Valerie (1957)

Strange little Western where the focus is on the marital relationship between war hero John Garth (Sterling Hayden) and a pretty young girl (Valerie Horvath) whose family recently immigrated to America.

The film opens with Garth and a ranch hand breaking into the Horvath home and shooting Valerie, her father and her mother. Then the story is told, flashback style, with Garth on trial for murdering Mr. and Mrs. Horvath and seriously wounding his wife, who is clinging to life.

Rev. Blake takes the stand first and tells of a beautiful woman who seemed strangely disturbed; a husband who seemed a little over protective. Garth takes the stand and portrays their marriage as an affair arranged to put the Horvath’s in good standing, financially. As for his wife, she denied him sexually, flirted with his brother, then with the reverend before finally plotting to run off with him.

Just when it appears Garth might get off, the judge receives a note. Valerie is well enough to testify. And her story — presumably the truth — is much different. It was her family who arranged the marriage, all right, but they also paid a dowry to Garth. As for her husband, he had been changed by the war, where his job was to interrogate Confederate prisoners. As a result, he trusted no one — not his brother, the reverend or, most of all, his wife.

Sterling Hayden as John Garth, intending to drag his wife home from her parents’ house in Valerie (1957)

Anita Eckberg as Valerie, finding herself married to an abusive, sadistic husband in Valerie (1957

Review:

Decent little film. Hayden is as stiff as ever, but it might serve him well during the course of a film in which you’re not certain whether to believe his version of what happened or not.

Eckberg, 1950’s Miss Sweden, would become a star three years later in “La dolce vita.” Here, she’s the least pregnant looking wife you’re likely to find. The part of the preacher is played by Anthony Steel, her husband at the time this film was released. They would divorce two years later.

Still, the film scores points for being so different from the typical 1950s Western. The thrice-told tale follows the same format as “The Outrage” (1964). The posters for the film focus on Eckberg’s cleavage. Don’t be fooled; she’s never that scantily clothed in the film.

Anthony Steel as Rev. Blake, the new minister in town who takes an interest in Valerie’s well-being in Valerie (1957)

Peter Walker as Herb Garth, leaving the ranch because of his brother’s jealousy in Valerie (1957)

Directed by
Gerd Oswald

Cast
Sterling Hayden … John Garth
Anita Ekberg … Valerie
Anthony Steel … Rev. Blake
Peter Walker … Herb Garth
John Wengraf … Loius Horvat
Iphigenie Castiglioni … Mrs. Horvat
Jerry Barclay … Mingo
Stanley Adams … Dr. Jackson
Gage Clarke … Lawyer Griggs
Robert Adler … Lundy
Tom McKee … Dave Carlin

Runtime: 84 min.

John Wengrag as Louis Horvat and Iphigenie Castiglioni as his wife, concerned about their daughter’s welfare in Valerie (1957)

Anita Ekberg as Valerie, catching a glimmer of hope when a new minister arrives in town in Valerie (1957)

Memorable lines:

John Garth to Valerie, when she suggests no one will believe she’s been having an affair with the preacher: “People are always willing to believe the worst.”

Valerie to John Garth: “Darling, aren’t those our cattle down there?”
John Garth: “Best breeding stock there is.”
Valerie: “But where are the others?”
John: “I sold them.”
Valerie: “You must have received a lot of money.”
John: “Yes, I did.”
Valerie: “Good, having money is so much more appealing than having cows.”

John Garth, after Valerie has told him she is pregnant: “But I don’t want to support your brat.”
Valerie: “Well, there’s nothing either one of us can do about it now.”
John Garth: “Isn’t there?” He whips the horses, sending their buggy plunging forward at breakneck speed.

Sterling Hayden as John Garth, forcing new wife Valerie (Anita Eckberg) to down drink after drink in Valerie (1957)

Anita Eckberg as Valerie, encouraging Herb Garth not to leave the ranch in Valerie (1957)

Sterling Hayden as John Garth, accusing new wife Valerie (Anita Eckberg) of being interested in his brother in Valerie (1957)

Anita Ekberg as Valerie, in the hands of sadistic husband John Garth in Valerie (1957)