Good portrayal of the generation gap as a father and son become alienated over patriotism and duty. When the son returns home after several years, the animosity is still there and they begin quarreling all over again. Plus, many of the town's residents are against the son because they feel he is a traitor. Violence breaks out as emotions flare and the father and son must learn to accept each other before they become irreparably separated.
10 Reviews
Even Proud Men Have To Bend A Little
bkoganbing21 October 2012
Modern Texas is the setting for Proud Men about an estranged father and son played by Charlton Heston and Peter Strauss respectively. Strauss has been living in Paris, now married to Maria Mayanzet and the father of Greg Kupiec who speaks a lot more French than English due to where he was raised. But the young man has a fondness for American westerns and he's going to meet his grandfather finally.
But not under the best of circumstances. Heston has one of those undisclosed illnesses that will eventually take him, but he's got an undetermined amount of time left.
Why Strauss left is that he deserted during the Vietnam War depressed over what he saw and what he had to do on one occasion. It would have put anyone over the edge. But Heston who is World War II veteran didn't want to hear anything and indeed never did. And in his small Texas town where he owns the local Ponderosa a whole lot of the good old boys feel the same way.
Father and son get reacquainted and Heston and his wife Nan Martin finally get to meet their daughter-in-law and grandson. If only Heston and Strauss can meet each other halfway and get past some deep hurts.
Proud Men is a nice family drama with whole cast portraying some real people in situations that the times created. Good entertainment and good performances all around.
But not under the best of circumstances. Heston has one of those undisclosed illnesses that will eventually take him, but he's got an undetermined amount of time left.
Why Strauss left is that he deserted during the Vietnam War depressed over what he saw and what he had to do on one occasion. It would have put anyone over the edge. But Heston who is World War II veteran didn't want to hear anything and indeed never did. And in his small Texas town where he owns the local Ponderosa a whole lot of the good old boys feel the same way.
Father and son get reacquainted and Heston and his wife Nan Martin finally get to meet their daughter-in-law and grandson. If only Heston and Strauss can meet each other halfway and get past some deep hurts.
Proud Men is a nice family drama with whole cast portraying some real people in situations that the times created. Good entertainment and good performances all around.
Proud Men (1987) ***
JoeKarlosi21 March 2013
Heartwarming Made-For-TV modern time story of an old staunchly conservative cattle rancher (Charlton Heston) who is reunited with the son he disowned (Peter Strauss) after his boy deserted the Vietnam war. The two haven't seen each other for fifteen years and Strauss has been living in France, but is persuaded to come home to the Texas ranch by his mother (Nan Martin) when he learns that his dad is dying of an undisclosed illness. Father and son are both stubborn men, and their reunion as they attempt to come to terms is both emotional and involving. Strauss attempts to explain his reasons for desertion, an act that has also made him an outcast in the eyes of most of the local townsfolk. All the performances here are first rate, especially by Heston, Strauss, and Martin, and make up for the rather familiar nature of the story. *** out of ****
the actors
Kirpianuscus27 June 2020
It is one of films seductive only for the acting. The story seems only a pretext or a frame for beautiful work of Nat Martin, Charlton Heston, Peter Strauss . And it is enough. You discover a nice family story, not convincing but decent and so melodramatic for be good support for remind the past roles of each actor. And, for the part of viewers, the fight scene is just good present .
No Good Wars
JamesHitchcock12 December 2022
Charley MacLeod junior, an American living in Paris with his French wife, is persuaded by his mother to return home to the family ranch because his father, Charley senior, is dying from some unspecified disease. Charley junior is reluctant to return, because he and his father have been estranged for many years, but he is eventually won over by his mother's entreaties. We are initially given to understand that the cause of the estrangement was some difference of opinion over the Vietnam War; we eventually learn that Charley junior went to fight in Vietnam but deserted from the Army because he was horrified by the bloodshed and cruelty of war. Charley senior, who still considers his son's conduct dishonourable, almost treasonable, is far from happy to see him. Moreover, Charley junior finds out that many people in the area feel the same way about him, including his childhood friend Brian, who has taken his place on the ranch and is regarded by Charley senior virtually as an adopted son.
It is significant that the title of the film is "Proud Men", not "A Proud Man". For all their political differences, father and son are in many ways alike in their personalities. Both find it difficult to admit that they were wrong or to see any merit in an opposing point of view. An element in Charley junior's pride is the need to justify himself to his father. If he cannot win Charley senior over by verbal arguments, he feels the need to demonstrate that he is not a physical coward. He does this by repeated attempts to ride a dangerous horse which repeatedly throws him and by allowing Brian, a heavier and more powerful man, to provoke him into a fight which inevitably ends with Charley being beaten to a pulp.
One reviewer calls the film "On Golden Ranch", and I can certainly see the similarities with "On Golden Pond". At the centre of both films is an elderly man who has become estranged from a child, a son here and a daughter in the other film. In both cases they gradually learn to accept one another under pressure from other members of the family, especially the old man's wife. In both films the old man forms a close bond with a grandson he has not previously met. (OK, it's a step-grandson in "On Golden Pond", but the principle is the same). The main difference is that "On Golden Pond" we never really learn the causes of the estrangement between Norman and Chelsea, and there is no reason to believe that political differences, over Vietnam or anything else, had anything to do with it. He clearly dislikes her fiancé Bill, but it is implied that the difficulties in their relationship started long before Chelsea and Bill ever met.
Another similarity between the two films is the strength of the acting. "On Golden Pond" can, at times, be rather sugary, but it is lifted above mere sentimentality by two Oscar-winning performances from Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn and an Oscar-nominated one from Henry's real-life daughter Jane. (This was Henry Fonda's only Oscar, coming in his final film a few years before his death). There was to be no Oscar for Charlton Heston for "Proud Men", but then Oscars are not handed out for TV movies. If "Proud Men" had been released as a feature film, he might have provided serious opposition to Michael Douglas in "Wall Street", because this is a fine performance, balanced by an equally good one from Peter Strauss as Charley junior.
"Proud Men" formed part of what I think of as Hollywood's second Vietnam cycle of the late eighties and early nineties, which also included the likes of "Full Metal Jacket", "Good Morning Vietnam", "Hamburger Hill", "Casualties of War" and Oliver Stone's trilogy of "Platoon", "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Heaven and Earth". (The first Vietnam cycle- "The Deer Hunter", "Coming Home", "Apocalypse Now"- had come about a decade earlier. Like most of those, "Proud Men" has been described as an "anti-Vietnam War" film, but actually I find its stance more nuanced than that. There would have been little dramatic tension if the film-makers had taken the straightforward position that Charley junior is in the right and his father in the wrong, end of argument. (And if they had taken that position I doubt if they would have persuaded the famously conservative Heston to star). Charley senior points out that he saw as much horror during his service in the Second World War and although he was afraid he never considered deserting; when his son tries to claim World War II as "the Last Good War", he retorts that there are no good wars. In his view soldiers are not fighting for abstractions like patriotism, freedom and democracy, but for their comrades, which is why he regards desertion as such a heinous wrong. (Draft-dodging, by comparison, is a lesser offence because it does not involve a betrayal of the men who have fought alongside you). I see the film as being more about America's need for reconciliation after the conflict, reconciliation between the generations and between those who had taken opposite political positions. 7/10.
It is significant that the title of the film is "Proud Men", not "A Proud Man". For all their political differences, father and son are in many ways alike in their personalities. Both find it difficult to admit that they were wrong or to see any merit in an opposing point of view. An element in Charley junior's pride is the need to justify himself to his father. If he cannot win Charley senior over by verbal arguments, he feels the need to demonstrate that he is not a physical coward. He does this by repeated attempts to ride a dangerous horse which repeatedly throws him and by allowing Brian, a heavier and more powerful man, to provoke him into a fight which inevitably ends with Charley being beaten to a pulp.
One reviewer calls the film "On Golden Ranch", and I can certainly see the similarities with "On Golden Pond". At the centre of both films is an elderly man who has become estranged from a child, a son here and a daughter in the other film. In both cases they gradually learn to accept one another under pressure from other members of the family, especially the old man's wife. In both films the old man forms a close bond with a grandson he has not previously met. (OK, it's a step-grandson in "On Golden Pond", but the principle is the same). The main difference is that "On Golden Pond" we never really learn the causes of the estrangement between Norman and Chelsea, and there is no reason to believe that political differences, over Vietnam or anything else, had anything to do with it. He clearly dislikes her fiancé Bill, but it is implied that the difficulties in their relationship started long before Chelsea and Bill ever met.
Another similarity between the two films is the strength of the acting. "On Golden Pond" can, at times, be rather sugary, but it is lifted above mere sentimentality by two Oscar-winning performances from Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn and an Oscar-nominated one from Henry's real-life daughter Jane. (This was Henry Fonda's only Oscar, coming in his final film a few years before his death). There was to be no Oscar for Charlton Heston for "Proud Men", but then Oscars are not handed out for TV movies. If "Proud Men" had been released as a feature film, he might have provided serious opposition to Michael Douglas in "Wall Street", because this is a fine performance, balanced by an equally good one from Peter Strauss as Charley junior.
"Proud Men" formed part of what I think of as Hollywood's second Vietnam cycle of the late eighties and early nineties, which also included the likes of "Full Metal Jacket", "Good Morning Vietnam", "Hamburger Hill", "Casualties of War" and Oliver Stone's trilogy of "Platoon", "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Heaven and Earth". (The first Vietnam cycle- "The Deer Hunter", "Coming Home", "Apocalypse Now"- had come about a decade earlier. Like most of those, "Proud Men" has been described as an "anti-Vietnam War" film, but actually I find its stance more nuanced than that. There would have been little dramatic tension if the film-makers had taken the straightforward position that Charley junior is in the right and his father in the wrong, end of argument. (And if they had taken that position I doubt if they would have persuaded the famously conservative Heston to star). Charley senior points out that he saw as much horror during his service in the Second World War and although he was afraid he never considered deserting; when his son tries to claim World War II as "the Last Good War", he retorts that there are no good wars. In his view soldiers are not fighting for abstractions like patriotism, freedom and democracy, but for their comrades, which is why he regards desertion as such a heinous wrong. (Draft-dodging, by comparison, is a lesser offence because it does not involve a betrayal of the men who have fought alongside you). I see the film as being more about America's need for reconciliation after the conflict, reconciliation between the generations and between those who had taken opposite political positions. 7/10.
Boredom
over-1382929 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It is an American patriotic film, with a predictable ending. There is a large crowd of patriotic cowboys in the film who will burn at the stake one who deserted from the army during the Vietnam War, disgusted by the horrors of the war. 15 years had passed since the event , but they weren't going to forget that, everyone felt ashamed that one of their locality did something like that. Let's be serious ...
Welcome to "On Golden Ranch'.
mark.waltz7 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
There are some really good performances in this TV movie that goes down familiar territory in the most obvious of ways. Charlton Heston is an aging rancher, estranged from son Peter Strauss who went AWOL in Vietnam and moved to France to avoid a court martial. Now that Heston is ailing, wife Nan Martin calls sin Strauss to come back, and thus sets up a reunion for all sorts of old resentments to come out from both sides, until Strauss reveals what brought about his desertion. The two must stand together to fight when the locales take it upon themselves to get revenge on Strauss who is bailed out after being arrested for desertion, even though it is years later. This element of the film's story is interesting when you consider Heston's real life conservative politics and his involvement with the NRA.
Animal activists beware, rodeo scenes show everything that is being fought against. For me, those scenes just weren't interesting. I was more interested in the personal relationships between Heston, Martin and Strauss. It was nice to see veteran character actress Martin in a large part for a change, reminding me greatly of the wonderful Frances Sternhagen, but equally excellent on her own. This really does have similar situations in common with "On Golden Pond", especially with the arrival of Strauss's French speaking son who has never met his paternal grandparents. One carbon copy scene that works is when Martin tells her son, "Unless you're the second coming of Christ, you've done something wrong" when Strauss claims that he hasn't done anything wrong to warrant Heston's forgiveness. There are also elements of the prime- time soap opera "Dallas" here with the ranch setting and the Heston/Martin relationship highly resembling Jock and Miss Ellie, and Strauss closer to "Knot's Landing's" Ray than either J.R. or Bobby.
Animal activists beware, rodeo scenes show everything that is being fought against. For me, those scenes just weren't interesting. I was more interested in the personal relationships between Heston, Martin and Strauss. It was nice to see veteran character actress Martin in a large part for a change, reminding me greatly of the wonderful Frances Sternhagen, but equally excellent on her own. This really does have similar situations in common with "On Golden Pond", especially with the arrival of Strauss's French speaking son who has never met his paternal grandparents. One carbon copy scene that works is when Martin tells her son, "Unless you're the second coming of Christ, you've done something wrong" when Strauss claims that he hasn't done anything wrong to warrant Heston's forgiveness. There are also elements of the prime- time soap opera "Dallas" here with the ranch setting and the Heston/Martin relationship highly resembling Jock and Miss Ellie, and Strauss closer to "Knot's Landing's" Ray than either J.R. or Bobby.
Wonderful film
monakayk26 August 2003
Proud Men is a wonderful film. Charlton Heston and Peter Strauss did an outstanding job in this heart-touching film about a man and his son coming to terms with each other. They finally realize that being proud does not mean you can't express love for each other. It is always nice to see a film with a good story that doesn't have to rely on special effects or sex. This film stands out by having a great story. Proud Men is one of Mr. Heston's best. MonaK
Simply amazing...
ttaskmaster23 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I had slight reservations about this, mainly as I've seen a lot of tacky, poorly acted Hallmark feel-good films lately.
It has Peter Strauss in it, who in my opinion cannot do any wrong. I always watch his films, even if he's only a minor character, simply because I know at least that's one performance I will thoroughly enjoy.
This also has Charlton Heston, which immediately stands any film in good stead. The fact that I share his birthday is pure co-incidence, I assure you! But I needn't have worried - Two of the greatest actors around, both leading the film. A definite winner.
The town and it's people make for a tough place to be someone like Charlie Jnr. I have American friends who served in Vietnam and I've always been interested in the cultural history behind it. I've seen films about the horrors of war and the trauma soldiers endured, the atrocities they committed, the psychological problems, the wrongs of war, the Hippy movement and free love, reintegration into society and almost every other aspect of the culture at the time. Many have been done to clichéd levels, so it was very interesting to see a fairly unique issue in Charlie Jnr's character The film has an anti-Vietnam War theme, but subtly so. Charlie Jnr's issues are so unique that he's not bothered explaining them before and I doubt the town would change their views on him anyway. That issue is never resolved, which I find very true to real life, but I love that the story is about the people. Frankly so.
Possibly the most overwhelming concept is the strength of family. Even though Charlie Snr feels shamed by his son, to the point of disowning him, he *still* holds on to the fact that they are family, albeit on a subconscious level.
In fact, there is so much going on behind the characters I do not believe I can properly describe it. It's probably not all completely sunk in yet, even after a week since viewing the film. It's a whirlwind of history, memories and emotions between father and son that Heston and Strauss convey so effortlessly. This is why I love these actors - They bring their characters to life so well!! I'll leave this here before I start really rambling and simply say: You HAVE to see this film!!!
It has Peter Strauss in it, who in my opinion cannot do any wrong. I always watch his films, even if he's only a minor character, simply because I know at least that's one performance I will thoroughly enjoy.
This also has Charlton Heston, which immediately stands any film in good stead. The fact that I share his birthday is pure co-incidence, I assure you! But I needn't have worried - Two of the greatest actors around, both leading the film. A definite winner.
The town and it's people make for a tough place to be someone like Charlie Jnr. I have American friends who served in Vietnam and I've always been interested in the cultural history behind it. I've seen films about the horrors of war and the trauma soldiers endured, the atrocities they committed, the psychological problems, the wrongs of war, the Hippy movement and free love, reintegration into society and almost every other aspect of the culture at the time. Many have been done to clichéd levels, so it was very interesting to see a fairly unique issue in Charlie Jnr's character The film has an anti-Vietnam War theme, but subtly so. Charlie Jnr's issues are so unique that he's not bothered explaining them before and I doubt the town would change their views on him anyway. That issue is never resolved, which I find very true to real life, but I love that the story is about the people. Frankly so.
Possibly the most overwhelming concept is the strength of family. Even though Charlie Snr feels shamed by his son, to the point of disowning him, he *still* holds on to the fact that they are family, albeit on a subconscious level.
In fact, there is so much going on behind the characters I do not believe I can properly describe it. It's probably not all completely sunk in yet, even after a week since viewing the film. It's a whirlwind of history, memories and emotions between father and son that Heston and Strauss convey so effortlessly. This is why I love these actors - They bring their characters to life so well!! I'll leave this here before I start really rambling and simply say: You HAVE to see this film!!!
Proud Men is Worthy of a Watch
Hollywood_Yoda12 April 2020
Found this film for a cheap price on dvd, so I picked it up. A dollar or two wasn't too bad, after all, Charlton Heston started. I started watching the movie, not expecting much, but this is a very moving story of a father and son.
Heston plays conservative father to his AWOL Vietnam soldier son and they haven't spoken in almost two decades. Peter Strauss plays the son who comes home from France to his ailing father. The battle between doing what's right and following orders ensues. The father feels dishonored by his son and the son feels he did the right thing.
Will they ever have peace? Watch Proud Men and see the story unfold.
Heston plays conservative father to his AWOL Vietnam soldier son and they haven't spoken in almost two decades. Peter Strauss plays the son who comes home from France to his ailing father. The battle between doing what's right and following orders ensues. The father feels dishonored by his son and the son feels he did the right thing.
Will they ever have peace? Watch Proud Men and see the story unfold.
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