Deadly Companion "is a 1961 Western film directed by Sam Perkinper, starring Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Steve Cochran, and Cheer Wells. Adapted from A.S. Fleischman's novel of the same name, this film tells the story of a former military officer who accidentally kills a woman's son and attempts to compensate for this loss by escorting a funeral procession through dangerous Indian territory. Deadly Companion "is Sam Perkinper's film director debut.