Wandering the North in search of medical advice for his mute son David, ex-Confederate soldier John Chandler (Alan Ladd) finds himself in Aberdeen, Illinois—the next stop in a long trail of towns where he desperately hopes to find a cure for his youngster who lost the power of speech when a traumatic fire took the life of his mother.

While many townsfolk in Aberdeen still hold a grudge against Southerners, the same can’t be said for kindly doctor Enos Davis (Cecil Kellaway) who recommends John head to Minnesota where a specialist may be able to treat David’s condition. Before he can leave town, however, Chandler runs afoul of Jeb and Tom Burleigh—one-armed sheep rancher Harry Burleigh’s roughneck sons—who pick a fight with John after attempting to steal David's beloved dog.

Dragged before an indifferent judge, John is railroaded with an assault and battery charge and given the choice of 30 days or $30…neither of which he can afford. On hand for the trial is spinster Linnett Moore (de Havilland) who intervenes on John’s behalf by offering to pay his fine while he works off the debt on her farm.

Starring Alan Ladd in one of his most sober and moving performances, and a feistily endearing Olivia de Havilland, The Proud Rebel also boasts being helmed by one of the Golden Age’s most prolific directors in Michael Curtiz (Casablanca), along with beautiful cinematography by Ted McCord (Sound of Music) and a rousing score by Jerome Moross (The Big Country).

Alan Ladd’s real-life son, David (in the role of David), and consummate character actor Dean Jagger are featured, with superb support from Cecil Kellaway, Harry Dean Stanton, James Westerfield, Henry Hull, Tom Pittman, John Carradine, Percy Helton and Mary Wickes.

Restored from a Library of Congress 4K scan on an IB Tech print in their collection.

FEATURES:

  • Theatrical Year:1958
  • Runtime: 103
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • # Discs: 1
  • Genre: Western, Drama
  • Category: Classic
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: 0
  • Rating: NR

Special Features: "

  • Audio commentary by Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz - A Life in Film
  • New interview by Alan K. Rode with actor/producer David Ladd (son of Alan Ladd who played “David” in The Proud Rebel )
  • Restoration Comparison
  • Original Trailer"