The Proud Ones *** (1956, Robert Ryan, Virginia Mayo, Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Middleton, Walter Brennan, Arthur O’Connell, Rodolfo Acosta, Ken Clark) – Classic Movie Review 10,028

Director Robert D Webb’s 1956 Western film The Proud Ones stars Robert Ryan as crippled Kansas lawman Marshal Cass Silver, who has an old score to settle with saloon boss Honest John Barrett (Robert Middleton) before he marries fiery Sally (Virginia Mayo). A young tenderfoot gunslinger called Thad Anderson (Jeffrey Hunter) blames the town marshal for killing his  hired gun dad, but, after accepting that it was a fair and square fight, aids him in cleaning up the town of bad guys.

Director Webb doesn’t quite have the skill or the script (it is by Edmund H North and Joseph Petracca) to turn it into another High Noon, but it is still a well-acted, engaging, often gripping and always eye-catching Western. The Proud Ones is attractively photographed by ace cinematographer Lucien Ballard in effectively used CinemaScope widescreen and Color by Deluxe. Ryan and Middleton are particularly good value.

Also in the cast are Walter Brennan, Arthur O’Connell, Rodolfo Acosta, Ken Clark, George Matthews, Fay Roope, Edward Platt, Whit Bissell, Paul Burns, Richard Deacon and Frank Gerstle.

Jeffrey Hunter (1926–1969).

Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr on 25 November 1926 in New Orleans. He was signed under contract in 1951 by 20th Century Fox, where he remained  until 1959. He had a fatal stroke in 1969, aged 42.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,028

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com