Only the Valiant (1951)

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Edmund H. North (screenplay) and
Harry Brown (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Tagline:

THEY WERE SIX AND THEY FOUGHT LIKE SIX HUNDRED! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Capt. Richard Lance is unjustly held responsible, by his men and girlfriend, for an Indian massacre death of beloved Lt...

Plot Keywords:

Military | Massacre | Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Capt. Richard Lance
Barbara Payton	...	Cathy Eversham
Ward Bond	...	Cpl. Timothy Gilchrist
Gig Young	...	Lt. William Holloway
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Trooper Kebussyan (as Lon Chaney)
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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Clarke	...	Guardhouse Sentry (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
John Halloran	...	Wall Sentry (uncredited)
Clark Howat	...	Lt. Underwood (uncredited)
Harlan Howe	...	Junior Sergeant (uncredited)
Claire James	...	Jenny (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Corporal of the Guard (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Sgt. Medical Assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
Gordon Douglas

Writing credits
Edmund H. North		(screenplay) and
Harry Brown		(screenplay)
Charles Marquis Warren		(novel)

Produced by
William Cagney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Franz Waxman

Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walter Hannemann
Robert Seiter		(as Robert S. Seiter)

Production Design by
Wiard Ihnen

Set Decoration by
Armor Marlowe		(as Armor E. Marlowe)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Kissell	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Leslie G. Hewitt	....	sound

Stunts
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leah Rhodes	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator

Production Companies

• William Cagney Productions
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #14746) | UK:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Gallup, New Mexico, USA

Company:

William Cagney Productions

Trivia:

According to a biography Gregory Peck himself authorized, during filming he had an affair with Barbara Payton.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A time line was never developed. Since there was ongoing trouble between the Sgt. and one of the troopers who was formerly a rebel soldier, this had to take place during the Civil war or just after. They do mention that the Gatling gun was just developed, which would make it during the Civil war. All the troopers are carrying Winchester rifles and Colt single action army revolvers, not manufactured until the 1870's.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'important c'est d'aimer (1975)

Extremely violent for the time.

I saw this film twice, both by accident. It is one of those movies that only gets shown at 3:00 am because it is so intense. After seeing this you can understand why John Huston picked Gregory Peck to play Captain Ahab in his version of "Moby Dick". This is a character you can only hate until he redeems himself. The Indians are a serious force of nature whose periodic attacks you fear because the aftermath of each one is so bloody you cringe instinctively which is why I am glad the movie is in Black and White. Gordon Douglas, who also directed one of the greatest monster movies of all time, "THEM", really understands the art of building tension and the pain of violence. Lon Chaney Jr's character goes through some of the same sadistically disturbing drama that Gene Hackman went through when his character was shot in "Bonnie and Clyde". A real nail-biter.