BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) C 91m dir: Anthony Mann

w/James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, Rock Hudson, Lori Nelson, Jay C. Flippen

From Variety's contemporary review of the film: "Basic plot line is a simple affair, as lifted from Bill Gulick's novel, Bend of the Snake. It deals with a band of settlers who make a long, wagon train trek into Oregon to claim the country from the wilderness and the hardships of such pioneering.

"James Stewart is the wagon train guide, leading the settlers into Oregon. He rescues Arthur Kennedy, a former Missouri raider, from a hanging and the latter joins the party for the trek to Portland, where group boards a river steamer for a journey into the back country. The summer passes and promised supplies that are to carry the settlers through the winter do not arrive. Stewart returns to Portland, finds the town gold-mad and the supplies held up for more money.

"Stewart's handling of his role has punch. Kennedy socks his likable heavy role. Julie Adams fulfills romantic demands of her top femme role, and Rock Hudson pleasantly projects the part of a young gambler who joins the settlers."

BEND OF THE RIVER is one of several superior westerns that director Anthony Mann made with actor James Stewart in the 1950s (among them THE NAKED SPUR, THE FAR COUNTRY, and THE MAN FROM LARAMIE).