Main Cast: Michael Ray, Rodolfo Hoyos, Elsa Cardenas, Carlos Navarro, Joi Lansing
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
The Brave One is a bull named Gitano (or Gypsy). Mexican lad Michael Ray "adopts" Gitano after saving the animal's life during a storm. The friendship between bull and boy is threatened when Gitano's legal owners claim the animal and ship it off to the bullring. Moved by the boy's plight, the President of Mexico signs a "pardon" for Gitano-but not soon enough to prevent the bull's appearance at the Plaze de Mexico at Mexico City, where he faces top matador Fermin Rivera. The Brave One was helmed by Irving Rapper, a man best known for his Bette Davis vehicles at Warner Bros. Based on a true incident, the film earned a "best story" Academy Award for one Robert Rich-who, much to the embarrassment of the Academy (and the delight of civil libertarians) turned out to be blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Long available only in its "flat", black and white TV version, The Brave One was recently restored to its Technicolor and CinemaScope glory by the American Movie Classics cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Brave One is a movie that audiences love to love, and this is especially true for children. It seems that few people who see Brave as a child have anything but fond, and very strong, memories of it. Although modern audiences may find some of it a bit contrived and obvious, it's likely that they too will fall under Brave's spell. Certainly, it's nothing that at heart hasn't been seen before many times -- a child develops such an incredible attachment to a pet (and vice versa) that the child is willing to risk life and limb in order to save it (and vice versa). The unusual thing about Brave, of course, is that the pet in question is no little ball of fur kitty or tail-swinging puppy but a bull. And it is here that the contrivances begin, for one has to suspend a significant amount of disbelief (at least if one is an adult) to accept the tenderness that passes between boy and bull. But for those willing to give their heart over to this story, it's a small price to offer up such a suspension. Certainly Irving Rapper directs as if he believed deeply in the material and had no trouble accepting its implausibilities. Michael Ray's achingly innocent portrayal of the boy also goes a long way toward winning one over to Brave's case. And finally, Jack Cardiff's gorgeous, dramatic cinematography gives such a lovely shine to the film that it becomes easy to toss away critical carping and just melt into the picture. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Fermin Rivera - Himself; George Trevino - Salvador; Carlos Fernandez - Manuel; Rodolpho Moyos
Credit
Irving Rapper - Director, Merrill White - Editor, Victor Young - Composer (Music Score), Jack Cardiff - Cinematographer, Frank King - Producer, Maurice King - Producer, John Myers - Sound/Sound Designer, Robert Rich - Screenwriter, Merrill White - Screenwriter, Harry S. Franklin - Screenwriter
The Brave One is a 1956 American drama film. The film was directed by Irving Rapper, and stars Michel Ray, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., and Elsa Cárdenas. The Brave One won the 1957 Academy Award for Best Story, and was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
