Bend of the River (1952)

RELEASED IN 1952 and directed by Anthony Mann, "Bend of the River" stars James Stewart as wagon master, Glyn McLyntock, who leads pioneers to a remote settlement near Mount Hood, Oregon. When a profit-minded Portland boss confiscates the settlers' winter supplies due to a gold rush, McLyntock teams-up with a good-natured-but-dubious gunman (Arthur Kennedy) and a gentleman gambler (Rock Hudson) to get the supplies to them. Harry Morgan & Royal Dano are on hand as ne'er-do-wells while Julie Adams, Lori Nelson and Frances Bavier appear in feminine roles.This was the second of five Westerns Mann did with Stewart. These were uncompromisingly harsh, psychological Westerns featuring themes of revenge, obsession, rage and redemption. They were spectacularly shot on location, rather than in the studio, providing a backdrop of authentic rugged beauty. In this film you'll often see Mount Hood looming in the distance.A lot of action & events are crammed into an hour and a half, which is great for action fans or those with ADHD. Take, for instance, the opening campout sequence where the Natives waste little time in attacking; or the saloon scene where someone gets fatally shot within minutes. I'm not complaining because I enjoy muscular action, but the downside is that the movie lacks the mundaneness of real life in the Old West. That said, it's highly realistic in that it shows you how tough it was for settlers. Take, for instance, the rough, bumpy trails the wagons had to traverse.In any case, this is a dynamic, tough, psychological early 50's Western with James Stewart. It's atypical and original (although people say it has similarities to 1946' "Canyon Passage, which I've never seen). You just have to acclimate to some old-fashioned hokey elements.THE MOVIE RUNS 91 minutes and was shot in the Columbia River/Mount Hood region of northern Oregon. WRITERS: Borden Chase from William Gulick's novel.GRADE: B

BEND OF THE RIVER is a film that is based on the conflict between two strong characters that have the same past. However, they completely opposite think about the future. The director in this film, pay attention to the story, psychological analysis and demonstrated the sheer sense for psychology of personality. The former robber is scout who seeks a caravan of immigrants to bring in their new home in Oregon. The story shows how he joins with a man similar to the past, but due to different views on the future, the two become enemies. Well, partly because of the beautiful immigrant. I'll be sure to praise the picture and realism conflict between two characters.James Stewart as Glyn McLyntock He experienced wins space in the film. The gunman who tried to escape from the past and become a farmer and cattleman. However, his past catches up him with every step. Mr. Stewart is a pretty good deal with the challenges in this film. Arthur Kennedy as Emerson Cole on the robber that his past can not be hidden. He's too fast on the trigger. Character that has a strange sense of justice and friendship, as long as he at one point smells money.Adventure western that is worth seeing.

Another example of writer Borden Chase ripping off himself by regurgitating his dialogue from past movies.Jimmy Stewart is totally unlikable as a wagon train guide who conveniently disappears for a couple of hours when it's time to unload the wagons and make camp. Then while all the settlers are toiling in the hot sun, Jimbo is over by the water trough taking a cool sip as he arrogantly throws what he didn't drink into the dirt. My personal favorite of the Jimster's lazy antics is when he makes sure he's at the grub table before anyone else so he can get the first piece of bacon.Boring Anthony Mann-directed western, but at least it's not as bad as 'The Naked Spur'.

The Follow Up to Winchester 73 (1950) is Another One Aimed at Adults and Helped the Genre Mature and Gave it a Gravitas with Added Psychology, Complex Characters, and Evolving and Unpredictable Plot Developments.The Ingredients are All Here that Made the Mann/Stewart Collaborations Enduring and Classic. Technicolor, Rough and Rugged Virgin Terrain and Raw Danger. The Outdoor, Outward Struggle for Survival and the Inner Soul Searching about Past Sins and Redemption, to find a Center of Being that was Individually Acceptable and Socially Necessary for a Civilization.This Film has an Extremely High Body Count, Probably the Highest of the Five Films, and it is Foreshadowed by the Opening where the Indians are Actually Counted Down Numerous Times ("How many are there? Five...That makes four...that leaves three......now there are none."). But that's just the Beginning. Dozens More (all White Men) will meet Their Death before its Over in Gunbattles that are like Shooting Galleries and Chaotic Situations where Bullets are Flying Everywhere.After One such Battle Stewart turns to Arthur Kennedy (another fine performance as a McClintock's alter ego), who keeps Unloading His Rifle into Trapped Horseman when it is No Longer Necessary, and Shouts, "That's enough, hold your fire." Kennedy says "why?" Flashing a Maniacal Grin, Stewart Replies, "If you don't know, I can't tell ya." Simple but Chilling.