Only the Valiant (1951)

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  • ONLY THE VALIANT
    aka Fort Invincible
    DIRECTED BY GORDON DOUGLAS
    A WILLIAM CAGNEY PRODUCTION
    WARNER BROS. PICTURES



    INFORMATION FROM IMDb


    Plot Summary
    Capt. Richard Lance is unjustly held responsible, by his men and girlfriend,
    for an Indian massacre death of beloved Lt. Holloway.
    Holloway is killed while escorting a dangerous Indian chief to another fort's prison.
    The chief escapes. Knowing their fort is in danger of Indian attack,
    Lance takes a small group of army misfits to an abandoned nearby army fort
    to defend a mountain pass against the oncoming Indian assault. T
    heir mission is to stall for time until reinforcements from another fort arrive.
    The men in this small group of malcontents, deserters, psychopaths and cowards
    all hate Capt. Lance and wish him dead. Much to their chagrin,
    the men recognize that Lance's survival instincts, military knowledge
    and leadership are the only chance the group has of staying alive.
    Written by E.W. DesMarais


    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
    and many more...


    Directed
    Gordon Douglas


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


    Produced
    William Cagney ... producer


    Music
    Franz Waxman


    Cinematography
    Lionel Lindon ... director of photography


    Trivia
    Gregory Peck said this was his least favorite of all his movies.
    He regarded the film as a potboiler and a step backwards for his career
    after starring in The Gunfighter (1950).


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


    Gary Cooper was originally intended for the lead role.


    Lon Chaney Jr and Barbara Peyton would be reunited the same year for Bride Of The Gorilla.


    Trooper Onstott, referred to as a Reb from a prison camp,
    would have been what was known as a "galvanized Yankee,"
    a term used only during the Civil War, between 1863 and 1865 for former Confederate s who took the oath of loyalty to the US, and were sent west to protect the frontier.
    Therefore, the movie takes place during the Civil War.


    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. The song, 'Little Brown Jug', is heard and it was written in 1869.


    Continuity
    When Cpl. Gilchrist tells Trooper Saxton to go get him a new pick, Saxton places his shovel against the stone wall and leaves, you can plainly see the shovel start to fall. The next shot shows Saxton (below) and Gilchrist (above), but no shovel on the ground.


    During the the last gun fight, Gilchrist takes an arrow in the right shoulder and falls.
    The next scene shows the Captain helping Gilchrist, but now the arrow is in his left shoulder.
    And in the next scene the wound is in the right shoulder again


    Filming Location
    Gallup, New Mexico, USA


    Watch the Movie


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    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Only the Valiant, also known as Fort Invincible,
    is a 1951 Western film produced by William Cagney (younger brother of James Cagney),
    directed by Gordon Douglas starring Gregory Peck, Barbara Payton, Ward Bond.


    The screenplay was written by Edmund H. North and Harry Brown,
    based on the 1943 novel of the same name by Charles Marquis Warren.


    Duke's 'Pals' to look out for,
    Ward Bond, Lon Chaney Jr., Neville Brand



    User Review


    Extremely violent for the time.
    3 February 2001 | by ballystyk(Los Angeles, CA.)

    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.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited once, last by ethanedwards ().