Vengeance Valley (1951)

***A REAL cowboy Western with Burt Lancaster*** A noble foster brother (Burt Lancaster) on a ranch in Northwest Colorado is accused of making a woman pregnant (Sally Forrest) by her two violent brothers (Hugh O’Brian & John Ireland), but this was actually the work of the questionable natural brother (Robert Walker). Joanne Dru is on hand as the wife of the latter, but might understandably have eyes for the former. As the plot blurb suggests, “Vengeance Valley” (1951) is just as much a soap opera as it is horse opera, but it doesn’t skimp on the typical Western staples with gorgeous Western locations (Colorado), saloon confrontations, fistfights, gunfights, steam engine trains, breaking horses, rustling and cattle drives. Speaking of the latter, the movie features an interesting narration by one of the ranch hands, Hewie (Carleton Carpenter), which offers vital information about the exploits of cattle wanderings during Winter, Spring round-up, cattle drives and buying & selling. The film doesn’t overstay its welcome at 1 hour, 23 minutes, and was shot at Coal Creek & Oak Creek in Northwest Colorado. GRADE: B