Walk the Proud Land
| Walk the Proud Land | |
|---|---|
 Film poster by Reynold Brown | |
| Directed by | Jesse Hibbs |
| Written by |
|
| Based on | Apache Agent: The Story of John P. Clum by Woodworth Clum |
| Produced by | Aaron Rosenberg |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Harold Lipstein |
| Edited by | Sherman Todd |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.5 million (US)[1] |
Walk the Proud Land is a 1956 CinemaScope Technicolor Western film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Audie Murphy and future Academy Award winner Anne Bancroft. It was filmed at Old Tucson.[2]
Plot[]
Walk the Proud Land is the true story of Indian agent John Clum (Audie Murphy) as told by Clum's son in the 1936 biography Apache Agent. The film begins in 1874, as Clum, an Eastern government representative, arrives in San Carlos, Arizona. He is sent to try a new approach to peace with Apaches based on respect for autonomy rather than submission to Army. He faces suspicions from the white settlers, the Army and the Indians, especially Geronimo.
An Indian widow that was given to him as a housekeeper, Tianay (Anne Bancroft) falls in love with Clum, despite the fact he is engaged to Mary Dennison (Pat Crowley). Clum is helped by his Irish American friend, Tom Sweeney (Charles Drake). Conflicts arise between these two cultures.[3]
Indian Agent sent to try new approach to peace with Apaches based on respect for automomy rather than submission to Army. Wins over reservation chiefs and the Indian widow (Bancroft) given to him as housekeeper. Through use of diplomacy and demonstrations of faith in Apache leaders, reservation is put on the road to automomy. Conflicts arise between Apache widow and Eastern wife but latter has a lot to learn.
Cast[]
- Audie Murphy as John Philip Clum
- Anne Bancroft as Tianay
- Pat Crowley as Mary Dennison
- Charles Drake as Tom Sweeny
- Tommy Rall as Taglito
- Robert Warwick as Chief Eskiminzin
- Jay Silverheels as Geronimo
- Eugene Mazzola as Tono
- Anthony Caruso as Disalin
- Victor Millan as Santos
- Ainslie Pryor as Capt. Larsen
- Eugene Iglesias as Chato
- Morris Ankrum as Gen. Wade
- Addison Richards as Gov. Safford
- Maurice Jara as Alchise
Production[]
The role of Mary Dennison, Clum's fiancee, was originally offered to Piper Laurie but she turned it down so she could study at the Actors Studio in New York. Pat Crowley was cast instead.[4]
The right to use the title "Walk the Proud Land" was obtained from Logan Forster, author of "Proud Land," a novel of the same genre.
Reception[]
The film was not a success at the box office, something attributed to the fact that Murphy played a pacifist rather than an action hero. This ended Murphy's plans to make his dream project, a biopic of painter Charles Marion Russell.[4]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', Variety Weekly, January 2, 1957
- ^ Walk the Proud Land at Audie Murphy Memorial Site
- ^ "Walk the Proud Land".
- ^ a b Richard Harland Smith, 'Walk the Proud Land', Turner Classic Movies accessed 15 June 2012
External links[]
- 1956 films
- English-language films
- American films
- Audie Murphy
- Universal Pictures films
- 1956 Western (genre) films
- American Western (genre) films
- Films directed by Jesse Hibbs
- Films with screenplays by Jack Sher