Bend Of The River

Year: 1952

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Mann

Review

not as good as far country or winchester ’73 (both starring stewart and directed by mann, as is this film), but it’s a worthwhile western nonetheless. stewart finds himself in a familiar spot – a man with a shady past trying to straighten out. he, again, is involved in a lenghty phsyical journey – in winchester 73 he was chasing the gun, in far country he was leading a group into the yukon wilderness, and in bend of the river he’s escorting winter food supplies to a famers’ settlement. nice vistas and solid acting from stewart and jay c. flippen. rock hudson has a minor role that is adequate and arthur kennedy’s role is good, but he could have filled the role better. overall a fine western, it’s just not up to snuff with the other mann/stewart efforts that i’ve seen so far.