review for All the Brothers Were Valiant on AllMovie

All the Brothers Were Valiant is an okay sea melodrama that ultimately lacks punch, despite a lot of manly effort on the part of all involved. The basic story is solid, if somewhat predictable, and the pieces of the plot all fit together just the way they're supposed to. But there's no real meat on the bones of the plot, nothing to give it an inevitability and a drive. There's a potentially interesting triangle between the three main characters, and a chance to explore what makes a prim New England lass so enamored of the "bad" brother. But while it makes stabs in that direction, the screenplay never really gives that plot line the believable subtext that it requires. Richard Thorpe's direction is no help here. It's not bad, for he knows how to stage an action scene well, and the sea adventures (given the limitations of the time) are stirring and have a very decent level of excitement. But he can't give it the overarching sense of purpose that it needs. The leads do well, giving the parts all that is required and going a little above the call of duty in several spots. They service the picture well, but they too can't quite give it the spark it needs to be anything more than an enjoyable but ultimately routine picture.