Bend of the River is the second Anthony Mann/James Stewart western and the first in technicolor. The technicolor is used to best advantage here with some great footage of the Columbia River and surrounding vicinity. And Mann used in support of Stewart, Jay C. Flippen, Harry Morgan, Arthur Kennedy and Rock Hudson all of whom had appeared in Mann films before and/or would again. Anthony Mann is never given credit for the stock company he had. Like John Ford, Mann liked using the same players in his films.

Jimmy Stewart is guiding a group of settlers west and along the way saves Arthur Kennedy from a lynching. Turns out they're both former border raiders from the Missouri/Kansas area, but Stewart's decided to go honest.

When they arrive in Portland, the settlers are warmly greeted and a deal is made by settler leader Jay C. Flippen for needed supplies for his people during the winter.

When Stewart and Flippen return for the supplies, there's been a gold strike and the town is mad with gold fever. They have to take what was due them and then have to fight to get the supplies back to the settlers. Seems some prospectors want them also.

The point is that there are no options for Stewart and Flippen. These supplies have to get to their colony or they will freeze and starve during the winter. They have to fight prospectors, townspeople and treachery in their own group to get the goods where they are needed.

There's no law here to help them. It's broken down totally along with all kinds of behavioral virtues when gold fever has struck. One of the best performances in the film comes from Howard Petrie town merchant who can't do enough for the settlers on their first arrival. When we see him next when Stewart and Flippen come for their goods, it's like we're seeing a totally different human being. Petrie has practically morphed into Fred C. Dobbs.

I don't think Jimmy Stewart has ever been more ruthless on the screen than he is here. His characters in Anthony Mann films are always purpose driven whether it's revenge like in Winchester 73, an outlaw bounty so he can start a new life in The Naked Spur, or even an idea he has like offshore oil drilling in Thunder Bay.

But in Bend of the River it's a matter of survival and to prove to himself that he can and has changed his character for the better. It's as much an internal struggle for Stewart as it is with the forces allied against him.

It's another ten star winner for the Stewart/Mann team.

While guiding a caravan from Missouri to Portland, in the Oregon territory, the former gunman and thief Glyn McLyntock (James Stewart) saves Emerson Cole (Arthur Cole) from hanging. They become friends and travel together guiding and protecting the pioneers, leaded by Jeremy Baile (Jay C, Flippen),to their settlement. Jeremy has two daughters and does not know the past of Glyn. He believes that men and apples are equal, therefore a rotten apple would be enough to spoil the other apples. The caravan is attacked by Indians, and Jeremy's daughter Laura Baile (Julia Adams) is wounded by an arrow. Once in Portland, the pioneers pay for food and kettle in advance to Tom Hendricks (Howard Petrie),the owner of steamship River Queen and the Portland Palace Saloon, for delivering a month later in their lands and Jeremy leaves Laura lodged in Tom's house in the town for recovering her health. The supplies are not delivered and Glyn and Jeremy return to Portland, where they realize they have been stolen by Tom, because of a golden rush in the area. Glyn, Jeremy, Laura, the gambler Trey Wilson (Rock Hudson) and Cole try to transport the supplies to the settlement with the support of some hired workers, along a journey full of betrayals, with the group hijacking the supplies, hunting and shootings.

'Bend the River' is another excellent western directed by Anthony Mann and having James Stewart as the lead actor. A couple of days ago I saw 'Winchester 73' and a couple of months ago I saw 'The Man from Laramie', all of them excellent movies directed by Anthony Mann and having James Stewart leading the cast. It is hard to select the best film among these three. The colors of 'Bend of the River' are amazingly beautiful on the DVD. The beauty of Julia Adams is astonishing and Arthur Kennedy has another stunning performance. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): '...E o Sangue Semeou a Terra' ( ... And the Blood Seeded the Earth')

The acting of both Jimmy Stewart and Arthur Kennedy lifted this film well above the norm for a Hollywood Western. In particular, I liked Kennedy as the slimy guy you know MUST go bad before the picture is complete. Rock Hudson is fine, though not especially distinguished in his supporting role. On top of these two excellent performances, the writing is stellar, as the story is far from the typical production. It takes a lot of twists and turns and keeps your attention throughout. And, finally, the location cinematography is excellent, as the film has realism that is so often lacking in other Westerns--it is obvious this was filmed outdoors and not in some studio. All-in-all, an excellent film.