Many Rivers to Cross (1955)

The Worst Film Ever

the audience applauded

An Exercise In Nonsense

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Oh my,I have only a vivid mental image of Robert Taylor as a suave, debonair, romantic lead which is hard to shake. To see and hear him as a Kentucky frontiersman was too much for me. The clothes don't make the man in this case. Cover this tomato with a coonskin cap and buckskins and it still is a tomato. Miscast is not stretching it a bit.Eleanor Parker surely should have passed his one up. She does her best in this unusual role, but can't save this picture. What is it? A comedy drama evidently. However, there are too many ho hums and not enough chuckles. Hooray for the Indians who provide a modicum of drama and looked realistic enough with scalp locks and fierce grimaces.

"Many Rivers to Cross" is just plain old-fashioned movie entertainment. Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker play beautifully off one another, with a great comedy supporting cast. It includes Victor McLaglen, Sig Ruman, Rhys Williams, Alan Hale Jr., and James Arness. The pioneer plot seems a fresh setting for a comedy – now, if not also when this film came out in 1955. The script is very well written and directed. I think the actors were enjoying themselves in the making of this film. The often wooden and low-energy Robert Taylor seems to have relaxed some in his role as Bushrod Gentry. Eleanor Power is perfect as Mary Stuart Cherne. Although some of the outdoor scenes clearly are on a set, that doesn't detract too much because of the action. And, there's plenty of that. This film moves nicely from one skirmish or squabble to another humorous sequence. It isn't a loud laughter film, but one that brings many smiles and chuckles.An opening prologue dedicates the movie to the pioneer women of yore who stood by their men and helped settle the frontier (then Kentucky). It says, without them, most of we viewers wouldn't be here today watching this movie. So, one knows to expect the humor that follows. And, it delivers it in some clever and witty lines, and in rollicking scenes. At the opening, Mary Stuart is returning to her home from hunting game. She has an injured Bushrod in tow. Cadmus Cherne (Victor McLaglen) says, "Oh, she goes out for game for the larder, and brings back another mouth to feed."The movie has one of the funniest fist fights ever put on film. Bushrod and Luke Radford (Alan Hale Jr.) must lay out a dozen other men in their fight. There's an interesting sequence that shows a "nail shoot." Contestants vie by shooting at nails in trees, to pound them all the way in. Another very funny sequence occurs toward the end. Bushrod and Mary Stuart have a skirmish with Indians in a cave. Three of the Indians are done in, and only one is left outside the cave. But, he has a rifle. Bushrod says, "He ain't gonna leave the mouth of the cave unless we can draw him in here somehow. I'll tell you what – If he thought I was dead, he might come in here looking for you. Probably wants you alive to take home with him. Serve him right too." Mary Stuart says, "I might not look so bad in a tepee." The rest of that scene is hilarious.This is a fun, entertaining movie that the whole family should enjoy.

Witty, well written, smooth flowing spoof with a nice supporting cast of well known Hollywood actors. Eleanor Parker has never been better and this early battle of the sexes, makes the on screen chemistry between she and the reluctant Robert Taylor, so much more fun. A must see. Though some of the scenes are stilted by today's fast paced standards, the overall values of family, chivalry, loyalty and integrity give the spoof credibility. It is a shame that more of the film isn't shot off stage, but I suppose Hollywood would have attempted to save cost where it could, albeit those scenes don't rob from the overall entertainment of watching Parker finally ensnare her man, helping him in turn to fall in love with her.

I watched this on TCM one night & my wife & I laughed so hard we almost fell off the couch!! This is one of those little movies that has something for everyone...comedy, action, a wonderful script, & characters that force you to like them. Robert Taylor was perfect as the footloose, frontier Romeo, & Eleanor Parker was never more beautiful & funny playing the love-sick woman who intends to "get her man" no matter what it takes...but make no mistake, she is no wimpy, sighing, helpless female...she really is "Steppin' Woman"!!!! The title song is so catchy that you'll have trouble not singing it for months afterward. Some of the dialogue is at one turn hilarious, then a few lines later, subtly humorous...a real scriptwriter's dream. There is nothing to offend anyone but lots of things to delight everyone. A great family film!!!!