Overview
A treacherous journey through the wilderness tests the limits of friendship and morality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- rugged
- tensely adventurous
- morally conflicted
- classic western night
- adventure movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a magnificently photographed, large-scale western distinguished by strong conflict and compellingly uncertain moral alignment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Glyn McLyntock leads homesteaders toward a new settlement while confronting the consequences of his criminal past.
Glyn and Cole share questionable histories, while the conflict over the supplies keeps their opposing moral directions in suspense.
The wagon journey, river route, mountain crossing, and Oregon panoramas are presented as large-scale outdoor spectacle in Technicolor.
Winter food and supplies intended for settlers are diverted toward a gold-mining camp for financial gain.
Films like Bend of the River, and why
The Naked Spur
shared 1950s western setting, frontier adventure, moral ambiguity, and rugged landscape photography
Winchester '73
shared anthony mann western style, james stewart performance, conflicted protagonist, and themes of redemption
The Far Country
shared wagon-train peril, frontier survival, action adventure, and widescreen western spectacle
Bend of the River
shared gold rush setting, morally divided male characters, and tense western adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Anthony Mann
- Release Date
- 1952-01-23
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (224)
Cast
- James Stewart
- Arthur Kennedy
- Julie Adams
- Rock Hudson
- Jay C. Flippen
- Lori Nelson
- Chubby Johnson
- Stepin Fetchit
- Harry Morgan
- Howard Petrie
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bend of the River about?
- A morally conflicted frontier guide fights to protect a struggling Oregon settlement when a trusted friend turns communal survival into a gold-rush profit scheme.
- What is Bend of the River like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bend of the River as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Bend of the River violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Bend of the River as moderate.
- What did critics think of Bend of the River?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a magnificently photographed, large-scale western distinguished by strong conflict and compellingly uncertain moral alignment.
- Which films are like Bend of the River?
- Films with a similar feel include The Naked Spur, Winchester '73, The Far Country, and Bend of the River.
- How long is Bend of the River?
- Bend of the River runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bend of the River?
- In United States, Bend of the River streams on fuboTV.
