Main Cast: Lucille Ball, James Craig, Cedric Hardwicke, Dean Jagger, Peter Whitney
Release Year: 1942
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Though officially based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Clarence Buddington Kelland, RKO Radio's Valley of the Sun was obviously inspired by the blockbuster comedy western Destry Rides Again (indeed, both films were directed by George Marshall). James Craig stars as Indian scout Jonathan, whose pro-Native American sentiments do not rest well with crooked civilian Indian agent Jim Sawyer (Dean Jagger), who intends to benefit from an impending tribal uprising. Court-martialed on a trumped-up charge fomented by Sawyer, Jonathan escapes the stockade with the help of a friendly sergeant and rides off to Washington DC, hoping to forestall an all-out Indian war. En route, he makes the acquaintance of Sawyer's snooty fiancee Christine (Lucille Ball), forcing her into a marriage for plot reasons too complicated to go into here. After juggling comedy and melodrama for nearly eight reels, the film turns serious towards the climax, when the fate of the protagonists falls into the hands of level-headed Indian chieftan Cochise (Antonio Moreno) and his hotheaded rival Geronimo (Tom Tyler). RKO's first big-budget western in several years, Valley of the Sun lost $158,000 at the box office, temporarily discouraging any followups. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Valley of the Sun is an enjoyable little comedy Western. It's easy to take, but it's also true that it would probably have been a better film if it had fallen solidly on one side of its hybrid fence -- as either an all-out comedy or an all-out Western. The two halves don't fit together as well as they might, and this mitigates Valley's impact. That said, Valley is a pleasant, sometimes involving little flick, and fans of Westerns and/or of Lucille Ball will find much here to enjoy. Ball fans may be a bit taken aback at first, as the small screen's most expert comedienne is called upon to play things much straighter than one might anticipate. She acquits herself very well, though one can't help but which the writer had given her just one chance to really let go and show what she can do in the comedy department. James Craig does very well as the male lead; he lacks that little extra spark that would have made him a real star, but his looks, manner and ability are more than enough to handle the chores assigned him in Valley. George Marshall keeps up a brisk pace, and there are some good actions scenes to keep the romance from reaching its inevitable conclusion too soon. All in all, not a great film, but a fine way to pass a bit of time. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
