Only the Valiant

"GREGORY PECK, AS CAPTAIN LANCE, WHO GAVE FORT INVINCIBLE ITS NAME!"

1951 1h 45m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 45

Western

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Only the Valiant, a classic western adventure, based on a novel by Charles Marquis Warren, the film tells the story of a Cavalry officer who volunteers for a suicidal mission to fight the hostile Apaches in an effort to prove his loyalty to his men and the woman he loves.

“GREGORY PECK, AS CAPTAIN LANCE, WHO GAVE FORT INVINCIBLE ITS NAME!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Gregory Peck
Capt. Richard Lance
Barbara Payton
Cathy Eversham
Ward Bond
Cpl. Timothy Gilchrist
Gig Young
Lt. William Holloway
Neville Brand
Sgt. Ben Murdock
Lon Chaney Jr.
Trooper Kebussyan
Jeff Corey
Joe Harmony
Warner Anderson
Trooper Rutledge

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gordon Douglas
Writers: Edmund H. North, Harry Brown
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

75 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gordon Douglas, shot by Lionel Lindon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Franz Waxman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert Seiter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gregory Peck and Barbara Payton and Ward Bond carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "GREGORY PECK, AS CAPTAIN LANCE, WHO GAVE FORT INVINCIBLE ITS NAME!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0043885 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 45 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gordon Douglas directs. Lionel Lindon behind the camera. Franz Waxman scores. Robert Seiter cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

175 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Gordon Douglas, shot by Lionel Lindon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Franz Waxman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Robert Seiter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Gregory Peck and Barbara Payton and Ward Bond carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "GREGORY PECK, AS CAPTAIN LANCE, WHO GAVE FORT INVINCIBLE ITS NAME!".
7IMDB entry: tt0043885 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 45 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Lionel Lindon
Original score: Franz Waxman
Editing: Robert Seiter
Production design: Wiard B. Ihnen
Costume design: Leah Rhodes
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Only the Valiant (1951)

Also by

Gordon Douglas

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2017-06-10
★ 8/10
If you want to know why I selected you? Capt. Richard Lance is a wronged man, he's being held responsible for the death of a much loved Lieutenant. When the chance arises for him to take a small band of men to the vanquished Fort Invincible, Lance readily takes up the challenge. Picking the men who despise him the most, and the ones he feels have major character flaws, Lance and the handful of soldiers must hold the fort from Apache attack until reinforcements arrive. Running out of water and at war with each other, it's becoming increasingly likely that this is a suicide mission from which none of them may return. Some people say this is one of Gregory Peck's lesser efforts, that it be low on production values and stilted in its execution. Not so say I, in fact this to me is a far more engaging picture than the much revered Rio Bravo eight years later. Oh for sure the Howard Hawks film is far technically superior, but I'd argue that for cast efforts and sheer entertainment value Only The Valiant wins out in the duel every time. Gregory Peck, Ward Bond, Gig Young, Lon Chaney Jr, Neville Brand & Warner Anderson each contribute greatly to make this a dramatic and involving picture. It simmers along as a highly charged character piece as we have a group of men deeply in mistrust of each other, yet interestingly they are bound by a mutual dislike of their Captain. One special sequence sees Lance (Peck at his straight laced best) assassinate each soldier's character; one is a bully, another a deserter, a drunk, a black heart, a coward and on he goes, and it's here where the film really kicks on to be a crackerjack character driven piece. The violence is pretty strong as well, director Gordon Douglas is not shy to put blood on the bones of the writing, and I dare you not to feel a rush of adrenaline as the Apache's start to screech prior to their wave of attacks. From watching these intriguing characters in a wonderfully tight situation, to the blood pumping Gatling Gun finale, this picture scores high on many entertaining levels. 8/10

Production companies