Product Description

When a flood of lawless gunmen invades his once peaceful town, Marshal Cass Silver (Ryan) knows it?s up to him to force them out. But the only chance he might have is to gain the help of a gunslinger named Thad (Hunter), who wrongly believes the Marshal is responsible for his father?s death. To save the town, Silver will have to earn the aid, and trust, of a man sworn to send him to his grave!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40613 in DVD
• Brand: TCFHE
• Released on: 2006-05-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.com
The main draw (and quick draw) of this 1956 Western is the marvelous presence of Robert Ryan in the lead role. This underappreciated actor plays a Kansas marshal with a history of perceived cowardice in his past. Everything comes to a head in a single week: a cattle drive ends in town, bringing shootin' and hollerin'; Ryan's nemesis, a casino-runner played by veteran bad guy Robert Middleton, arrives to soak the suckers; and young hotshot Jeffrey Hunter, whose father was killed by Ryan, arrives with revenge on his mind. Oh, and Ryan himself begins to suffer from blinding headaches. Despite the crowded plot, the results are Fifties Western boilerplate, with few distinguishing features beyond the cast. But the supporting ranks are crowded with essential horse-saga actors: Walter Brennan, Arthur O'Connell, Rodolfo Acosta, and of course the bearded, lizard-eyed Middleton. Virginia Mayo plays Ryan's hotel-keeper ladyfriend. Ace cinematographer Lucien Ballard gets a few good outdoor CinemaScope set-ups into the generally backlot feel of the thing. But the reason to see the film is lanky Robert Ryan, whose compelling mix of neurosis, gentleness, and fury is on full display here. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Truly Superb (but overlooked) little Western
Robert Ryan made a number of Westerns during the 1950s and '60s, but always he seemed to be overshadowed by other actors in the genre. Nevertheless, who can forget THE WILD BUNCH or his magnificent portrayal of "old man Clanton" in the seriously underrated HOUR OF THE GUN (with James Garner). And his self-effacing determination is equally unforgettable in THE DAY OF THE OUTLAW. Now one of his best roles, as the straight-arrow sheriff in THE PROUD ONES is on DVD and available at a very reasonable price. Finally. THE PROUD ONES is perhaps director Robert Webb's finest picture, combining great action scenes and plot twists, taught dialogue, and a superior cast that includes not only Ryan, but Jeffrey Hunter, Walter Brennan, Virginia Mayo, and Robert Middleton. Minor roles are given attention as well, especially Arthur O'Connell (as Ryan's deputy) and, important thematically, the wonderful Paul Burns, who plays the town drunk and panhandler....Hunter, when he finally assumes the mantle of sheriff, will give alms to Burns at the finish of the movie, just as Ryan did at the beginning, when he was sheriff. This touch dramatically completes the movie and has much to say about Hunter's increased maturity. THE PROUD ONES is a superb movie, with a great story...it will repay re-viewing. Unlike some Westerns, I don't tire of watching it periodically. It is that good....

Great Robert Ryan Western
The Proud Ones is one those great Westerns that gets overlooked when the great ones are mentioned. Maybe that because it never enjoyed a wide (if any) release on VHS. But now that it's coming to DVD, one can only hope that many fans of the genre will come to appreciate it.

Robert Ryan usually played a villain or a washed up, faded man of action in westerns, but in The Proud Ones, he plays the good guy. Ryan plays Cass Silver, a marshal of a booming cow town whose enjoying a relatively quiet life with girlfriend and hotel owner Virginia Mayo when Honest John Barrett, played by perennial Western villain Robert Middleton, shows up to open a saloon/gambling parlor. Barrett and Silver have a history. In a similar situation, Silver left town rather fight it out with Barrett, who is corrupt and murderous. Barrett and Silver head for a showdown, while Silver also has to deal with Jeffrey Hunter, playing the son of a gunfighter Silver had to kill years earlier.

The Proud Ones has lots of drama, gunplay, and Western action. It should not be missed.

Good Robert Ryan Western
Big screen western with good cast and interesting story line. Lawman Ryan is nicked in a gun fight and starts to have vision problems that inhibits his ability to deal with the bad guys. He has to rely on the son of a man he killed in a questionable gunfight in his past to aid him when the going gets tough. Robert Ryan is fine as the town lawman, and Jeffrey Hunter gives an adequate pre Searchers performance as the offspring of the man Ryan killed. The great Walter Brennan is all but waisted in a small role as deputy as is Arthur O'Connel. Villan Robert Middleton as always, is smooth and greasy and provides the worthy evil advisary whom Ryan has had past run ins with. All in all, not a classic, but an intersting and satisfyingly entertaining western film footnote. I'd rate as 3.5 stars but will round up in deference to the release of the film on DVD.