Heart of the Rockies

First-rate oater, with about as much action as a former front-row kid like me could want. Love that hard-riding opening over rocks, hills, and weeds, while later on the action hardly ever stops from flying fists to fast shooting to hard rock tumbles. Okay, the storyline is sometimes hard to follow but that's not the basic appeal.

Seems bad guys are rustling Mesquiteers' cattle making the guys think it's actually bears preying on their herd. Trouble is there's a National Park next to the ranch where bears live, so now our trio's in trouble with the Rangers when they go look for the supposedly marauding bears. No wonder it's a crowded plot, since there're three outfits bumping heads at the same time.

Add to that the hillbilly family and their two delightful kids, along with a hillbilly hoe-down that still has me hopping around the livingroom. Note too that the great stuntman Yakima Canutt actually has a speaking part as bad guy Coe, which probably accounts also for the flick's many great acrobatics. On the other hand, what about that touchy business about marrying off teen girl Lorna. I wonder if that crossed a censor's desk.

Anyway, it's a Republic oater which is likely why production values are better than most. Sure, the mountains ain't exactly the Rockies but they're close enough. So lean back in the saddle and and enjoy.