Black Hills Ambush (1952) User Reviews (2)

Freight line robbers

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 28 June 2013]

Once again Allan Lane is a US Marshal going undercover once again to save Eddy Waller from being preyed on by some despicable outlaws. The outlaw gang whose chief henchman is perennial western villain Roy Barcroft who is robbing Waller's freighting line with regularity and inside information. Of course that's supplied by the big boss.

The key to Lane rounding up this outlaw gang is young Michael Hall best known for being Fredric March and Myrna Loy's son in The Best Years Of Our Lives. He's a kid who took up with this gang because of his older brother who got a bullet in the back courtesy of Barcroft. When he's convinced the outlaws are not his friends, Hall proves invaluable to Lane even if he kind of messes things up in the end.

One of Allan Lane's better Saturday Matinée horse operas with a good story and believable characters.

Rocky Lane in a typical B-western

[revdrcac · 5/10 · 21 May 2006]

Allan "Rocky" Lane starred in dozens of B-westerns thru the early 1950's and is remembered today as the Red Ryder and the voice of Mr. Ed. This later entry in his film series finds Rocky again playing cowboy detective in an action-filled matinée outing.

The plot packs a lot of twists in a film that lasts less than an hour. Therefore, the character & plot development are a little shaky. Lane, with his square jaw and baritone voice saves the day, while accompanied by the always amusing sidekick, Nugget.

This type of film is enjoyable, when taken in context. B-westerns were designed mostly to entertain, not to rival the deep philosophical films of mainstream Hollywood. As such, it is an average Rocky Lane film.