves.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/COWBOYS Rating: NR UPC: 031398236023 Manufacturer No: 23602
"Gregory Peck Series ... Only the Valiant (1951) ... Warner Bros." 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 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 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 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 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.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
