Yancy Lane doesn't even rate a mention in my big book of Westerns - in fact the only names that were recognisable to me was little Dickie Jones (who apparently was an expert horse rider and was discovered by Hoot Gibson) and director Edward Dmytryk. I never thought the director I so admired for films like "Crossfire" and "Obsession" cut his directorial teeth on oaters like "The Hawk" (his first film).
This movie about a cowboy searching for his real father has a few things in it that make it more memorable than the usual run of the mill Western. The character with all the smarts is not a horse but a beautiful Alsation called Zandra who, with the help of Dickie, actually rounds up the villains and Jennie, the object of Jay's affections, rides them in. There is also a lively tap dance by Dickie which proved that child actors in those times had to be multi-talented.
Jay (Yancy Lane) finds himself at his father's ranch but of course, in the tradition of all these sorts of movies, doesn't let on who he really is. By saving little Dickie's life he instantly becomes indispensable and is soon given a position of trust in finding the Hawk. But Jay's past catches up with him - you see he has robbed the post office of a letter that is rightfully his and is now wanted for mail fraud. Dickie and Betty, who is now in love with him, try to keep it a secret but the foreman of the ranch (who is in reality the Hawk) is only too eager for the news to come out!!!
The movie definitely has a good fight to recommend it - realistically fought down the side of a steep trail. I also don't believe there is any 1949 footage in the movie I viewed, which I have in a Western Legends pack. There isn't a Baby Sandra and Dickie Jones who is in almost every scene would have been at least 20 in 1949.
This movie about a cowboy searching for his real father has a few things in it that make it more memorable than the usual run of the mill Western. The character with all the smarts is not a horse but a beautiful Alsation called Zandra who, with the help of Dickie, actually rounds up the villains and Jennie, the object of Jay's affections, rides them in. There is also a lively tap dance by Dickie which proved that child actors in those times had to be multi-talented.
Jay (Yancy Lane) finds himself at his father's ranch but of course, in the tradition of all these sorts of movies, doesn't let on who he really is. By saving little Dickie's life he instantly becomes indispensable and is soon given a position of trust in finding the Hawk. But Jay's past catches up with him - you see he has robbed the post office of a letter that is rightfully his and is now wanted for mail fraud. Dickie and Betty, who is now in love with him, try to keep it a secret but the foreman of the ranch (who is in reality the Hawk) is only too eager for the news to come out!!!
The movie definitely has a good fight to recommend it - realistically fought down the side of a steep trail. I also don't believe there is any 1949 footage in the movie I viewed, which I have in a Western Legends pack. There isn't a Baby Sandra and Dickie Jones who is in almost every scene would have been at least 20 in 1949.