Walk the Proud Land (1956)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Jesse Hibbs

Writers:

Gil Doud (screenplay)
Jack Sher (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

September 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Western

Tagline:

Out of the pages of the West's most thrilling history comes the saga of Indian Agent John Philip Clum ...whose Faith built a fortress in a wilderness of hate...and tamed the fury of Geronimo's last desperate stand!

Plot:

Indian Agent sent to try new approach to peace with Apaches based on respect for automomy rather than submission to Army...

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Apache Agent

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

A Real Treat

I just caught this movie recently on AMC and was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I am a big Audie Murphy fan, but even I am willing to admit that most of his movies rarely rise above mediocre. This movie, however, has Audie in the hands of a good director, with a competent script, and some very good supporting cast members.

There were a couple of moments when Ann Bancroft was on screen when my mouth dropped open at how utterly gorgeous she was. Simply breathtaking! Charles Drake and Morris Ankrum do nice work, and Jay Silverheels can do no wrong in my book (I could watch that noble face and listen to that great voice all day long).

I confess to not knowing the real story of Clum, so I was not distracted by how factually accurate this account was (or wasn't, as the case may be). I watched it purely for its entertainment value and walked away completely entertained. Yes, the script has some rather heavy-handed messages we are beaten over the head with throughout, but I feel most of society could stand to be beaten over the head with some positive messages regarding friendship, loyalty, family, and race relations, so that didn't bother me.

I feel Audie Murphy did some of his best acting work in this film, so if you get a chance to see it, I would highly recommend giving it a shot...it's good old fashioned entertainment.