Marshal of Cedar Rock (1953) Online

Marshall Rocky Lane allows Bill Anderson to escape from prison hoping that he can lead Lane to the outlaw gang that Anderson was mixed up with went sent to prison, but Lane discovers that Anderson was framed for the bank robbery by the banker Henry Mason who now plans to force all of the cattlemen and ranchers to sell him their spreads (through his real estate syndicate) so that the railroad will pay him top dollar for the land rather than the owners. Mason substitutes one of his men for the railroad agent Harper (after his men have disposed of the real Harper), but Mason discovers that Anderson knew the real Harper and he tries to get him killed, as well as Lane who Mason suspects knows too much about his operations. The Rocky Lane entry is as good as many of the series despite the lack of action until the 45 minute mark, but director Keller and write DeMond make up for that with a good deal of suspense and anticipation throughout (with great pacing of the film) helped by the solid cast, even though Waller had a much smaller part than in many other Lane films. Rating, based on B westerns, 7

THE MARSHAL OF CEDAR ROCK is a well-done entry in Allan "Rocky" Lane's series of film, but what makes this particular picture especially noteworthy is its featuring three regular cast members of the 1950s ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN television series. John Hamilton (Perry White) has a cameo as the prison warden at the movie's opening and is not seen again, but Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson) and Phyllis Coates (the first season's Lois Lane) enjoy featured roles. It added a dimension of fun to an already fun film.

By 1953 when this film was released Shayne and Coates had already worked together on the SUPERMAN show, and while sharing only a couple scenes together do get a chance in this picture to do some different things. It was especially fun seeing Shayne play a ne'er-do-well after knowing him almost exclusively as the inflexible arm of the law. Coates gives a good performance, though it was one that certainly didn't stretch her as an actress. Here she is able to be romantic and sweet on her beau Bill Henry (as opposed to brassy and caustic as she often was to Clark Kent).

In an early scene Coates is on a runaway buckboard and who among us didn't half-expect to see George Reeves fly to the rescue? Never fear, Rocky Lane is here, and he did just swell pinch-hitting for the red-n'-blue cheese in saving the damsel in distress.

And speaking of beloved B Western institutions, this film features a grizzled old and bearded crabapple in the tradition of Gabby Hayes and Andy Clyde's California Carlson, but he didn't have the charm of either of those curmudgeons. I kept wondering how Uncle Nugget ever got elected head of the local cattlemen's association.

To me, these B Westerns are like potato chips: I can't stop at just one. And even when the this one is much like the preceding one, they're all entertaining and leave me looking forward to the next one. And the more a fella watches the more he enjoys seeing familiar faces pop up again like old friends, such as Roy Barcroft, who plays the baddie here (there and everywhere, it sometimes seems!).

THE MARSHAL OF CEDAR ROCK is worth watching by B Western buffs and is an absolute must-see for fans of the '50s SUPERMAN TV show. I just enjoyed it on DVD as one of the four films comprising Platinum's Great American Western, Volume 39.

Marshal Rocky Lane and prison warden John Hamilton cook up a plan to allow young Bill Henry to break jail to see if he'll locate the others in the bank robbery he was convicted for. It's a daring plan and if it doesn't work their careers will be circling the bowl.

But trailing Henry convinces Lane that the escapee just might not be guilty at all. In fact banker Roy Barcroft just might be involved in some wholesale swindling and won't stop at anything to make a quick buck including murder.

Marshal Of Cedar Rock was a good product from Republic Pictures and their dwindling supply of movie cowboys and a lessening demand for these B films which the audience could get on the small screen.

Another reviewer was right it did look like the cast of Superman went on hiatus to do this movie. Besides John Hamilton, Robert Shayne plays a phony railroad agent and Lois Lane number one Phyllis Coates plays Eddy Waller's niece and the girl that Bill Henry was courting and who Roy Barcroft was trying to move in on.

Barcroft plays a very crafty villain, but something unforeseen does him in. You have to watch Marshal Of Cedar Rock to know what that is.