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The fifth of eight low-budget Westerns starring Lane Chandler, this Willis Kent production was apparently filmed at Hollywood's International studios in 1932 but not released until 1934. Chandler plays Bob Rand, an investigator for the Cattleman's Association hired to capture El Lobo, a notorious rustler. Bob quickly learns that the wanted outlaw is actually Big Mike Carter (J.P. McGowan, who also directed) and that he is holed up with his gang on a deserted ranch. Left to die in the desert by "Bull" LeMoyne, one of El Lobo's henchmen (Rychard Cramer), Bob is rescued by lovely Rosita (Gertrude Messinger), whose father (Si Jenks) convinces the investigator to go undercover. But in spite of his disguise, Bob and Rosita are captured by El Lobo who, unbeknownst to Bob, is his own father. To save his son from the vicious gang members, El Lobo sacrifices his own life by dynamiting the ranch. Written by the prolific Oliver Drake, Lawless Valley bore a strong resemblance to a previous Chandler Western, Guns for Hire, also written by Drake, in which a young gunfighter discovers that his enemy is his teacher and foster parent.