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| name = All the Brothers Were Valiant
| name = All the Brothers Were Valiant
| image = All the Brothers Were Valiant poster.jpg
| image = All the Brothers Were Valiant poster.jpg
| image_size = 225px
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Richard Thorpe]]
| director = [[Richard Thorpe]]
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| writer = [[Harry Brown (writer)|Harry Brown]]
| writer = [[Harry Brown (writer)|Harry Brown]]
| based_on = {{based on|''[[All the Brothers Were Valiant (novel)|All the Brothers Were Valiant]]''<br>1919 novel|[[Ben Ames Williams]]}}
| based_on = {{based on|''[[All the Brothers Were Valiant (novel)|All the Brothers Were Valiant]]''<br>1919 novel|[[Ben Ames Williams]]}}
| starring = [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]]<br>[[Stewart Granger]]<br>[[Ann Blyth]]<br>[[Betta St. John]]<br>[[Keenan Wynn]]<br>[[James Whitmore]]
| starring = [[Robert Taylor (American actor)|Robert Taylor]]<br>[[Stewart Granger]]<br>[[Ann Blyth]]<br>[[Betta St. John]]<br>[[Keenan Wynn]]<br>[[James Whitmore]]
| music = [[Miklós Rózsa]]
| music = [[Miklós Rózsa]]
| cinematography = [[George Folsey (cinematographer)|George J. Folsey]]
| cinematography = [[George Folsey (cinematographer)|George J. Folsey]]
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| gross = $4,628,000<ref name="Mannix"/>
| gross = $4,628,000<ref name="Mannix"/>
}}
}}
'''''All the Brothers Were Valiant''''' is a 1953 [[Technicolor]] [[adventure film|adventure]] [[drama film]] made by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM), based on the 1919 novel ''[[All the Brothers Were Valiant (novel)|All the Brothers Were Valiant]]'' by [[Ben Ames Williams]].
'''''All the Brothers Were Valiant''''' is a 1953 [[Technicolor]] [[adventure film|adventure]] [[drama film]] produced by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] and directed by [[Richard Thorpe]]. The film's [[screenplay]] was written by [[Harry Brown (writer)|Harry Brown]] and based on the 1919 novel ''[[All the Brothers Were Valiant (novel)|All the Brothers Were Valiant]]'' by [[Ben Ames Williams]]. The music score was led by [[Miklós Rózsa]] and the cinematography by [[George Folsey (cinematographer)|George J. Folsey]].


The 1953 MGM film is a remake of the [[All the Brothers Were Valiant (1923 film)|1923 silent film]] that starred [[Lon Chaney, Sr.|Lon Chaney]] and made by [[Metro Pictures]] (a forerunner of [[MGM]]), that is now considered [[Lost film|lost]]; as is the 1928 MGM version, ''[[Across to Singapore]]'', which starred [[Ramon Novarro]]. The 1953 version is directed by [[Richard Thorpe]] and produced by [[Pandro S. Berman]] from a [[screenplay]] by [[Harry Brown (writer)|Harry Brown]]. The music score is by [[Miklós Rózsa]], the cinematography by [[George Folsey (cinematographer)|George J. Folsey]] and the art direction is by [[Randall Duell]] and [[Cedric Gibbons]].
The film was made twice before, the silent ''[[All the Brothers Were Valiant (1923 film)|All the Brothers Were Valiant]]'' (1923) starring [[Lon Chaney, Sr.|Lon Chaney]] and produced by [[Metro Pictures]] (a forerunner of MGM), now a lost film; and as the silent ''[[Across to Singapore]]'' (1928, MGM) which starred [[Joan Crawford]].


⚫
== Plot ==
It stars [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]], [[Stewart Granger]] and [[Ann Blyth]], with [[Betta St. John]], [[Keenan Wynn]], [[James Whitmore]], [[Kurt Kasznar]], [[Lewis Stone]] (his final film, released posthumously), [[John Lupton]], and [[Michael Pate]].
⚫
{{More plot|date=July 2017}}

In the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]], two brothers love the same woman. They fight over her and a bag of pearls on the floor of a lagoon. One of the brothers redeems himself by helping to prevent a mutiny.
⚫
==Plot==
⚫
{{Expand section|date=July 2017}}
Seafaring saga of two brothers and the woman they both love. Set against South Pacific islands, this love triangle pits the good brother against the bad as they squabble over a woman and a bag of pearls on the floor of a lagoon; the bad brother redeems himself, however, by helping fend off a mutiny.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
{{Cast listing|
* [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] as Joel Shore
* [[Robert Taylor (American actor)|Robert Taylor]] as Joel Shore
* [[Stewart Granger]] as Mark Shore
* [[Stewart Granger]] as Mark Shore
* [[Ann Blyth]] as Priscilla 'Pris' Holt
* [[Ann Blyth]] as Priscilla 'Pris' Holt
Line 43: Line 40:
* [[Kurt Kasznar]] as Quint
* [[Kurt Kasznar]] as Quint
* [[Lewis Stone]] as Captain Holt
* [[Lewis Stone]] as Captain Holt
* Robert Burton as Asa Worthen
* [[Robert Burton (actor)|Robert Burton]] as Asa Worthen
* [[Peter Whitney]] as James Finch, First Mate
* [[Peter Whitney]] as James Finch, First Mate
* [[John Lupton]] as Dick Morrell, Third Mate
* [[John Lupton]] as Dick Morrell, Third Mate
* Jonathan Cott as Carter
* Jonathan Cott as Carter
* [[Mitchell Lewis]] as Cook
* [[Mitchell Lewis (actor)|Mitchell Lewis]] as Cook
* [[James Bell (actor)|James Bell]] as Aaron Burnham
* [[James Bell (actor)|James Bell]] as Aaron Burnham
* [[Leo Gordon]] as Peter How
* [[Leo Gordon]] as Peter How
Line 53: Line 50:


==Production==
==Production==
MGM bought the rights to the novel in 1936. Following the success of ''[[Captains Courageous]]'', they announced they would make the film with Robert Taylor and [[Spencer Tracy]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Metro Plans Second Sea Story-Selznick Increases Program by Two-Deal Denial From Schenck Of Local Origin Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. |work=The New York Times |date=February 24, 1937|page=19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=News From Hollywood|date=November 8, 1936|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref> However, plans were postponed.
MGM bought the rights to the novel in 1936. Following the success of ''[[Captains Courageous (1937 film)|Captains Courageous]]'', the studio announced that it would produce the film, to star [[Robert Taylor (American actor)|Robert Taylor]] and [[Spencer Tracy]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Metro Plans Second Sea Story-Selznick Increases Program by Two-Deal Denial From Schenck Of Local Origin Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. |work=The New York Times |date=February 24, 1937|page=19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=News From Hollywood|date=November 8, 1936|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref> However, plans were postponed.


In November 1951, the film was reactivated as a vehicle for Taylor and Stewart Granger.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: Eileen Christy Lead With Bill Shirley|date=November 30, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=26}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Taylor]] was originally announced for the female lead.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor to Play in Sea Adventure Film |author=Hedda Hopper's Staff|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=April 10, 1952|page=C2}}</ref>
In November 1951, the film was reactivated as a vehicle for Taylor and [[Stewart Granger]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: Eileen Christy Lead With Bill Shirley|date=November 30, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=26}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Taylor]] was originally announced for the female lead.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor to Play in Sea Adventure Film |author=Hedda Hopper's Staff|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=April 10, 1952|page=C2}}</ref>


Filming started on location in Jamaica in early 1953 with Granger and Bella St John.<ref>{{Cite news|title=CAMERAS OVER THE CARIBBEAN |author=JOHN H. ROTHWELL OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA|date=February 8, 1953|work=New York Times|page=X6}}</ref> While the unit was on location, [[Elizabeth Taylor]], who had just given birth, was replaced by Ann Blyth.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Caesar' Pioneer to Do Gauguin; Adventuress Bids for Mala Powers|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=12 February 1953}}</ref>
Filming began on location in [[Jamaica]] in early 1953 with Granger and [[Betta St. John]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=CAMERAS OVER THE CARIBBEAN |author=JOHN H. ROTHWELL OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA|date=February 8, 1953|work=New York Times|page=X6}}</ref> While the unit was on location, Elizabeth Taylor, who had just given birth, was replaced by [[Ann Blyth]].<ref>{{Cite news|title='Caesar' Pioneer to Do Gauguin; Adventuress Bids for Mala Powers|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=12 February 1953}}</ref>


Granger later called the film a "crappy melodrama" and said the studio made him do this instead of the role he really wanted, the lead in ''[[Mogambo]]''. He said he had been promised the latter but [[Dore Schary]] had reneged and given the role to [[Clark Gable]]. Granger enjoyed working with Robert Taylor, saying he "was the easiest person to work with but he had been entirely emasculated by the MGM brass who insisted that he was only a pretty face. He was convinced he wasn't really a good actor and his calm acceptance of this stigma infuriated me. He was such a nice guy, Bob, but he had even more hang-ups than I had."<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2195/All-the-Brothers-Were-Valiant/articles.html "All the Brothers Were Valiant", ''Turner Classic Movies''] at [[Turner Classic Movies]]</ref>
Granger later called the film a "crappy melodrama" but admitted: "I had an OK villain's part."<ref name="brian">Brian MacFarlane, ''An Autobiography of British Cinema'', Methuen 1997, p. 230</ref> He said that the studio forced him to take the role instead of that which he truly wanted, the lead in ''[[Mogambo]]''. He claimed that he had been promised the ''Mogambo'' role but that [[Dore Schary]] had reneged and given the role to [[Clark Gable]]. Granger enjoyed working with Robert Taylor, saying that Taylor "was the easiest person to work with but he had been entirely emasculated by the MGM brass who insisted that he was only a pretty face. He was convinced he wasn't really a good actor and his calm acceptance of this stigma infuriated me. He was such a nice guy, Bob, but he had even more hang-ups than I had."<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2195/All-the-Brothers-Were-Valiant/articles.html "All the Brothers Were Valiant", ''Turner Classic Movies''] at [[Turner Classic Movies]]</ref>


Lewis Stone died a few weeks after completing filming.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lewis Stone, 'Judge Hardy' Of FilmsDies|work=The Washington Post|date=September 14, 1953|page=16}}</ref>
[[Lewis Stone]] died six months after completing filming.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lewis Stone, 'Judge Hardy' Of FilmsDies|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 14, 1953|page=16}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
The film received an [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Academy Award nomination for Best Color Cinematography]], ([[George J. Folsey]]).
The film received an [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Academy Award nomination for Best Color Cinematography]] ([[George J. Folsey]]).

Stewart Granger later called the film "bad" but admitted "I had an OK villain's part."<ref name="brian">Brian MacFarlane, ''An Autobiography of British Cinema'', Methuen 1997, p. 230</ref>


[[Bosley Crowther]] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' panned the film: "What it all boils down to, in essence, is a lot of pseudo-salty South Seas whoop-de-do, put together with little distinction and without going off the studio lot."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/29/archives/all-the-brothers-were-valiant-a-yarn-about-whalers-opens-at-loews.html |title='All the Brothers Were Valiant,' a Yarn About Whalers, Opens at Loew's State |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Crowther|first=Bosley |date=December 29, 1953 |access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>
In a contemporary review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', critic [[Bosley Crowther]] panned the film: "What it all boils down to, in essence, is a lot of pseudo-salty South Seas whoop-de-do, put together with little distinction and without going off the studio lot."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/29/archives/all-the-brothers-were-valiant-a-yarn-about-whalers-opens-at-loews.html |title='All the Brothers Were Valiant,' a Yarn About Whalers, Opens at Loew's State |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Crowther|first=Bosley |date=December 29, 1953 |access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>


===Box-office===
===Box office===
According to MGM records it made $2,004,000 at the North American box-office and $2,624,000 elsewhere. It recorded a profit of $958,000.<ref name="Mannix"/>
According to MGM records, the film earned $2,004,000 at the North American box office and $2,624,000 elsewhere. It recorded a profit of $958,000.<ref name="Mannix"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety197-1955-01-05/page/n58/mode/1up|title=1954 Box Office Champs|magazine=Variety Weekly|date=January 5, 1955|page=59}} - figures are rentals in the US and Canada</ref>


In France, it recorded admissions of 1,909,704.<ref name="box">[http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/&prev=search Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>
In France, the film recorded admissions of 1,909,704.<ref>[http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/&prev=search Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>


===Proposed Follow Up===
===Proposed follow-up===
In July 1953, MGM announced it had optioned another sailing adventure novel by Ben Ames Williams, ''Black Pawl'', which they intended to film as a follow up, also starring Taylor and Granger. It was never made.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ghosts Will Gambol in 3D; 'Black Pawl' Due to Star Taylor, Granger|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=July 21, 1953|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A7}}</ref>
In July 1953, MGM announced that it had optioned ''Black Pawl'', another sailing adventure novel written by Ben Ames Williams. Although MGM intended the film as a follow-up to ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' and planned to again cast Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger, the project did not come to fruition.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ghosts Will Gambol in 3D; 'Black Pawl' Due to Star Taylor, Granger|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=July 21, 1953|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A7}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:American historical adventure films]]
[[Category:American historical adventure films]]
[[Category:American adventure drama films]]
[[Category:American adventure drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Richard Thorpe]]
[[Category:Films directed by Richard Thorpe]]
[[Category:American film remakes]]
[[Category:Remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Sound film remakes of silent films]]
[[Category:Sound film remakes of silent films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
Line 107: Line 101:
[[Category:Films set on islands]]
[[Category:Films set on islands]]
[[Category:Seafaring films]]
[[Category:Seafaring films]]
[[Category:Treasure hunt films]]
[[Category:Films about treasure hunting]]
[[Category:Films scored by Miklós Rózsa]]
[[Category:Films scored by Miklós Rózsa]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Harry Brown (writer)]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Harry Brown (writer)]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:American historical romance films]]
[[Category:American historical romance films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure drama films]]

Revision as of 20:49, 21 May 2024

For other uses, see All the Brothers Were Valiant (disambiguation).
All the Brothers Were Valiant
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Thorpe
Written byHarry Brown
Based onAll the Brothers Were Valiant
1919 novel
by Ben Ames Williams
Produced byPandro S. Berman
StarringRobert Taylor
Stewart Granger
Ann Blyth
Betta St. John
Keenan Wynn
James Whitmore
CinematographyGeorge J. Folsey
Edited byFerris Webster
Music byMiklós Rózsa
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.[1]
Release date
  • 13 November 1953 (1953-11-13)
Running time
95 minutes
101 minutes (US)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,816,000[2]
Box office$4,628,000[2]

All the Brothers Were Valiant is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel All the Brothers Were Valiant by Ben Ames Williams. The music score was led by Miklós Rózsa and the cinematography by George J. Folsey.

The film was made twice before, the silent All the Brothers Were Valiant (1923) starring Lon Chaney and produced by Metro Pictures (a forerunner of MGM), now a lost film; and as the silent Across to Singapore (1928, MGM) which starred Joan Crawford.

Plot

In the South Pacific, two brothers love the same woman. They fight over her and a bag of pearls on the floor of a lagoon. One of the brothers redeems himself by helping to prevent a mutiny.

Cast

Production

MGM bought the rights to the novel in 1936. Following the success of Captains Courageous, the studio announced that it would produce the film, to star Robert Taylor and Spencer Tracy.[3][4] However, plans were postponed.

In November 1951, the film was reactivated as a vehicle for Taylor and Stewart Granger.[5] Elizabeth Taylor was originally announced for the female lead.[6]

Filming began on location in Jamaica in early 1953 with Granger and Betta St. John.[7] While the unit was on location, Elizabeth Taylor, who had just given birth, was replaced by Ann Blyth.[8]

Granger later called the film a "crappy melodrama" but admitted: "I had an OK villain's part."[9] He said that the studio forced him to take the role instead of that which he truly wanted, the lead in Mogambo. He claimed that he had been promised the Mogambo role but that Dore Schary had reneged and given the role to Clark Gable. Granger enjoyed working with Robert Taylor, saying that Taylor "was the easiest person to work with but he had been entirely emasculated by the MGM brass who insisted that he was only a pretty face. He was convinced he wasn't really a good actor and his calm acceptance of this stigma infuriated me. He was such a nice guy, Bob, but he had even more hang-ups than I had."[10]

Lewis Stone died six months after completing filming.[11]

Reception

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Color Cinematography (George J. Folsey).

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther panned the film: "What it all boils down to, in essence, is a lot of pseudo-salty South Seas whoop-de-do, put together with little distinction and without going off the studio lot."[12]

Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned $2,004,000 at the North American box office and $2,624,000 elsewhere. It recorded a profit of $958,000.[2][13]

In France, the film recorded admissions of 1,909,704.[14]

Proposed follow-up

In July 1953, MGM announced that it had optioned Black Pawl, another sailing adventure novel written by Ben Ames Williams. Although MGM intended the film as a follow-up to All the Brothers Were Valiant and planned to again cast Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger, the project did not come to fruition.[15]

References

  1. ^ All the Brothers Were Valiant at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. ^ a b c 'The Eddie Mannix Ledger’, Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, Los Angeles
  3. ^ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Metro Plans Second Sea Story-Selznick Increases Program by Two-Deal Denial From Schenck Of Local Origin Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.". The New York Times. February 24, 1937. p. 19.
  4. ^ "News From Hollywood". New York Times. November 8, 1936. p. 31.
  5. ^ "Drama: Eileen Christy Lead With Bill Shirley". Los Angeles Times. November 30, 1951. p. 26.
  6. ^ Hedda Hopper's Staff (April 10, 1952). "Looking at Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor to Play in Sea Adventure Film". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. C2.
  7. ^ JOHN H. ROTHWELL OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA (February 8, 1953). "CAMERAS OVER THE CARIBBEAN". New York Times. p. X6.
  8. ^ Schallert, Edwin (12 February 1953). "'Caesar' Pioneer to Do Gauguin; Adventuress Bids for Mala Powers". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Brian MacFarlane, An Autobiography of British Cinema, Methuen 1997, p. 230
  10. ^ "All the Brothers Were Valiant", Turner Classic Movies at Turner Classic Movies
  11. ^ "Lewis Stone, 'Judge Hardy' Of FilmsDies". The Washington Post. September 14, 1953. p. 16.
  12. ^ Crowther, Bosley (December 29, 1953). "'All the Brothers Were Valiant,' a Yarn About Whalers, Opens at Loew's State". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "1954 Box Office Champs". Variety Weekly. January 5, 1955. p. 59. - figures are rentals in the US and Canada
  14. ^ Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France at Box Office Story
  15. ^ Schallert, Edwin (July 21, 1953). "Ghosts Will Gambol in 3D; 'Black Pawl' Due to Star Taylor, Granger". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
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