The Brave One (1956)

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