The Proud Rebel

The Proud Rebel is a 1958 Technicolor Western film directed by Michael Curtiz with a screenplay by Joseph Petracca and Lillie Hayward that is based on a story by James Edward Grant. It is the story of a former Confederate soldier and his mute son.

A former Confederate soldier, John Chandler Alan Ladd has come to an Illinois town with his 10yearold son David David Ladd to see Dr. Enos Davis Cecil Kellaway. The boy was struck mute after witnessing his mothers death in a fire, and hasnt spoken a word since. Davis recommends a doctor he knows in Minnesota.With a flock of sheep blocking their path, John has their expertly trained dog Lance clear the way. The sheep belong to rancher Harry Burleigh Dean Jagger and his sons, Jeb Harry Dean Stanton and Tom Tom Pittman, who try to steal the dog. John fights them while a passing stranger, Linnett Moore Olivia de Havilland, holds the child. Harry knocks out John, pours whiskey on him, then tells the sheriff about being attacked by a drunk. ........

Source: Wikipedia