Bend of the River

Beautiful, allegorical Western from the legendary team of director Anthony Mann and star James Stewart results with fine action and great cinematography.Stewart portrays a loner leading a wagon train westward trying to escape his renegade past. Along the way he runs into mysterious Arthur Kennedy, whom Stewart saves from a lynch mob's noose. They have great cameredrie, but that is tested when Stewart has to get supplies for his wagon pary who will not survive if they get through. Gold miners in the area need the supplies as well and offer a high price for the goods, which leads to conflict among the two men.Mann was a director who brought alot to the Western. He matured the genre and always made the films lean and mean with alot of intelligence and social commentary. He also brought out the best in his lead actor. Stewart gives a fine performance in this film as a man who wrestles with a past that he is still not sure he has left behind. The actor handles the violent action scenes well bringing a sense of realism and hard edgeiness that other actors could hardly compare with.The rest of the cast performs adequately including Kennedy, who is rather likeable, despite his sadistic ways. Rock Hudson is on board as a young gambler who aids Stewart and it's not surprising to see how he became a star. The two female leads are very lovely including the always likeable(and sexy) Julie Adams as the love interest of both Stewart and Kennedy. Lori Nelson portrays her sister and falls for Hudson. It's funny that both actresses are in this film because they'll both be the leading ladies to the Creature From the Black Lagoon. Adams, of course, most famous for her sexy swim in that white bathing suit in the first film and Nelson replacing her in it's sequel, "Revenge of the Creature"(1955). Even this film's soundtrack features music that will be later used in that film.It's unfortunate that this DVD is practically bare bones with only a Theatrical Trailer, but the print is nice and the price ain't bad.This movie is also available on Universal's Westerns of James Stewart collection which includes this and other works the actor did with Mann and some other noteable genre achievments.

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.

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.

I love this movie! The scenery is gorgeous. I had this on VHS but my old machine ate it. I'm glad I found it on DVD!

Good story

Leaving Ford and Hawks as too obvious for words, there are two "series" of westerns that have to be watched and appreciated: The Bud Boetticher/Randolph Scott series (Seven Men from Now, etc.) and the Anthony Mann/Jimmy Stewart series (Winchester 73, etc.). Bend of the River is in the latter series -- and the exception that proves the rule. It's awful. If it were your only access to the series, you'd find it hard to imagine the treat awaiting you in the others of the series.Incidentally, anyone with a serious fascination with the great Leone works will be delighted to find, in these two series, the sources of lots and lots of quotes. The gang (Leone, Bertolucci, etc.) responsible for Il Brutto and Once upon a Time ... were watching. "Frank? Why Frank?"

Gifted

This is an inexpensive way to enjoy a family friendly film about the old west. Jimmy Stewart excels as complex and sometimes dark character. The first scenes were filmed at the 4000 foot level of Mt Hood and is gorgeous to watch. Later on your treated to scenes on the Columbia River in an area that is now protected as a National Monument. Look for a young Rock Hudson in a key role.

The transfer is very good showing off the superb location photography and night scenes with clarity. Good sound and subtitles (fairly unusual for a western sadly). I have loved westerns for over 60 years from Ritter/Rocky Lane et al, and Ford/Wayne/Sturges. From A - Z almost. The odd thing is that apart from "Man From Laramie" I find it hard to really like Mann's westerns. I can't put my finger on why. They are all wonderfully directed and acted. Good plots, actors, and locations. So why? Is it that Stewart doesn't ring my bell? Here he is particularly "Aw Shucks" and physically looks very inneffective, but that shouldn't bother me?? Is it that there is little humour, but lots of violence? Usually won't bother me! Ah well. No answer. It is a good solid western on a large scale and an early perf. from Julie Adams helps (Lori Nelson is good too, but Rock is not ready yet!). Recomended for fans. Just wish I could be more enthusiastic.

The second of five genre defining Westerns that director Anthony Mann made with James Stewart, Bend Of The River is the first one to be made in color. The slick screenplay is written by Borden Chase from William Gulick's novel "Bend Of The Snake," with support for Stewart coming from Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, Rock Hudson & Jay C. Flippen.Stewart plays guide Glyn McLyntock who in 1847 is leading a wagon-train of homesteaders from troubled Missouri to the Oregon Territory. What the group are hoping for is a new start, a paradise, with McLyntock himself hoping for a new identity to escape his own troubled past. But after rescuing Emerson Cole {Kennedy} from a lynching, it's an act that has far reaching consequences for McLyntock and the trail once they get to Portland.In typical Anthony Mann style, McLyntock is a man tested to the maximum as he seeks to throw off his shackles and find a new redemption within a peaceful community. Cloaked in what would be become Mann's trademark stunning vistas {cinematography courtesy of Irving Glassberg}, Bend Of The River is often thought of as the lighter tale from the Stewart/Mann partnership; most likely because it has more action and no little amount of comedy in there. But although it's a simple story in essence, it is given a hardboiled and psychological edge by the makers. An edge that asks searching questions of its "hero" in waiting. Can "McLyntock" indeed escape his past? And as a "hero" is it OK to use violence when he is wronged? Potent stuff that is acted with tremendous gravitas by Stewart.Very recommended picture, but in truth all five of them are really. 7/10

I recently watched this film, for what might have been the tenth time on television. I remember as a child being a cowboy enthusiast to the ninth degree, sleeping with my cowboy hat on etc. James Stewart had a particular delivery of his lines that both annoyed and enthralled, certainly adding to the earnestness of his performances. As I have a sizeable collection of films which includes westerns, naturally I felt inclined to add this one. It should be a testament to his star appeal, even after all these years that, people will watch his performances and wish to keep copies of them.

Bend of the River is in many ways Anthony Mann's `nicest' Western, but underneath the gorgeous Technicolor location work there's a darker side to Stewart's border raider desperate to reform and his relationship with friendly enemy Arthur Kennedy that threatens fireworks to come - and when they do, in the last 20 minutes, there's no problem in believing the depth of Stewart's rage or the relentlessness of his pursuit. Shot on many of the same locations as the even darker The Far Country, it's still terrific entertainment. Stepinfetchit's role is a little uncomfortable, but compared to the humiliation inflicted upon him in other pictures he's allowed a bit more dignity here than usual, closer to Hank Worden's Old Mose Harper in The Searchers than the racial stereotypes other directors expected.As with Universal's DVD of Winchester '73, the print quality isn't always quite as good as it could be, but it's an acceptable transfer.

Bend of the River, directed by Anthony Mann, stars James Stewart as Glyn McLyntock, a reformed gunfighter who who risks his life to deliver supplies to homesteaders after gold is discovered in Oregon. While being attacked from two sides, the towns folk on one side and gold miners on another, McLyntock received unexpected help from a pair of gamblers (played by Arthur Kennedy and Rock Hudson). The film is typical of the westernsd of the era but this does not detract from the commanding performance given by James Stewart. It is a film that I can see myself watching again and again.