The Proud Ones

The Proud Ones
The Proud Ones
	Film poster
Directed by	Robert D. Webb
Screenplay by	Edmund H. North; Joseph Petracca
Based on	The Proud Ones; 1952 novel; by Verne Athanas
Produced by	Robert L. Jacks
Starring	Robert Ryan; Virginia Mayo; Jeffrey Hunter
Cinematography	Lucien Ballard
Edited by	Hugh S. Fowler
Music by	Lionel Newman
Color process	Color by DeLuxe
Production; company	20th Century Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	May 1956;
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.4 million

The Proud Ones is a 1956 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Robert Ryan and Virginia Mayo. The film was based on the 1952 novel by Verne Athanas^[2] who after suffering an early heart attack, gave up logging and started writing under the pseudonym Bill Colson.^[3]

Plot[edit]

Cass Silver, marshal of a small Kansas town, is expecting trouble with the arrival of the first Texas trail herds to meet the newly completed railroad. The town’s new saloon owner, Honest John Barrett is anticipating an increase in business.

He and Silver have a negative history between them and Barrett wants rid of the marshal. To make matters worse, the marshal's deputy, Thad Anderson, formerly one of the trail cowboys, is the son of a gunfighter Cass shot years before. Thad wants to avenge this death; he has always believed his father was unarmed when Silver shot him. Eventually, Thad realizes the truth and helps the marshal restore law and order to the town.

Cast[edit]

Robert Ryan as Marshal Cass Silver
Virginia Mayo as Sally
Jeffrey Hunter as Thad Anderson
Robert Middleton as Honest John Barrett
Walter Brennan as Jake
Arthur O'Connell as Jim Dexter
Fay Roope as Markham
Ken Clark as Pike
Rodolfo Acosta as Chico
George Mathews as Dillon
Edward Platt as Dr. Barlow
Whit Bissell as Mr. Sam Bolton
Frank Gerstle as Tim
Paul E. Burns as Billy Smith
Edward Mundy as Saloon Barker
I. Stanford Jolley as Crooked Card Player
William Fawcett as Driver
Richard Deacon as Barber
Jackie Coogan as Man on the Make
Harry Carter as Houseman
Don Brodie as Hotel Clerk

Production[edit]

Film rights were purchased by 20th Century Fox in November 1952 who assigned Frank Rosenberg to produce.^[4] Victor Mature, Robert Wagner and Debra Paget were originally announced as stars.^[5]

The film was not made for a number of years however. In December 1955 Fox said the leads would be played by Robert Ryan, and Virginia Mayo and it would be produced by Robert Jacks with filming to start December 28.^[6] Joseph Petracca did a rewrite of the script.^[7] Guy Madison was meant to co-star. He dropped out and was replaced by Robert Stack.^[8] In early January Stack was replaced by Jeffrey Hunter.^[9]

Music[edit]

The "Theme from the Proud Ones" written by Lionel Newman, recorded by Nelson Riddle, reached number 39 on the US charts on August 4, 1956.^[10]

Reception[edit]

The Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa cited The Proud Ones as one of his 100 favorite films.^[11]

References[edit]

^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p250
^ "Athanas, Verne". Southern Oregon Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Books Published Today New York Times 1 Apr 1952: 27.
^ DANNY THOMAS SET IN 2D JOLSON ROLE: Gets Leading Part in Warner Remake of 'Wonder Bar' -- New Songs Are Planned By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 29 Nov 1952: 12.
^ Mature Will Portray Sheriff in Western Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 1 Dec 1952: B10.
^ Drama: Actor Middleton Soars to Stardom; Borgnine, Magnani Voted as Best Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 20 Dec 1955: B7
^ Krasna Does Stunt to Elude Censors Los Angeles Times 17 Dec 1955: A7.
^ FILM TOUR GROUP DISBANDS IN WEST: Hollywood Coordinating Unit, Which Arranged Shows for Troops, Dissolved By THOMAS M. PRYOR. New York Times 30 Dec 1955: 14.
^ MARILYN MONROE WINS PACT FIGHT: Star, Fox Agree to 7-Year Non-Exclusive Contract for Total of 4 Pictures New Film for Doris Day Switches at Fox Of Local Origin By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 5 Jan 1956: 27.
^ Whitburn, Joel The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Books, New York, 1992 p. 385
^ Thomas-Mason, Lee. "From Stanley Kubrick to Martin Scorsese: Akira Kurosawa once named his top 100 favourite films of all time". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

External links[edit]

The Proud Ones at IMDb
Robert Ryan at IMDb
Virginia Mayo at IMDb
The Proud Ones at Rotten Tomatoes
The Proud Ones at the TCM Movie Database
The Proud Ones at AllMovie
The Proud Ones at the American Film Institute Catalog

[1] Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p250

[2] "Athanas, Verne". Southern Oregon Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[3] Books Published Today New York Times 1 Apr 1952: 27.

[4] DANNY THOMAS SET IN 2D JOLSON ROLE: Gets Leading Part in Warner Remake of 'Wonder Bar' -- New Songs Are Planned By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 29 Nov 1952: 12.

[5] Mature Will Portray Sheriff in Western Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 1 Dec 1952: B10.

[6] Drama: Actor Middleton Soars to Stardom; Borgnine, Magnani Voted as Best Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 20 Dec 1955: B7

[7] Krasna Does Stunt to Elude Censors Los Angeles Times 17 Dec 1955: A7.

[8] FILM TOUR GROUP DISBANDS IN WEST: Hollywood Coordinating Unit, Which Arranged Shows for Troops, Dissolved By THOMAS M. PRYOR. New York Times 30 Dec 1955: 14.

[9] MARILYN MONROE WINS PACT FIGHT: Star, Fox Agree to 7-Year Non-Exclusive Contract for Total of 4 Pictures New Film for Doris Day Switches at Fox Of Local Origin By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 5 Jan 1956: 27.

[10] Whitburn, Joel The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Books, New York, 1992 p. 385

[farout-11] Thomas-Mason, Lee. "From Stanley Kubrick to Martin Scorsese: Akira Kurosawa once named his top 100 favourite films of all time". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

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