Bend of the River (1952)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
Two men with questionable pasts, Glyn McLyntock and his friend Cole, lead a wagon-train load of homesteader
from Missouri to the Oregon territory. They establish a settlement outside of Portland and as winter nears,
it is necessary for McLyntock and Cole to rescue and deliver food and supplies being held in Portland by corrupt officials.
On the trip back to the settlement, up river and over a mountain, Cole engineers a mutiny to
divert the supplies to a gold mining camp for a handsome profit..
Written by Herman Seifer

Full Cast
James Stewart ... Glyn McLyntock
Arthur Kennedy ... Emerson Cole
Rock Hudson ... Trey Wilson
Jay C. Flippen ... Jeremy Baile
Julie Adams ... Laura Baile (as Julia Adams)
Lori Nelson ... Marjie Baile
Chubby Johnson ... Cap'n Mello
Stepin Fetchit ... Adam (as Stepin' Fetchit)
Harry Morgan ... Shorty (as Henry Morgan)
Howard Petrie ... Tom Hendricks
Frances Bavier ... Mrs. Prentiss
Jack Lambert ... Red
Royal Dano ... Long Tom
Frank Chase ... Wasco
Cliff Lyons ... Willie
Frank Ferguson ... Tom Grundy
Victor Adamson ... Extra (uncredited)
Harry Arnie ... Barker (uncredited)
Gregg Barton ... Miner (uncredited)
Charles Bennett ... Young Man (uncredited)
Manuel Thomas Golemis ... Miner (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... Barker (uncredited)
Philo McCullough ... Prospector (uncredited)
Dal McKennon ... Miner (uncredited)
Jennings Miles ... Lock (uncredited)
Ron Myron ... Man at Settlement Camp (uncredited)
George North ... Trapper (uncredited)
Hugh Prosser ... Johnson (uncredited)
Richard Randlett ... Man at Settlement Camp (uncredited)
Lillian Randolph ... Aunt Tildy, Hendricks' Maid (uncredited)
George Taylor ... Prospector (uncredited)
Albertine V. West ... Woman at Settlement Camp (uncredited)
Britt Wood ... Roustabout (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Borden Chase (screenplay)
William Gulick (novel "Bend of the Snake") (as Bill Gulick)

Original Music
Hans J. Salter

Cinematography
Irving Glassberg

Trivia
James Stewart was so upset when Rock Hudson received more cheering and applause at the premiere that he vowed never to talk to the actor again, let along work with him - and he never did.

The last film in which James Stewart had his own hair.

Though the film received generally poor reviews, it is noteworthy as marking a turning point in James Stewart's career as he began to play much more violent, cynical and ruthless characters.

In Finland this film is called "Maa vuorten takana", meaning "The Land Behind the Mountains" in English.

Julie Adams has the female lead in Jack Arnold's Creature from the Black Lagoon. Lori Nelson, who plays Adams' sister in this film, has the female lead in the sequel to "Creature", Revenge of the Creature.

While in Portland, Tom Grundy (played by Frank Ferguson) asks Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy) "Don't I know you?" In Man of the West, Ferguson--playing the sheriff of Crosscut--asks Gary Cooper the same question.

Goofs
Anachronisms
Several shots of Mt. Hood reveal jet contrails across the horizon.

Near the middle of the movie, the wagons filled with supplies for the settlement have stopped to "noon" just above the tree line. Just as Glyn rides up to get a cup of coffee, there are a series of what look like power poles or telephone lines at the left side of the screen on the horizon.

Continuity
The heroes pass the same large, flat, rock formation twice during the trek with supplies.

When Laura Baile gets shot by an arrow, it is almost between her neck and her breast. Soon later, it is high in her right shoulder.

The way Cole tries to gouge Glyn's eye changes between shots.

Errors in geography
Near the beginning of the film, while camped very close to the base of what is obviously Mt Hood, Jimmy Stewart's character says they are heading for a place 150 miles east of Portland. Mt Hood is only 50 miles east from Portland. Not only that, but they go through Portland on their way to their settlement.

At the base of Mt Hood, the settlers are attacked by a band of Indians that the trail guide declares are Shoshone. Although there were Shoshone (Paiute) tribes in southeast Oregon, Mt Hood is in north central Oregon along the Washington border - too far to the northwest to have been on any Shoshone ground.

Revealing mistakes
After Glyn blows out the lantern with his bare hand, he lowers the globe. It should be very hot to touch.

Filming Locations
Columbia River, Oregon, USA
Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
Sandy River, Oregon, USA
Timberline, Oregon, USA

Bend of the River is directed by Anthony Mann
and starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, and Rock Hudson.
Based on the 1952 novel Bend of the Snake by Bill Gulick.
Bend of the River was filmed on location is on Mount Hood, Sandy River,
and Timberline, Oregon.
This is the second Western film collaboration between
Anthony Mann and James Stewart.

User Review

Quote

A cut above usual Western fare
16 July 2006 | by matchettja (Japan)

The story revolves around a group of pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail on their way to start new lives in the Oregon territory. After purchasing supplies in Portland and a promise to have them delivered before winter, they begin building their settlements in the valley they have chosen. In the meantime, gold is discovered in the territory and a dispute arises as to who will get those precious wagon loads of supplies.

There is much to enjoy. The cinematography, filmed in the Columbia River Gorge and around Mt. Hood in Oregon, is wonderful. We also get a glimpse of Celilo Falls, once a sacred fishing site for native Americans in the area but now buried beneath the waters backed up behind the Dalles Dam. The music score blends in nicely with the action and there is plenty of that. Of the actors, Rock Hudson seems out of place, but James Stewart more than makes up for it with his frenzied performance. He is electric when, left behind on the mountain side, he tells his adversary, "You'll be seeing me!"

However, this film is not without its faults. Quite a lot of blood is shed trying to get those wagons delivered but it doesn't seem to be much cause for concern or regret, as if life out on the frontier didn't hold much value. Characters are introduced one moment to be summarily disposed of the next. Trail boss Stewart, a former border raider during the Civil War looking to change his life, still uses violence on behalf of the settlers, who seem to enjoy moral superiority over the miners.

Thus, I don't consider "Bend of the River" among the best of several director Mann/actor Stewart collaborations of the 1950's. Even so, it is a cut above usual Western fare. The scenery, music and steel-eyed Stewart are all magnificent.

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