During the Vietnam War, Charley McLeod, Jr. (Peter Strauss) deserted from the U.S. Army.  He has spent the last several years living in France with his wife Adrienne (Maria Mayenzet) but, when he learns that his father (Charlton Heston) is ill, Charley returns to the ranch where he grew up and tries to make peace with the old man before he dies.  It’s not easy.  Charley, Sr. never agreed with his son’s decision to desert and the local townspeople, including Charley’s former friend Brian (Alan Autry), view him as either being a coward or a traitor.

Proud Men was made for television and it’s clearly a product of a time when people were still coming to terms with both the war in Vietnam and the protests that surrounded it.  Strauss isn’t the most convincing rancher that I’ve ever seen but, not surprisingly, Heston is totally believable as Charley’s old-fashioned father.  Not much really happens in Proud Men.  Charley, Jr. tries to prove himself by working on the ranch.  Charley, Sr. holds back his emotions until the inevitable scene where he finally admits that he still loves his son.  Probably the best performance comes from Alan Autry, whose character is written to be a bully but who also has a point when he point out that not everyone had the opportunity or the money necessary to just desert and start a new life in another country.

This is definitely a Dad film.  It’s about working hard, doing what you have to do even when its difficult, and knowing how to throw a punch when someone in a bar disrespects your wife.  It’s a minor film but I actually liked it.  Heston may not have had the widest range as an actor but he was capable of very good work when he was cast in the right role, like he is here.