vincentlynch-moonoi I would very much liked to have given this a very rare rating for me when it comes to Westerns -- an "8". That's how good I thought the story was. It's a somewhat unique Western, with the whole plot based on a boy who became mute after a Civil War atrocity, and his father's sacrifices to find a cure...along the way they meet Olivia de Havilland.BUT, when a film is supposed to be taking place in Illinois, yet it was filmed in the red rock country of Utah...well, I guess I must be missing something, because that makes no sense at all. It's nice scenery -- all that red rock of Illinois. All those mountains off in the distance...must be a clear day to see the Rockies all the way from Illinois.The other odd thing about this film is that while Alan Ladd's character is described as a Confederate (after the war), the Confederacy aspect is virtually irrelevant. In fact, it might have made more sense to have the boy's hysterical muteness caused by an Indian attack. Ah well.But, in addition to the otherwise excellent story line, the acting here is paramount. Alan Ladd is superior as the father. And I would have to say that I appreciated his performance here more than I did in "Shane".It was an odd film for Olivia de Havilland. The role doesn't seem like her...although she plays it well. And, make no mistake, this is Alan Ladd's film.Dean Jagger was a unique character actor. Even in a rather hateful role (like this one), you don't hold it against him.The boy is played by David Ladd, Alan's son. He does it well.Cecil Kellaway plays Cecil Kellaway, here as a Quaker doctor.I was not at all familiar with Tom Pittman, who died tragically at a very early age. But wow...what a long list of film and television credits he had in a very short career (see Wikipedia).A top notch Western that was, in my view, better than "Shane".

umonti Just a comparison between The Proud Rebel and SHANE.Characters are nearly the same. In SHANE: a wandering tough guy, a farmer, farmer's wife, boy, dog, cattle-breeder villains. In TPR the farmer is deleted and the wife becomes a she-farmer thus removing any moral question with the protagonist, the boy is moved to the wandering guy and afflicted with post-traumatic aphasia to keep the father under strain, and dog's character is enhanced. These changes water down the reasons for the final confrontation (not one murder and another attempted as with Shane), avoid any moral issue and open the way to the happy end with villains' death (only the strictly necessary ones) and the boy's recovery. Happy end a little phony with a hostile law enforcer in a northern town and a surviving brother ...However, most likely the audience perceives more the similar characters than the difference.An analysis of the main plot (see the 20 Master Plots) shows that this latter shift from "Sacrifice" (Shane gives up a quiet life and maybe a family) to a plot that is a mixture between "Rivalry" and "Underdog".

MartinHafer I have long complained because there must have been a million western movies made over the years by Hollywood and practically all of them are variations on the exact Fsame half dozen (or less) themes. As a result, most westerns are repetitive and dull. Fortunately, this one is a bit different--with enough that is not familiar to make it worth viewing.The film begins with a father and son (Alan Ladd and his real life son, David) traveling across the country. They are Southerners but have left Atlanta following the Civil War in order to locate a doctor who might be able to cure the boy. It seems that following witnessing his mother's death the child has been mute.In one of the towns, the father meets up with a couple dirt-bags who pick a fight with him. However, it is Ladd himself who is convicted of assault and is sentenced to spend 30 days in jail or pay $30--which he just doesn't have. A local spinster (Olivia de Havilland) takes pity on them and offers to pay the fine if the father comes to her farm to work off the debt.Once on this farm, it's obvious Olivia's having problems with the same dirt-bags that attacked Ladd earlier in the film. In this case, the men are trying to force her to sell them her struggling farm. Along the way, Alan comes to her aid in this struggle and it's also obvious that some real affection is forming--and it's hardly a surprise when the two decide to stay.While the story is not monumental in scope, it's a nice story about people. It helped that an exceptional director (Michael Curtiz) and many excellent actors appeared in the film. In addition to the main characters, veteran character actors such as Cecil Kellaway, Dean Jagger, Henry Hull and Harry Dean Stanton appeared in the film as well--giving it nice color. Plus the writing was very good and made for an appealing film.By the way, the sign language that David Ladd uses throughout the film isn't perfect, but it IS essentially correct. So, when he is trying to tell Alan that there is a fire, that IS what he is signing. It's actually funny, but several times during the movie the dad didn't seem to know what the kid was saying--and I clearly understood and felt like yelling out what he was signing! I especially liked when the boy was trying to tell de Havilland how much he liked her but no one seemed to understand that he was saying how much he liked her. The film makers COULD have just as easily had the kid just make some nonsense signs and hardly anyone every would have known. It's nice to see that they tried. Now here is the rub, however, the DVD is NOT captioned at all!!! So, deaf people who COULD understand the boy cannot watch the film and enjoy it.Also, while not a huge mistake, in one scene late in the film the three leads are in town and it's pouring down rain--so much so that they need to stay there until it clears. Yet, when they arrive back at the farm, it's 100% dry--the same dessert-like place it's always been with dirt, dirt and more dirt.

marxi Alan Ladd plays a widower whose wife died in a fire during the Civil War. His young son (played by his real life son, David Ladd) has not been able to speak after he saw his mother die. Alan Ladd's character is trying to find a doctor to help his son. Ladd ends up with a thirty day jail sentence after being unfairly fined for a brawl which the two sons of an ambitious sheep rancher (wonderfully played by Dean Jagger) intentionally initiate. Olivia DeHavilland is a local unmarried woman who sees the predicament Alan Ladd and his son are in, and she pays the fine so that Ladd will not have to spend thirty days in jail, provided he works it off for thirty days on her farm. Michael Curtiz did a fantastic job of directing this beautiful film. Alan Ladd, Olivia DeHavilland and David Ladd are all terrific. This movie is a bit different than Ladd's classic film,"Shane", although there are some similarities. Ladd is once again the strong silent type, although he is more human in this film. David Ladd is perfectly cast as his son who can't speak. Olivia DeHavilland has just the right touch as a lonely but strong woman who quickly gets attached to the two new men in her life. The chemistry between the three leads in this film is tough to beat. The supporting actors are very good, including Cecil Kellaway, Dean Jagger, the ubiquitous film star John Carradine and Harry Dean Stanton. This movie works as a family film, which is in the end uplifting. The photography is just beautiful in this movie. "The Proud Rebel" is definitely an overlooked minor classic in the same genre as "Old Yeller", "The Yearling" and even "Shane." It has stood the test of time very well and I truly expect it will begin to grow in stature if it is shown on cable channels and available on DVD. Well worth watching for fans of the Western and Family Film genre. 90/100. Buy it if you have kids! Heck, buy it even if you don't!