The Valiant (1929) Review: A Heavy, Stagey Debut for Paul Muni

Is this worth watching today? Only if you have a soft spot for early talkies or want to see where Paul Muni started his career.

If you hate movies that feel like filmed plays, you will absolutely find this boring. It’s very slow and everyone talks like they’re shouting to the back of a theater.

I watched this on a rainy Tuesday and honestly, it fit the mood perfectly. It’s a total downer, but in a way that feels honest for 1929.

The movie starts with a murder, but we don't see much. A man walks into a room, there's a shot, and then he just hands himself over to the cops.

He won't give his real name. He calls himself James Dyke, which sounds like the most generic 'fake name' ever invented.

Paul Muni plays him. He looks so young here, way before he was doing the heavy makeup stuff in his later biopics.

He has this weirdly calm energy for a guy waiting to die. It’s almost creepy how much he doesn't care about his own life.

The whole point is that he wants to protect his family's honor. He’d rather they think he died a hero in the war than know he’s a common killer.

It reminded me a bit of the mystery in The Shadow on the Wall, but much more depressing. There’s no real 'twist' coming to save him.

The middle part of the movie drags quite a bit. There’s a lot of scenes of the warden and the chaplain talking about how much they like this Dyke guy.

It feels like the movie is trying too hard to make us like a murderer. I kept waiting for them to explain why he killed the guy, but they never really do.

Maybe it doesn't matter. The movie is more interested in the sacrifice he’s making for his mom and sister.

Speaking of the sister, Marguerite Churchill shows up toward the end. She thinks the man on death row might be her long-lost brother who disappeared years ago.

The scene where they finally meet in the visiting room is the whole reason to watch the movie. It’s actually heart-breaking.

Muni has to pretend he doesn't know her. He does this thing with his eyes where you can see he’s dying inside, but his voice stays flat.

It’s a bit theatrical, sure. But it works. 😢

The way he quotes Shakespeare to her—it’s the 'Cowards die many times before their deaths' bit—is a little cheesy, but I’ll allow it. It was 1929, everyone was dramatic back then.

I noticed a weird detail in the prison cell. There’s a poster on the wall that looks way too modern for the setting. I wonder if a crew member just left it there.

The sound quality is pretty rough in spots. You can hear the hum of the early microphones, which makes it feel like you're listening to a ghost story.

If you're looking for something more upbeat, maybe try Kill or Cure. This one is strictly for when you want to feel sad.

The ending is abrupt. No big execution scene, just the clock ticking and a final fade out.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got a certain soul to it. It’s much better than something like Border Law which just goes through the motions.

I think the film struggles with its own silence sometimes. There are these long gaps where nobody says anything and the camera just stares at a door.

It makes the movie feel longer than it is. It’s only about an hour long but it felt like two.

Still, Muni’s performance is worth the price of admission. You can see why he became a massive star later on.

He has more charisma in his pinky finger than most of the actors in Nearly a King. He just commands the screen even when he’s being a 'nobody'.

Is it a bit of a soap opera? Yeah, probably.

But sometimes a good soap opera is exactly what you need. Just bring some tissues for that final visiting room scene. 📽️

I’m still thinking about that sister. The way she leaves the prison, not quite sure if she found her brother or not... that’s cold.

The movie doesn't give you the easy way out. It just leaves you sitting there in the dark.

It's a strange little film. It feels like a relic, but a relic that still has a heartbeat.

Anyway, if you're bored and want to see a guy be extremely noble for no good reason, give it a look. It’s better than Betty Be Good, that’s for sure.