Bend of the River (1952)
Grade: 67
"Bend of the River" is a good Western, with well-developed themes of loyalty and redemption, with revenge thrown in for good measure.
"Bend of the River" stars James Stewart, who has the enormous task of leading a team of homesteaders, first across the country in conestoga wagons, and then securing them needed suppiles after the settlement has been founded. Of course, many troubles await the hapless settlers, who seem wholly dependent upon Stewart for their aid.
Both Stewart and his sometime partner Arthur Kennedy have been on the wrong side of the law in the past. Patriarch Jay Flippen, figurehead leader of the expedition led in fact by Stewart, does not believe that a person's moral character can change. While we know that Stewart will be loyal to the homesteaders to his final breath, can Stewart convince Flippen of this when he learns of Stewart's past? More important, will Kennedy, who repeatedly saves Stewart's life, remain loyal to the cause despite temptations to profiteer the supplies?
Stewart's first Western was the comedy "Destry Rides Again" in 1939. Looking to extend his range, he made his next, more serious, western, "Winchester '73" in 1951. It was an excellent movie. "Bend of the River" is generally a good movie, but it has some faults that help keep it short of the quality of its predecessor.
Early in the film, Stewart and Kennedy hunt and kill raiding Indians who communicate by imitating bird calls. These scenes are practically lifted from the great western "Red River" (1948).
There are derogatory stereotypes of blacks. A white riverboat captain has a black assistant (Stepin Fetchit) that is dim-witted and has slurred speech. There is also a sassy housemaid with a strong Southern accent. Intended as comic relief, to modern eyes it just looks like racism.
Universal studios was promoting the career of then-unknown Rock Hudson. His gratuitous good-guy gambler character appears to have been inserted by force into the film, and he is out of place.
Stewart's obsession with obtaining suppliers for the settlers leads to a gunfight with considerable carnage. Stewart never questions whether obtaining a few barrels of grain and meat is worth the lives of a half-dozen men.
Look for Henry Morgan, who would much later play Col. Potter on the TV show M*A*S*H, in a minor supporting role.
Faults aside, "Bend of the River" is an intelligent western, filled with action and tension, with nary a dull moment.
http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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