Bend of the River
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Movie Reviews of Bend of the River
Movie Review: Who are you running away from?
Summary: 5 Stars
Man-with-a-past Glyn McLyntock (James Stewart) guides a wagon train of settlers to new land in Oregon. They first battle man and mountains to reach the land and later looming starvation when their vital first year supplies are delayed and hijacked by men maddened with gold fever. All the while McLyntock is haunted by his secret past: Can a bad man change? Perhaps more importantly, will others let you change?
Jimmy Stewart and Anthony Mann collaborated on some of the best westerns ever. In them they usually explored the inner demons the main character was wrestling with. Beyond vague references to McLyntock's past (He's THE Glyn McLyntock of the Missouri border wars, one character tells us, explaining it all) and hints that he was once the odd-man out during a lynching party, we're spared the gruesome details. McLyntock's past is left unexplored, the point being that he has the capacity to be very bad, and is trying his best to start anew. I can't think of any other actor, then or now, capable of convincingly playing a basically decent character who, when pressed, allows the devils to erupt.
The same can, and can't, be said for Arthur Kennedy's Emerson Cole, another gun sharp who, like McLyntock, has a capacity for goodness but seems a little weaker when confronted with temptation. McLyntock and Cole are from the Kansas and Missouri area, "good, clean country" moral center and settler leader Jeremy Baile (Jay C. Flippen) says, "'til man came in to steal and kill. Can't let it happen here." Of course Baile doesn't know anything about McLyntock's past and trusts him completely, a trust McLyntock values enough to make him that much more concerned about keeping his secrets secret.
A strong cast and story makes BEND OF THE RIVER one of the best movies of the 1950s. As usual in a Mann western, the story is played out against a glorious, Technicolor background. In this case Mount Hood, Sandy River, and Timberline, all in Oregon. The story is credible and, as usual, Stewart is excellent as the outlaw trying to reform. Strongly recommended.
Movie Review: One of the All Time Great Westerns. Don't miss it
Summary: 5 Stars
Although James Stewart had appeared in the western DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939) he was more likely to be found in some sophisticated comedy or other up to and after WW2. Then he played the former army scout Tom Jeffords in BROKEN ARROW (1950). Directed by Delmer Daves.
Next came his first collaboration with director Anthony Mann in WINCHESTER '73 (1950) filmed in black & white, following the success of these two well-received westerns, James Stewart's and Anthony Mann's second western outing was BEND OF THE RIVER aka WHERE THE RIVER BENDS (1952). Adapted by Borden Chase (script writer) from a story "Bend of the Snake" by William Gulick, this time with the added bonus of Technicolor and the beautiful scenery on and around Mount Hood, Oregon, USA. Although BROKEN ARROW was made first it was released after WINCHESTER '73.
Starring along with James Stewart are Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, Rock Hudson and Jay C Flippen. The last two also appeared with Stewart in the aforementioned WINCHESTER '73 Wagon Master Jeremy Baile (Flippen) is leading a group of settlers from Missouri to Oregon. McLyntock (Stewart) is the scout who saves Cole (Kennedy) from a lynch party, both men turn out to be former Missouri border raiders during the Civil War. Along the way they meet Indians, Gold Fever, Treachery and the Forces of Nature.
Made in only six weeks BEND OF THE RIVER turned into a cash machine for Universal and was one of the most successful westerns of all time (Inflation adjusted).
Finally this magnificent western puts the Mann-Stewart partnership second only to John Ford and John Wayne. No matter how often I see this film it remains one of my favourite westerns ever, and still looks fine on this 2004 DVD Release. Look out for the 2006 DVD release of THE NAKED SPUR (1953) the third western in the Mann-Stewart series.
Movie Review: Bend of the River a Jimmy Stewart classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Jimmy Stewart as Glyn McLintock, scout leader for a wagon train of settlers headed for Oregon, a man running from his past as a border raider and hoping to prove a man can change. He saves Emerson Cole, also a cowboy with a shadowy past, from hanging for a horse "he didn't really steal". Together they fight Indians and a crooked town leader whose lust for money threatens the survival of the Oregon settlers-stranded miles away in their settlement, struggling without the undelivered supplies they paid for. Arthur Kennedy is Cole, the friend who becomes the enemy for McLintock, his lust for gold becomes more important than the lives of the settlers or the girl he wants. Cole steals the supplies to sell for gold, sets the showdown between the two men for the survival of the wagon train and the girl they both wanted. Julia Adams is Oregon settler Laura Baile, the girl caught between them and Rock Hudson stars as Trey Wilson, professional gambler whose loyalty is tested in the showdown for gold over the settlers. One of Stewart's best westerns.Movie Review: One of the better Westerns of Jimmy...
Summary: 5 Stars
Another classic Western offering starring Jimmy Stewart.
There is not much to be said about this DVD transfer, just that as MGM/UA, even Universal Studios don't do too much with their classics, except transferring their Films in digital format.
One must also add, that so far, since the copies transferred, where almost pristine looking, save some minor scratches and dust speckles, their DVDs, and those of MGM/UA, still look at least decent if not good on a 16:9 Television.
Yet one wonders why they never bother to restore them digitally to a cleaner copy and perhaps adding some depth to their soundtracks.
But it is a James Stewart Western, and like those of the Duke, they cannot be missed and on DVD they really look at their best.
They are just Classics and as such, they should be part of any serious movie collector's movie vault.
Entertainment guaranteed.
Movie Review: Hardbitten Stewart/Mann Western
Summary: 5 Stars
Bend of The River was the second film in the wonderful collaboration between James Stewart and Anthony Mann. This film has all the hallmarks of the collaboration - great acting, literate script, and taut direction.
Stewart again plays an embittered man with a past, who with Arthur Kennedy leads a wagon trail of settlers from Missouri to Oregon. The two get the wagon train settled outside of Portland, but there's a need for supplies, and a gold mining camp wants its hands on the supplies as well. Add this to Kennedy's larcenous behavior and you have the making of a great Western.
Stewart, Kennedy, and a young Rock Hudson are all excellent, and Mann's direction keeps things moving, and moving in the right direction. The Stewart/Mann films featured characters that seemed real and consequences that seemd to fit the situation. Bend of The River is a great film for all Western movie lovers.