Bend of the River

Where the River Bends (UK)

By VARIETY STAFF

Universal. Director Anthony Mann; Producer Aaron Rosenberg; Screenplay Borden Chase; Camera Irving Glassberg; Editor Russell Schoengarth; Music Hans J. Salter; Art Director Bernard Herzbrun, Nathan Juran
 
James Stewart
Arthur Kennedy
Julie Adams
Rock Hudson
Lori Nelson
Jay C. Flippen
 

Basic plot line is a simple affair, as lifted from Bill Gulick's novel, Bend of the Snake. It deals with a band of settlers who make a long, wagon train trek into Oregon to claim the country from the wilderness and the hardships of such pioneering.

James Stewart is the wagon train guide, leading the settlers into Oregon. He rescues Arthur Kennedy, a former Missouri raider, from a hanging and the latter joins the party for the trek to Portland, where group boards a river steamer for a journey into the back country. The summer passes and promised supplies that are to carry the settlers through the winter do not arrive. Stewart returns to Portland, finds the town gold-mad and the supplies held up for more money.

Stewart's handling of his role has punch. Kennedy socks his likeable heavy role. Julie Adams fulfills romantic demands of her top femme role, and Rock Hudson pleasantly projects the part of a young gambler who joins the settlers.

(Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1952. Running time: 91 MIN.