James Hitchcock Burt Lancaster started his career in the late forties starring in films noirs like "The Killers" or "Sorry, Wrong Number", and then in the early fifties became an action hero in swashbuckling adventures like "The Flame and the Arrow" and in Westerns like this one. There are similarities between the plot and that of "The Man from Laramie", another Western from the fifties. Both films feature a power-struggle within the family of an elderly, wealthy rancher. In each case the old man has a single son of his own, and has adopted his trusted ranch foreman as a virtual second son. In both films the old man's biological son is a dissolute, worthless character. The main difference lies in the personalities of the adopted sons. In "The Man from Laramie" the adopted son, Vic, initially seems like a decent character, but eventually turns out to be as villainous as his adoptive brother Dave; the real hero of that film is a stranger, the titular Man from Laramie. In "Vengeance Valley" the adopted son initially seems like a cad, but later turns out to be the film's hero. In 19th century Colorado, a young woman named Lily Fasken gives birth to an illegitimate child, and refuses to identify the father. Her brothers Hub and Dick believe that the culprit is Owen Daybright, the adopted son of a wealthy cattleman named Arch Strobie. Hub and Dick know that Owen has given their sister $500 to take care of the baby and come looking for him, hoping to force him to marry Lily. What they don't know is that the real father is Strobie's real son Lee, who is already married. The film then explores the complications arising from this situation and from Lee's attempts to cheat his own father over a cattle deal. The film's main faults are the poor quality of the colour, which appears dull and washed-out, and of the sound, which is sometimes muffled. It lacks the power of the really great fifties Westerns like "Shane", "The Big Country" or, for that matter, "The Man from Laramie" itself, which has a similar plot but a greater depth of characterisation and is an excellent film as opposed to a merely good one. Those points apart, however, "Vengeance Valley" is a very watchable Western with an exciting plot. Lancaster was perhaps not yet the great actor he was to become later in his career, but he makes an attractive and sympathetic hero as Owen, and he makes this a very decent example of a "second division" Western. 7/10

Michael Morrison Watching Burt Lancaster's early efforts (such as "The Rose Tattoo") might make one wonder why he was allowed to continue. Watching his later portrayals, one knows exactly why.Probably his looks, especially his physique, gave him his chance, but Burt Lancaster just got better and better as an actor."Vengeance Valley" is a good example.He was surrounded by good to very good actors but he didn't have to take second place to any, not even Ray Collins.Since a very large portion of his film roles was in westerns, probably no one should be surprised at how good a cowboy he was, but it is still a pleasurable surprise to see him horseback, in fights, drawing his pistol.He portrays the proper emotions, to the right degree.Besides the excellent Lancaster, every cast member seems perfect. I have to admit I did not recognize Hugh O'Brian behind his whiskers and surly manner -- meaning he was so good, he was submerged in his character.Big studio westerns were often overdone, with too much plot and too little action. "Vengeance Valley," though, shows what those studios could have done, much more often.There are several versions available on YouTube so you can watch it. And I hope you do.

doug-balch Burt Lancaster's first Western is worth watching.Here's what I liked:Burt is at his charming best. Very likable character played with a lot of heart. Maybe the first in a long line of "cattle baron's adopted son foremen". See Arthur Kennedy in "the Man From Laramie" and Charlton Heston in "The Big Country".Robert Walker is excellent as the sniveling bounder.The movie abounds in heavies. John Ireland and Hugh O'Brian do a nice job playing a couple of mean brothers bent on revenge.Very unusual for its time to have an unwed mother at the center of the plot.Nice location shooting in the high Rockies. A lot of effort went into portraying a realistic cattle drive.Here's what wasn't so great:Plot and characterizations are a little too simplistic and melodramatic.Joann Dru took a step back for me in this one. Was it her hairdo? Can I be that superficial?Very little comic reliefA few plot holes, the worst of which is Burt Lancaster outdrawing Robert Walker in the end when is has been conclusively demonstrated previously that Walker is a faster draw. Also, the unwed mother was at the center of the plot, then disappears."Cattle baron" Westerns leave little room for Indian, Civil War and Mexican themes.

dougdoepke Lavish MGM was not a studio for Westerns. That king of studios excelled at big-budget, star-studded drawing-room dramas. On the other hand, Westerns tend to do better with small casts, tight stories, and good outdoor locations. Nonetheless, this MGM Western is generally underrated. On the plus side, is a fine male cast among the supporting players (Collins, Wright, Ireland, de Corsia, Carpenter {surprisingly},and Jim Hayward as the sheriff), some striking Colorado locations, and good attention to detail (note how injured persons do not quickly recover, and how the trail drive is treated in realistic detail). My guess is that the producers were following up on the success of Red River (1948), with another trail-drive Western, but without the latter's notable dramatic tensions.Several factors work against Vengeance Valley. One is that critical lack of tension. The scenes don't really build to a dramatic conclusion, but simply follow one another in rather slack style. That results in a final showdown between Lancaster and Walker lacking the impact it should have given their family history together. Crucially, Director Thorpe adds nothing to the screenplay, and most importantly, adds nothing to Lancaster's performance which lacks the kind of shading that would normally build tension. I don't know whether to fault Thorpe or Lancaster for that one-note performance. But, unlike Wayne's character in Red River, Lancaster's Owen Daybright comes across as a rather dull and uninvolving character. He doesn't even seem angry or anguished during the showdown. Then there's Joanne Dru who appears unengaged with her part as Walker's wife. Many ambitious Hollywood actresses viewed the male-dominated Western as a come down, but whatever the reason, her scenes come across as emotionally flat, at best.On the other hand, the screenplay is both well developed and unusual for its day. Wedlock babies simply didn't turn up in movies during that Production Code era. Here, Forrest's fatherless baby sets off the chain of events leading to the climax, and also provides unusual motivation for the bad guys. There's also the terrific Colorado locations and trail herds big enough to be believed. Clearly the studio put real money into the project. Too bad they didn't hire a more inspired director. With better guidance, Vengeance Valley had the potential to be a memorably epic Western. Even as things stand, the movie remains highly watchable and generally underrated.