Western Double Feature: The Deadly Companions / The Proud Rebel

The Deadly Companions (1961)

Sam Peckinpah’s directorial debut was this excellent western adventure about ex-soldier named Yellowleg (Brian Keith), who accidentally kills the young son of dance hall girl Kit Tildon (Maureen O’Hara) during a shoot-out. To make amends, Yellowleg volunteers to escort Kit and the funeral party through dangerous Apache territory so the boy can be buried with his father. Steve Cochran, Chill Wills, Strother Martin co-star. 93 min. C/Rtg: NR

The Proud Rebel (1958)

Alan Ladd plays tough, fists-a-flying former Confederate soldier John Chandler, who sets out for a small Illinois town to find a doctor who can help his 10-year-old mute son (portrayed by Alan’s real-life son, David). Michael Curtiz directs this exciting, heartfelt drama, based on a 1947 short story by James Edward Grant, co-starring Olivia de Havilland as the woman who tries to help them; with Dean Jagger, Cecil Kellaway, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Carradine. 103 min. C/Rtg: NR

Standard; Soundtrack: English.