Universal Studios presents "BEND OF THE RIVER" (1952) (91 min/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Glyn McLyntock (James Stewart) is a former outlaw, now working as trail guide for a group of Oregon-bound farmers --- He is aided in this endeavor by Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy), a far-from-reformed horse thief --- Upon arriving in Portland, McLyntock gets in the middle of a scam operated by a trader who has reneged on his promise to ship goods to the settlers --- Unable to take action through legal channels, McLyntock and farmer Jeremy Baile steal the provision and scurry back to the settlement by boat --- On their return, they discover that Cole has sold out to the trader and intends to reclaim the supplies, taking Baile and his daughter Laura as hostages to ensure safe passage.
As in the other Stewart-Mann productions, James Stewart breaks away from his usual easygoing screen persona to play a tough, self-serving rugged individual, whose true motives and loyalties remain in doubt until the very end of the film.
Bend of the River was adapted by Borden Chase from Bill Gulick's novel "Bend of the Snake" --- Chase also scripted two other Stewart/Mann westerns: "Winchester '73" (1950) & "The Far Country" (1954).
Under the production staff of:
Directed by
Anthony Mann [Director]
Borden Chase (screenplay)
William Gulick [novel "Bend of the Snake"]
Frank Cleaver [Associate Producer]
Aaron Rosenberg [Producer]
Hans J. Salter [Original Film Music]
Irving Glassberg [Cinematographer]
Russell F. Schoengarth [Film Editor]
BIOS:
1. Anthony Mann [aka: Emil Anton Bundesmann] - [Director]
Date of Birth: 30 June 1906 - San Diego, California
Date of Death: 29 April 1967 - Berlin, Germany
2. James Stewart
Date of Birth: 20 May 1908 - Indiana, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 2 July 1997 - Los Angeles, California
3. Rock Hudson [aka: Roy Harold Scherer Jr]
Date of Birth: 17 November 1925 - Winnetka, Illinois
Date of Death: 2 October 1985 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
the cast includes:
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
Royal Dano - Long Tom
Frank Ferguson - Tom Grundy
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 91 min on DVD ~ Universal Studios ~ (05/06/2003)
