Hidden Valley (1932) Bob Steele, Gertrude Messinger, Francis McDonald, Ray Hallor Movie Review

Hidden Valley (1932)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Bob Steele in Hidden Valley (1932)

Digging Up an Old Story

Bob Harding (Bob Steele) has been hired by an archaeologist to escort him into Indian Territory and find Hidden Valley where if legend is true resides a fortune in riches. But when the archaeologist is murdered it is Bob who ends up being arrested for his murder despite being innocent. The real murderer is Gavin (George 'Gabby' Hayes) who involves Jimmie Lanners (Ray Hallor) when he hands him the stolen the map to the valley. But with Bob sentenced to hang he escapes and with Jimmie's sister Joyce (Gertrude Messinger) head to the valley where a band of angry Indians await so that not only can he clear his name but prevent a tragedy.

On one hand I could tell you that "Hidden Valley" is just a variation on that western staple where there is some hidden treasure and the good guy ends up wrongly charged with a murder and so has to escape to prove his innocence. But on the other hand I could say that whilst "Hidden Valley" reworks a familiar theme it does so in a creative manner with the more original storyline of an archaeologist in search of treasure with are a cowboy acting as escort. I could also mention that this western sees 'Gabby' Hayes as a henchman for a bad guy which most people won't have seen him play. But overall I have to say that the two sides of this movie make for nothing special.

What this all boils down to is that whilst "Hidden Valley" features some creativity when it comes to the storyline and features 'Gabby' Hayes in a bad guy role this ends up just another okay western from a bygone era.


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