Bend of the River
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| Bend of the River | |
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| Directed by | Anthony Mann |
| Produced by | Aaron Rosenberg Frank Cleaver |
| Written by | Borden Chase |
| Starring | James Stewart Arthur Kennedy Julie Adams Rock Hudson |
| Music by | Hans J. Salter |
| Cinematography | Irving Glassberg |
| Editing by | Russell F. Schoengarth |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | February 13, 1952 |
| Running time | 91 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Bend of the River is a 1952 American western movie directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their second collaboration.
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[edit] Plot
In 1847, remorseful former outlaw Glyn McLyntock (Jimmy Stewart) is scouting for a wagon train of settlers to Oregon. While he is checking the trail ahead, he rescues Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy) from being lynched for stealing a horse. Cole, who unabashedly admits to the crime, thinks he's heard of McLyntock, but doesn't pursue the subject. One of the pioneers in the wagon train is the eligible Laurie Baile (Julie Adams). That night, they are attacked by a small war party of Indians. McLyntock and Cole go out to deal with them; Cole saves McLyntock's life in the process. However, Laurie is seriously injured by an arrow.
When they reach Portland, Oregon, Laurie remains there to recover. Cole also leaves the party, partly because he is attracted to her and partly because of the opportunities to make money. The rest, including McLyntock, go on to establish a settlement in the wilderness, first arranging to have supplies they need for the winter to be sent on later.
With winter fast approaching, they begin to worry when the promised supplies have not shown up. McLyntock and Jeremy Baile (Jay C. Flippen), the leader of the settlers, go to investigate. They find that a gold rush has driven up prices enormously. Hendricks (Howard Petrie), their greedy supplier, has decided to sell to the highest bidder, a mining camp. Cole helps McLyntock round up some men to load the food and take it back to the settlement. Laurie joins them. When they are pursued, McLyntock sets up an ambush. Hendricks and some of his gang are killed, and the rest are driven off.
On the way to the settlement, some of the miners show up and offer an exorbitant price for the food. The hired men begin thinking. Cole cannot resist the temptation of all that money and doublecrosses his friend, but doesn't kill him. That proves to be a mistake. McLyntock tracks them down and takes the supplies back, with the assistance of Jeremy, Laurie and gambler Trey Wilson (Rock Hudson). In a climactic fistfight in the river, McLyntock kills Cole.
[edit] James Stewart and Anthony Mann
James Stewart starred in five classic western movies by director Anthony Mann. In all five, he plays a man who is haunted by the past. The films are famous for their groundbreaking use of the landscape to portray the characters' feelings.
- Winchester '73 (1950)
- Bend of the River (1952)
- The Naked Spur (1953)
- The Man from Laramie (1955)
- The Far Country (1955)
[edit] Cast
- James Stewart as Glyn McLyntock
- Arthur Kennedy as Emerson Cole
- Julie Adams as Laura Baile
- Rock Hudson as Trey Wilson, a professional gambler
- Lori Nelson as Marjie Baile
- Jay C. Flippen as Jeremy Baile
- Howard Petrie as Tom Hendricks
- Chubby Johnson as Captain Mello
- Stepin Fetchit as Adam, Mello's assistant
- Harry Morgan as Shorty, one of the treacherous hired men
- Jack Lambert as Red, another hired hand
- Royal Dano as Long Tom, a third hire-on
- Frances Bavier as Mrs. Prentiss (better known as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show)
