Steve D
One of Jimmy's best westerns.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/23/24
Full Review
Matthew B
I often think of Anthony Mann's westerns as morality westerns. They are tough and punctuated with violence, and the hero is flawed, and not a straightforwardly good figure. Nonetheless the stories usually end happily, and the hero achieves some form of redemption.
Bend of the River is different from the other Anthony Mann/James Stewart westerns. Here there is redemption for the hero, but that redemption has begun before the story even starts. The tension lies in whether the hero will be allowed to continue to be a reformed man, or whether his past actions will return to drive him away from decent society.
This hero is Glyn McLyntock, and he has thrown in his lot with a caravan of settlers hoping to move to Oregon to start their lives again. This is the life that McLyntock wants, and he hopes to join them as a farmer or rancher. Indeed he appears to be the ideal companion for the settlers. He acts as guardian to them, and is greatly trusted by their leader, Jeremy Baile (Jay C Flippen). He may even be a suitable husband for Baile's daughter, Laura (Julie Adams), but there is no spoken agreement between them.
The test of the Bailes' faith in McLyntock comes when he rescues a man from being lynched. McLyntock does not even care about the guilt or innocence of the man who about to be hanged. He rescues him simply because he does not like hanging, and it only at the end of the movie that we fully appreciate why when we see rope burns on McLyntock's own neck.
The man that McLyntock rescues is Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy), and it is soon clear that the two men are familiar with one another's names, and have a professional respect for one another. The difference between McLyntock and Cole is that McLyntock is now reformed and trying to lead an honest life, whereas Cole is still operating on the wrong side of the law.
The question remains what will happen when Baile discovers that McLyntock's background is the same as the detested Cole. Can he accept that McLyntock has genuinely changed, or will the discovery be sufficient to drive McLyntock out of this newly-forming community? We have to wait until the end of the movie to find out the answer.
Bend of the River is more of a work of entertainment than an arthouse movie. However the script allows for some intelligent ideas, it boasts an excellent cast, and Anthony Mann pulls it together with lean, taut directing that keeps the story interesting and exciting, even during the scenes between the action setpieces.
I wrote a fuller appreciation of the film on my blog page if you're interested in reading more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2018/12/01/bend-of-the-river-a-ka-where-the-river-bends-1952/
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
08/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Outstanding movie, good family entertainment highly recommended, James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, July 23, 2023
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
07/24/23
Full Review
Liam D
This proves that James Stewart (The Last Gangster, Airport '77) is more than an romantic lead or an a goody two shoes
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
04/22/22
Full Review
david f
I expected more from the talent here, and with the great reputation the film has. It's got cowboys, Indians, and a man with a past, all the trappings of a Western, including great scenery. But the plot about a guide with a mysterious, impenetrable background just didn't do much for me.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
When a town boss confiscates homesteader's supplies after gold is discovered nearby, a tough cowboy risks his life to try and get it to them.
Stars: James Stewart, Rock Hudson, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams ( Creature from the Black Lagoon).
What a great western ! .Anthony Mann worked for the second time with James Stewart in Bend of the River (1952).Jimmy does good work as always.Arthur Kennedy is brilliant in his role.The beautiful and talented Julie Adams plays Laura Baile and she does it great.Lori Nelson is wonderful as Marjie Baile.Rock Hudson is a gambler named Trey Wilson and he's terrific.Jimmy Stewart always was very particular about any picture that he appeared in and I can see why he liked this film. The photography is good, the scenery monumental, raw, majestic. It's an enjoyable movie, especially if you're interested in the Westerns of the 1950s, a good example of the joint work of Anthony Mann and Jimmy Stewart.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
Full Review
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