Cavalry sergeant Clovis Hook (Joel McCrea) captures a ruthless band of marauding Apaches and, in doing so, rescues Cora Sutliff (Barbara Stanwyck), a white woman who has been held captive by the Indians for nine years and has even bore a son by Nanchez (Rudolfo Acosta) the band’s cruel chief.

Hook is assigned to accompany Mrs. Sutliff and her boy (Terry Lawrence), both of whom are scorned by most whites, back to her white husband (John Dehner).  Their journey by stagecoach brings them into contact with several interesting characters and becomes perilous when Nanchez escapes from custody intent on retrieving his son.

CRITIQUE

Trooper Hook (1957) is a “B” Western with an “A” cast.

This welcome co-starring reunion of Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck certainly boosted the otherwise modestly-budgeted film into the top half of double bills back in the late 1950s.

The characters, for the most part, are well defined, the story, which incorporates elements of Stagecoach and The Searchers, is intriguing and director Charles Marquis Warren supplies some good action sequences and keeps the film moving along at a nice pace.

Aside from the fact that the “low rent” aspects of the production, particularly in the sets and process screen work, is often apparent, my major complaint with Trooper Hook is that the ending is an abrupt and overly convenient cliché.  I’m not going to be a spoiler, but couldn’t the writers have come up with a more creative and believable finish to this otherwise well above average film?

With one exception the supporting cast, which includes Earl Holliman, Susam Kohner, Stanley Adams and, in particular, Royal Dano, who plays the cantankerous stagecoach driver, is fine.  The exception is Edward Andrews.  He’s a good actor, but perhaps I’ve seen him play a sniveling coward one too many times.

Overall, if you enjoy Westerns, Trooper Hook is not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

THE VIDEO

As part of MGM’s “Limited Edition Collection,” this is a “burned,” as opposed to a “pressed” DVD, and is manufactured from the best elements available.

The full screen, black-and-white picture has no significant problems.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital Mono Sound is crisp and clear, though the volume drops in a couple of reels.

THE EXTRAS

None are included.

FINAL THOUGHT

Trooper Hook is an entertaining, modestly budgeted Western, marred by an abrupt, too convenient ending.