'The Proud Rebel' Blu-Ray Review - Alan Ladd Reveals Vulnerable Side In Endearing Western

Geek Vibes Nation

5 days ago

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).
For thoughts on The Proud Rebel, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
ClassicFlix presents The Proud Rebel on Blu-Ray after being released previously just last year by Reel Vault, a release we do not own but can say with a fair amount of certainty was released with much less care than this new Blu-Ray. This time, the title gets the treatment it deserves as ClassicFlix collaborates with the Library of Congress to deliver a 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of an IB Tech print in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. As noted in the opening restoration text, there are some shortcomings with this release such as missing frames and damage that could not be completely mitigated due to the condition of the elements.
ClassicFlix almost never lets us down, and they have done everything possible to deliver for classic film fans. One of the first things you will notice is the thick sheen of lovely natural film grain throughout that delivers a great amount of detail in the image. There are elements of the costumes and environmental backgrounds that are likely being seen for the first time with such clarity. If you watch the featurette on the restoration comparison included on this disc, you will be blown away by the improvements that have been made. The missing frames result in some jumpy moments, but this restoration has made this one as stable as the source material will allow.
The Technicolor footage is boldly saturated and more vibrant than ever. The hues radiate off the screen compared to the faded appearance when you look at the restoration demonstration. The presentation has a surprising amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no major evidence of black crush. Print damage has been kept to a very minute level outside of the smallest bits. There are a few fleeting moments where clarity falters somewhat, but this is likely tied to the condition of the original elements. ClassicFlix has done an admirable job of bringing this film to Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that largely sounds very strong. The dialogue typically comes through clearly with none of the sound effects or the score ever overshadowing exchanges on this release. The presentation maintains the utmost fidelity outside of some minor hollowness and brittleness during the most climactic moments. The more thrilling sequences including stampedes and roaring fires are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any exceptional damage or age-related wear to the track. Overall, this is a favorable audio presentation that gives the material the life it needs. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided here.
Special Features
Audio Commentary:
Alan K. Rode, author of
Michael Curtiz – A Life in Film
, provides a deeply informative commentary track that delves into the background of this production, the history of the creatives involved with the film, filming locations and setup, background details that could easily be overlooked, and more.
Alan K. Rode Interviews David Ladd:
A new nearly 25-minute interview with the now grown-up star of
The Proud Rebel
who discusses his early life as the son of Alan Ladd, working with his father, memories of the production, his relationship with the dog, and more.
Isolated Music Track:
An option to watch the film with only the score audio in Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.
Restoration Comparison (4:15)
Original Theatrical Trailer (2:57)
Final Thoughts
The Proud Rebel is a great western outing from Alan Ladd, who plays a father who is trying to walk a noble path for his son while outside forces attempt to make that journey as difficult as possible. There are some heavy-handed moments at times, yet the performers bring a warmth and relatability to their characters that makes the material work. Olivia de Havilland especially charms us with a personal journey of her own that is rewarding. Michael Curtiz was always very dependable as a filmmaker, and this is another great example of his rewarding output. ClassicFlix has delivered a Blu-Ray release with a fine A/V presentation and a few special features that make the package even sweeter. If you are a fan of the talent, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Recommended
The Proud Rebel is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: ClassicFlix has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.