Review of The Proud Rebel (1958) by Donald W — 25 Mar 2013
This is a lame excuse for a western. It's sort of a Shane Light. There's a fist fight over a dog at the beginning of the story. And it's a fight with sheep herders. Usually it's the cattle ranchers who are the bad guys.
The main character is supposed to be from the south and the story is set at the end of the Civil War. But he doesn't have a southern accent. He has a young son who can't talk after seeing his mother die in a house fire during the war.
He's charged with starting the fight with the sheep men and is fined. He doesn't have any money so a widow pays his fine and has him work on her farm. The dog is a border collie that can herd sheep.
The sheep owner wants the dog and the widow's land. The rebel father needs money in order to take his son to a surgeon to get is voice back. The problem is that surgeons after the Civil War were butchers.
Most people died from infections after surgery in the 1860's. And you can't cure someone who can't talk due to a traumatic experience with surgery. A local dog trainer offers him $300 for his dog.
I wouldn't give $300 for a border collie in 21st century money much less 19th century money. $300 was a whole year's wage in the 1860's. At first he won't sell because the boy is too attached to the dog.
Latter after a doctor is found he sells but doesn't tell his son. The dog won't work for anyone but his owner. The dog trainer loses the dog in a poker game to the son of the sheep herder. When the young boy returns from the trip to the doctor and still can't talk, the rebel father goes to get the dog back.
The sheep herders decide to frame him for stealing the dog and kill him so they can force the widow off her land. They finally have a gunfight using Civil War era guns. When the sheep herder's son sneaks up behind the rebel father his son finally speaks and warns him in time to turn and shoot the sheep header's son.
After the sheep herder starts shooting at the rebel father he is forced to shoot back and kill him.
This review of The Proud Rebel (1958) was written by Donald W on 25 Mar 2013.
The Proud Rebel has generally received positive reviews.
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