The Arch Strobie ranch is in the business of growing beef, though the aging cowpuncher has left the duties of running the ranch to his foreman and adopted son Owen Daybright (Burt Lancaster), and his ne'er do well biological son Lee (Robert Walker). For all of their fifteen year association, Owen has covered for Lee's immaturity and mistakes, but things are about to take a decidedly sinister turn. The brothers share a secret, and even though he's married, Lee has fathered an illegitimate son with Lily Fasken. The Fasken Brothers (John Ireland and Hugh O'Brian) in turn are gunning for the man who did their sister wrong. With this premise in place, the film then begins to explore the characters of the brothers until the reckoning of the finale manages to set things right.
Burt Lancaster gives a good accounting in his first movie Western, but it's Robert Walker who surprises with his evil underside, masked by a good old boy surface demeanor that he plays to the hilt in an effort to take big brother Owen out of the picture. Particularly effective is the scene when Owen and Lee ride together, presumably to a telegraph office to correct another one of Lee's mistakes. Sharing small talk and boyhood memories, Lee's plan is to lead Owen into an ambush that will leave him dead, and Lee in full control of his father's ranch.
This was the second time I was surprised during a movie's closing credits to learn that Hugh O'Brian was part of the cast. I didn't pick him out in early scenes as one of the Fasken Brothers, but in reviewing those clips, he's definitely recognizable, though with some effort since he appears unshaven. One of my favorite TV Western Cowboys portraying lawman Wyatt Earp, it's ironic to see him cast as a heavy. He also appears a few years later in 1954's "Drums Across the River" as a black clad gunman in another uncharacteristic role.
A pair of lovely ladies help round out the cast, with Joanne Dru lending her talent as Jen, the wife of no account brother Lee, while Sally Forrest portrays the single mother Lily. Both roles are limited but effective to move the story along. Western movie fans will also recognize Stanley Andrews and Glenn Strange in minor roles; I'm fairly convinced these two appeared in practically every Western ever made.
"Vengeance Valley" is one of those public domain films that one can find very inexpensively on VHS, however I ran across a recent copy on DVD along with Randolph Scott's "Rage at Dawn". The quality of both films was very good, and both movies acquitted themselves favorably in my view.
Burt Lancaster gives a good accounting in his first movie Western, but it's Robert Walker who surprises with his evil underside, masked by a good old boy surface demeanor that he plays to the hilt in an effort to take big brother Owen out of the picture. Particularly effective is the scene when Owen and Lee ride together, presumably to a telegraph office to correct another one of Lee's mistakes. Sharing small talk and boyhood memories, Lee's plan is to lead Owen into an ambush that will leave him dead, and Lee in full control of his father's ranch.
This was the second time I was surprised during a movie's closing credits to learn that Hugh O'Brian was part of the cast. I didn't pick him out in early scenes as one of the Fasken Brothers, but in reviewing those clips, he's definitely recognizable, though with some effort since he appears unshaven. One of my favorite TV Western Cowboys portraying lawman Wyatt Earp, it's ironic to see him cast as a heavy. He also appears a few years later in 1954's "Drums Across the River" as a black clad gunman in another uncharacteristic role.
A pair of lovely ladies help round out the cast, with Joanne Dru lending her talent as Jen, the wife of no account brother Lee, while Sally Forrest portrays the single mother Lily. Both roles are limited but effective to move the story along. Western movie fans will also recognize Stanley Andrews and Glenn Strange in minor roles; I'm fairly convinced these two appeared in practically every Western ever made.
"Vengeance Valley" is one of those public domain films that one can find very inexpensively on VHS, however I ran across a recent copy on DVD along with Randolph Scott's "Rage at Dawn". The quality of both films was very good, and both movies acquitted themselves favorably in my view.