Overview
The Valiant is a 1929 American pre‑Code drama film produced and directed by William K. Howard for Fox Film Corporation. It was released on May 19, 1929 as an all‑talking feature using the Fox Movietone sound‑on‑film system. The picture runs approximately 66 minutes and was filmed in English in the United States.
Source material
The screenplay, adapted by Tom Barry with dialogue contributions from John Hunter Booth, is based on the 1921 one‑act play The Valiant by Halworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass.
Cast
- Paul Muni as the condemned man (film debut)
- Marguerite Churchill as the sister of the condemned man (feature film debut)
- John Mack Brown as the sister’s fiancé
- Don Terry, DeWitt Jennings, and other supporting actors
Production
The film was Howard’s first sound picture. Cinematography was handled by Lucien Andriot and editing by Jack Dennis. It was distributed by Fox Film Corporation.
Plot summary
A man who has killed an unknown victim surrenders to the authorities under a false name, seeking to protect his family’s reputation. In court he refuses to reveal his identity, leading to a death sentence. Meanwhile, his mother and sister confront their grief; the sister’s fiancé tries to comfort them while questioning the true nature of the condemned man’s crime.
Historical context
Although some contemporary sources described The Valiant as a “silent film with talking sequences,” the picture contains continuous dialogue throughout and is regarded as a full‑talkie. It exemplifies early sound filmmaking during the transition from silent cinema to synchronized sound in Hollywood.
Preservation status
The film is now in the public domain, and archival copies are available through various online repositories such as the Internet Archive.