Shadow Valley

To my way of thinking Eddie Dean was one of the best singer-song writers of the 1940's. He wrote the country western classic "One Has My Name The Other Has My Heart," which has been recorded many times by many different artists, also being a big hit for Jerry Lee Lewis when Jerry Lee switched from rock to country. So why didn't Eddie Dean write the music for this movie? Instead he sings three songs that are trite and forgettable. He was also a much better singer-song writer than he was an actor. One thing that impressed me about this movie was the appearance of the very lovely Jennifer Holt, Tim Holt's sister. She adds much to the movie and plays a strong-willed determined young woman, much more independent minded than the usual Saturday matinée cowgirl, including Dale Evans. The low-budget nature of the film is obvious in the cabin that serves as the ranch. The "ranch" looks more like a hideout for the bad guys. In fact, the hideout for the outlaws in the film isn't much smaller than the "ranch." Soapy Jones is no Gabby Hayes or Fuzzy St. John, but he does a creditable job as the comical sidekick who has fun trying to learn how to shoot, usually in the direction of the "ranch house." It's too bad that Eddie Dean wasn't given better songs to sing, but the movie is still a lot of fun to watch, if you don't expect too much.