Valley of Vengeance (DVD)

As young boys, Billy Carson and Fuzzy Q. Jones witness the brutal murder of their parents committed by Andrew Carberry and Rance Brett. Years later, Billy and Fuzzy return to the frontier town of King City, in search of the murderers. Before they can exact their revenge, Carberry and Brett are shot and killed. Arrested as the prime suspects Billy and Fuzzy tell the U. S. Marshal a strange tale of thievery, treachery, and murder

Possibly the best of the several dozen PRC B Westerns starring Buster Crabbe and Fuzzy St. John, Valley of Vengeance is certainly the most unusual. It begins with the story apparently well underway and quickly proceeds to what would normally be the climax, albeit one leaving numerous questions unanswered. Screenwriter Joe O'Donnell throws the viewer a curve by having Crabbe explain everything in flashbacks consuming most of the film's running time - an offbeat narrative gimmick that enhances the intricate plot. Buster and Fuzzy are also seen in this disc's special added attraction: an episode of "The Gabby Hayes Show," the ABC series in which the beloved sidekick introduced abridged versions of vintage PRC Westerns.

• western