Vengeance Valley (1951)

17% of users liked it
(881 ratings)

The old "Cain and Abel" plot device is redefined within Western terms in MGM's Vengeance Valley. Burt Lancaster stars as ranch-hand Owen Daybright, who has been raised as a son by rancher Arch Stroble (Ray Collins). Stroble's natural son Lee (Robert Walker) has always been envious of Owen, who in… More The old "Cain and Abel" plot device is redefined within Western terms in MGM's Vengeance Valley. Burt Lancaster stars as ranch-hand Owen Daybright, who has been raised as a son by rancher Arch Stroble (Ray Collins). Stroble's natural son Lee (Robert Walker) has always been envious of Owen, who in turn has spent most of his life pulling Lee out of trouble and keeping the boy's misdeeds a secret from the elder Stroble. When Lee fathers an illegitimate child, he tries to shift the responsibility on Owen, leading to a life-threatening confrontation with the vengeance-seeking brothers of the baby's mother (Sally Forrest). There's plenty more plot twists before virtue finally triumphs. Joanne Dru co-stars as Lee's long-suffering wife Jen, who harbors a secret yen for Owen. Since lapsing into public domain, Vengeance Valley has shown up with increasing frequency on cable television; it has also been made available in a narrated version for the visually impaired. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Richard Thorpe
Written By: Irving Ravetch
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 16, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Sep 27, 1999

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's Manhattan-born Burt Lancaster's first western, and he proves he can ride tall in the saddle.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Colorful western both in script and visual presentation. Good perfomances with Robert Walker a standout.

Cast

            Burt Lancaster as Owen Daybright

            Robert Walker as Lee Strobie

            Joanne Dru as Jen Strobie

            Sally Forrest as Lily Fasken

            John Ireland as Hub Fasken

            Carleton Carpenter as Hewie

            Ray Collins as Arch Strobie

            Hugh O'Brian as Dick Fasken

            Will Wright as Mr. Willoughby

            Grace Mills as Mrs. Burke

            Jim Hayward as Sheriff Con Alvis

            James Harrison as Orv Easterly

            Stanley Andrews as Mead Calhoun

            Margaret Bert as Mrs. Calhoun

            Paul E. Burns as Dr. Irwin

            Roy Butler as Man

            Ted de Corsia as Herb Backett

            Harvey B. Dunn as Dealer

            Tom Fadden as Obie Rune

            Al Ferguson
            
            Norman Leavitt
            
            Monte Montague
            
            Glenn Strange as Dave Allard

            Dan White
            
            Bob Wilke
            
            Louis A. Nicoletti as Cowhand

            Robert Griffin as Cal

            John R. McKee as Player

            Hugh O'brien
            
See full cast