Vengeance Valley (1951) is a Western film starring Burt Lancaster, based on the novel by Luke Short. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer failed to renew the copyright on this film in 1978, so it is now in the public domain in the United States.
Plot
Owen Daybright is ranch foreman and Lee Strobie works by his side for Colorado cattleman Arch Strobie, who adopted both of them, 15 years apart. Arch has no sons of his own.
Lily Fasken gives birth and won't identify the father. Her brothers Hub and Dick believe that Owen is responsible. They know he gave her $500 to take care of the baby, but aren't aware Owen did so on Lee's behalf. The brothers pick a fight with Owen and are put behind bars for a week, vowing to get even as soon as they're out.
Lee is married to Jen, who is unaware he has been unfaithful. Lee also is ambitious. He says he'll leave forever unless Arch grants him a half-interest in the ranch, now rather than later. Arch agrees, saying Owen can inherit the other half after the old man dies.
Arch blurts out that Lee withdrew $500 in gold from the bank, causing Jen to realize that her husband is the father of Lily's baby. She wants to leave him, but is persuaded by Owen to stay and try to work things out.
Jen locks Lee out of their bedroom. Lee gets drunk and mistakenly believes she and Owen are carrying on behind his back. He schemes to get rid of Owen and make a fortune at the same time by conspiring with Hub and Dick to ambush Owen on a cattle roundup.
On the trail, Lee sells 3,000 head of Arch's cattle. He does it secretly, but Owen learns about it. Lee pretends that he just wants his share of the money and will be leaving Jen and the ranch permanently, but he lures Owen into a trap.
Hub and Dick hide, waiting for them. Owen is shot and wounded, but he kills Dick and his men ride up to do away with Hub. When he catches up with Lee, in a stream, they shoot it out and Lee ends up dead.
Cast
Carleton Carpenter as Hewie
Ray Collins as Arch Strobie
Ted de Corsia as Herb Backett
Hugh O'Brian as Dick Fasken
Will Wright as Mr. Willoughby
Grayce Mills as Mrs. Burke
Jim Hayward as Sheriff Con Alvis
James Harrison as Orv Esterly
Stanley Andrews as Mead Calhoun
See also
List of films in the public domain
References
External links
The Round-up. From Vengeance valley. Music: Rudolph George Kopp. - example 1979 copyright renewal for the music: V2581 P215-416
copyright document V3549D483 - titles 019 to 021 from document V3549 D479-483 P1-66
Category:1951 films
Category:Films directed by Richard Thorpe
Category:Films shot in Colorado
Category:Films based on Western novels
