TREASURE OF RUBY HILLS (director: Frank McDonald; screenwriters: Tom Hubbard/Fred Eggers/story The Rider of Ruby Hills by Louis L’Amour; cinematographer: John Martin; editor: Ace Herman; music: Edward J. Kay; cast: Zachary Scott (Ross Haney), Charles Fredericks (Walt Payne), Carole Matthews (Sherry Vernon), Rick Vallin (Robert Vernon), Barton MacLane (‘Chalk’ Reynolds), Dick Foran (Alan Doran), Lola Albright (May), Gordon Jones (Jack Voyle), Raymond Hatton (Westbrook ‘Scotty’ Scott), Lee Van Cleef (Frank Emmett), Stanley Andrews (Marshal); Runtime: 71; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: William F. Broidy; All Channel Films; 1955)
“A tough-talking western.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A tough-talking western directed by Frank McDonald(“Isle of Fury”/”The Underwater City“/”My Pal Trigger”). Tom Hubbard and Fred Eggers base it on the short story The Rider of Ruby Hills by Louis L’Amour.

It’s set in 1877, in the fertile valley of Ruby Hills, where most of the small ranchers have been driven off their land by ruthless land barons Barton MacLane and Charles Fredericks. They then fight among themselves to get sole control. Barton’s gunslinger chief Lee Van Cleef and Charles’ Gordon Jones, must face each other. Things change when Zachary Scott, the son of an outlaw, appears. He just bought the water rights to the range and plans to legally take control of the valley. We then learn the siblings who own the Double V Ranch (Carole Matthews & Rick Vallin) also contend for control of the valley. But Carolyn falls for Zachary and stands by him when the newcomer fights the others for control.

Shot in desirable B/W, armed with a good script and fine actors, the B-Western entertains with thrilling gun duels.

REVIEWED ON 4/3/2016 GRADE: B-

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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