The River's Edge (1957)

Fantastic!

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A Benedict Bogeaus Production. Photographed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color. Copyright 1957 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Palace: 11 April 1957. U.S. release: April 1957. U.K. release: June 1957. Australian release: no record. 87 minutes.NOTES: Veteran director Allan Dwan's only CinemaScope movie.COMMENT: I remember seeing this one on first release. I was alone in the theater, would you believe? First and only time that ever happened to me – and no wonder! I notice that Allan Dwan's extremely vociferous local fans have made no efforts whatever to have this movie revived. I wonder why?"Tedious" is the word for the script, "labored" will suffice for the direction, and "unbelievable" serves as my catch-cry for the acting. Mr. Quinn, would you believe, is the hero? True, at this stage of his career he was playing good guys, but to me he was always the extra-forceful but slimy, hard-hitting, charismatic, pretty-boy hood of such films as Night Waitress, Dangerous To Know, Tip-Off Girls, Hunted Men, King of Alcatraz, King of Chinatown, Television Spy, Emergency Squad, etc. For my money, Anthony Quinn was never half as interesting as a hero. Also miscast in this one, we find suave Ray Milland playing the villain. And a nasty piece of work he is too (in both senses of that word)! The only relief on the acting front is provided by sexy Debra Paget, who slinks around exuding misplaced passion. Production values rate absolutely no more than a "B". And whilst the fact that James Leicester doubled as both a co-writer and film editor is definitely a rare event in Hollywood, it's not one that I'd care to suggest needs repeating after watching this example.

THE RIVER'S EDGE is a solid 1950s Hollywood adventure film, not one of the best I've seen but with enough rugged scenery and quality performing to make it an enjoyable experience. It reminded me a little of the Robert Ryan film INFERNO and while not as good as that, it still packs a punch with some surprisingly vicious violence for the era. The film makes full benefit of the Mexican locations with the rugged scenery proving a real hit throughout and becoming a character in itself.Ray Milland is a delight as the villain of the piece, all scheming and bravado. A little like his role in DIAL M FOR MURDER and very nearly as good. Anthony Quinn is a likable hero, perhaps not the first actor you'd think of to play the dirt rancher and tracker, but a nice fit by the end of it. Debra Paget has the most complex role as the femme fatale of the piece and although her character isn't remotely likable, she's thoroughly convincing in the part. For a film with just three characters on screen for most of the running time, THE RIVER'S EDGE offers endless twists and turns, plenty of suspense, and a good if inevitable ending.

The River's Edge is a very good film and one that should be much better known.Rancher and guide Ben Cameron(Anthony Quinn)is living a fairly happy life with his new wife city girl Margeret(Debra Paget).That is until country life becomes annoying to her and her ex,an absolute bad boy comes back into her life.With his a nice smile,smart suit and fast car Nardo Denning(Ray Milland)would normally be the guy of most girls dreams but not here.Milland's usual charm is turned into something nasty when it's revealed he left Margeret in prison to take the rap for his actions.Now after stealing a million dollars in cash,Nardo wants her to go with him to Mexico.Torn between her two loves Margeret is thrown into a deep nightmare after Nardo kills a Border Patrol officer and forces Cameron to take them to the border by foot.It then turns into a thrilling fight for survival as Cameron and Margeret make up and try and escape the clutches of this madman.

This is perhaps the best films made about a farmer marrying a woman, who knew about if not took part in stolen money, and a plot to escape the country. If this is about a marriage gone wild, this will work.Movie Plot Summary, an unsuspecting farmer marries a woman with a dark past that catches up with them, and the guy who stole the money wants the woman back, husband to get them out, and make husband watch his wife with him! It's practically a love triangle movie. Good girl fell for bad guy, and tries to clean herself with a good guy. Never work! Through the whole movie, the farmer watches painfully as his wife is in the arms of the other man, making out in the trailer. If anything, if marriage is put in doubt then there's your answer. :)