THE GALLANT LEGION

US Release date: 24 May 1948

First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 26 August 1950

Genre: Western

Country: USA

Running time: 88 minutes.

Director: Joseph Kane

Cast: Bill Elliott, Lorna Gray & Joseph Schildkraut 

Australian Distributor: BEF

Melbourne Premiere Venue: Union’s Liberty theatre for one week from 31 May 1950 supported by The Big Fight. 

Suburban Release Type: Union 2-L-2

Rankings

		Rank
EF Points	16	339
EF PPE	2.67	198
Metres Travelled	60,057	340
Average MT	10,010	219
Engagements	6	339
Slots	8	340
Weeks	2	238
Weeks as % of engagements	33.33%	127
Saturdays	2	324
Sats as % of engagements	33.33%	188
Tuesdays	2	317
Tues as % of engagements	33.33%	173
First billed	2	223
Second billed	4	225
Feature only	0	34*

Independent ratios

Engagements weeks 1-10	6
Ratio	100.00%
Difference to chain ratio	13.33%
Eng weeks 11-26	0
Ratio	0.00%
Difference to chain ratio	-7.62%
Eng weeks 27-52	0
Ratio	0.00%
Difference to chain ratio	-5.71%
Hoyts eng	0
Ratio	0.00%
Difference to chain ratio	-0.84%
Independent eng	6
Ratio	100.00%
Difference to chain ratio	22.89%
Suburban eng	0
Ratio	0.00%
Difference to chain ratio	-22.05%

Notes: Considering the number of engagements provided to Republic’s genuine B-westerns, it is a mystery why so few were granted to this intermediate oater from the studio – one with a higher budget, production values and a credible running time. Instead, only six appearances and only taking the top of the bill in its final week for a pair of Tuesdays. I would think that Union wasted this opportunity and could have utilised this above-average western better.

The Gallant Legion engagements

SUBURB	VENUE	CHAIN	DATE	W	D	B	CO-FEATURE
Brunswick	Empire	Independent	26/8/50	1	S	2	The Noose
East Preston	Gowerville	Independent	26/8/50	1	W	2	Whiplash
Coburg	Plaza	Independent	16/9/50	4	S	2	The Noose
Albert Park	Kinema	Independent	30/9/50	6	W	2	Landfall
Newport	Plaza	Independent	21/10/50	9	T	1	Out of the Blue
Williamstown	Empress	Independent	21/10/50	9	T	1	Out of the Blue