The Deadly Companions

The Deadly Companions is a 1961 American Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Maureen OHara, Brian Keith, Steve Cochran, and Chill Wills. Based on the novel of the same name by A. S. Fleischman, the film is about an exarmy officer who accidentally kills a womans son, and tries to make up for it by escorting the funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. The Deadly Companions was Sam Peckinpahs motion picture directorial debut.

After the cancellation of his 1960 television series The Westerner, Brian Keith was cast as the male lead in The Deadly Companions. He suggested Sam Peckinpah the producer and director of The Westerner as the director for this film, and producer Charles B. Fitzsimons accepted the idea. By most accounts, the lowbudget film shot on location in Arizona was a learning process for Peckinpah. Unable to rewrite the screenplay or edit the picture, Peckinpah vowed to never again direct a film unless he had script control. The Deadly Companions passed largely without notice and is the least known of Peckinpahs films.Charles B. Fitzsimons 19242001, a former actor, was Maureen OHaras younger brother. In addition to his listing as producer, the films opening credits indicate song by Marlin Skiles amp Charles B. Fitzsimons sung by Maureen OHara the title of the song, which is heard through the entire length of the opening credits, is not specified. Another younger brother, Jim OHara 19271992, played the seventhbilled role of Cal the family surname is Fitzsimons, also rendered as FitzSimons. ........

Source: Wikipedia