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      Walk the Proud Land

      Released Aug 1, 1956 1 hr. 28 min. Western List
      0% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 67% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score Based on a true story, this film follows John Philip Clum (Audie Murphy), a government official sent to Arizona to broker peace between the Americans and the Apache people. Initially hesitant, the Americans are convinced by Clum to stop fighting, and they allow him to establish a police force on the reservation, trained by Clum's friend Tom Sweeny (Charles Drake). Meanwhile, a romantic rivalry begins between Clum's wife and an Apache woman (Anne Bancroft) who has taken refuge in Clum's home. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member good technicolour western Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member a very good western movie even if it was not a sucess at the box office.Beautiful horses in movie to. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Seen better, but it was OK. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Seen better, but it was OK. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member In the various tellings of the tale of the OK Corral, the name John Clum comes up as a peripheral character. At that point in his life he was Mayor of Tombstone, Arizona and founder and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph which was in editorial support of the Earp brothers. But before that John Clum was an Indian agent, sent to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona to reform the corrupt practices regarding same. Audie Murphy plays an eager and honest Clum in this film. The poor Indians were caught between a rock and a hard place. Either it was the army who was going to govern them or as was argued the civilian Interior Department. Clum has some interesting and novel ideas about giving the Apaches a large measure of self government. But the real story of Clum is hardly touched on. He stands out simply because he was honest. Sad to say Indian agents for the most part were hack politicians from the political machines back east. Whether they were hired by the War Department or the Interior Department, a lot of them robbed the poor Indians blind. Right at this time, one of the most notorious scandals of the Grant Administration was the Whiskey Ring which involved various trading posts and reached right up to the Secretary of War, a gentleman named William Belknap who resigned before he was impeached. Murphy gets able support from two leading ladies, pretty and perky Pat Crowley who plays his eastern fiancé and Anne Bancroft who is the spectacularly beautiful Indian widow who's crushing out on him. Jay Silverheels who played Geronimo in Broken Arrow, plays him again in Walk the Proud Land. Charles Drake plays the former army sergeant who hires on as a blacksmith at the San Carlos Reservation and becomes Murphy's best pal and confidante. Walk the Proud Land is one of the few western films to have a choreographer in the person of Tommy Rall. Rall, a well known Broadway dancer, plays a young Indian warrior who becomes Murphy's friend. There is a lengthy sequence involving the Apaches entertaining some white VIPs at Murphy's wedding to Crowley with some tribal dances. A nice mix between the real deal and what you might see in Rose Marie's Totem Tom Tom number. Walk the Proud Land is definitely one of Audie Murphy's better westerns for Universal and a nice tribute to a real western figure. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member What I appreciate about this movie is that it portrays Natives in a little bit of a broader view, which was really important for the audience of the 1950's - many of whom may have still been prejudiced towards Natives at this point in time. The film shows that Natives should not be generalized by choosing not to portray them soley as "peaceful, mystical" people, nor as "savages" - as previous notions would often suggest Natives to be. It also introduces the audience to a little bit about the Native American culture of the Apache tribe(s)- though, I have not studied the Apaches much and thus cannot say whether it was all accurate or not. The films also promotes the image of white men and Natives treating eachother with respect, and Audie Murphy's character sets an example for people in this film by treating the Natives as equals to himself and being a friend. The white man is still kind of glorified a bit... there is still an air of that notion that "the white men must help the Natives to live '<i>properly</i> in society'"... and Audie Murphy's character is a little bit of a Bible pusher in this film... quoting, and telling stories from, the Bible a few times throughout. But even though this film had it's flaws- overall, this is a pretty good movie for what it is; and fairly balanced, as well. As for the overall enjoyement factor of this movie, it's more of a dramatic movie with focus on the story; those expecting more action and excitement out of this Western might find it a bit lacking. But if you are a person who likes a good STORY, then you'll probably find this film to be interesting- as I did. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Walk the Proud Land

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      Critics Reviews

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      Richard W. Nason New York Times Murphy is shot at and pushed around. But the point is that he responds to all this with nothing more than the somnambulant expression of a boyish counselor making his rounds at day camp. Jun 15, 2020 Full Review William Brogdon Variety Cinemascope and Technicolor give the footage visual attractiveness. What's lacking, however, is excitement and story action. Jun 15, 2020 Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine [Murphy proves] that a white man can singlehanded do better than the entire U.S. Army at hunting down Indian rebels, and can bring peace, freedom and prosperity to the Apaches -- provided, of course, that the scriptwriter is on his side. Jun 15, 2020 Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times This potentially powerful story of conflict is rather spoiled by the emphasis on Clum's domestic troubles, which nullifies the original premise. Nevertheless, Murphy is convincing, and both Pat Crowley and Anne Bancroft are excellent in supporting roles. Rated: 2/5 Jun 15, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews There was little action, which is not a good sign for any Western. Rated: C+ Jun 15, 2020 Full Review TV Guide Staff TV Guide [A] slow screen biography. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 10, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Based on a true story, this film follows John Philip Clum (Audie Murphy), a government official sent to Arizona to broker peace between the Americans and the Apache people. Initially hesitant, the Americans are convinced by Clum to stop fighting, and they allow him to establish a police force on the reservation, trained by Clum's friend Tom Sweeny (Charles Drake). Meanwhile, a romantic rivalry begins between Clum's wife and an Apache woman (Anne Bancroft) who has taken refuge in Clum's home.
      Director
      Jesse Hibbs
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures
      Production Co
      Universal International Pictures
      Genre
      Western
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 1, 1956, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 5, 2019