source: Apache Rifles

Apache Rifles

I will always remember William Witney as the greatest serial maker of all times; remember him during the forties era Republic Pictures. But besides this, with maybe except BONNIE PARKER STORY and also the terrific little gem STRANGER AT MY DOOR, there is nothing emerging from my memory. I still search VALLEY OF THE RED WOODS after twenty eight years of desperate, hopeless search. This western is purely forgettable but still agreeable to watch, well made, fast paced but with no surprise at all. A western among thousands and thousands. A rather pro indian feature, but in the early sixties, it was not a surprise any more, as the awesome DEVIL'S DOORWAY was.

Ken lynch and l.q. jones make the nastiest bad guys on the planet that you can spot in the opening scenes...the new colonel is a retarded jerk that murph should have punched out ... my sympathies have always been with the indigent americans ... i firmly believe we stole their heritage as well as everything else

Yes, this entry does have a superior script to the usual run of Audie Murphy westerns, but it is saddled (hah!) with William Witney's steadfastly routine and completely lackluster direction. Fortunately, Mr Witney's usual reliable hand does come into play in the action sequences (despite obvious use of stock footage) and the climax itself is put across with a reasonable amount of well-judged suspense. A bit of location lensing also helps. Performances are no more than adequate. To give you an indication of the general standard, it's Charles Watts (of all people) who makes the running in his earlier scenes. Linda Lawson, admittedly, rates highly as an attractive girl, though her part is small, while Jones and Lynch make fairly convincing villains.