Rating: 
Summary: Pioneers struggle to survive in the great Northwest
Review:
It seems that many are complaining about the DVD version. I saw the VHF, and concentrated on the story rather than screen flaws, and so like other Stewart films, I was delighted and entertained.
This is a 1950s movie, when Stewart was in his hay day, and the story (screenwriter Borden Chase wrote the screenplay from his own novel) was a superlative story of the Oregon country, including scenery around Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. This is one of the series of eight films directed by Anthony Mann and starring the late Brig. General James Stewart, USAF, in his youth. Rock Hudson played a youthful gambler from California, and Arthur Kennedy a former Kansas border raider and the leading bad guy, after acting as a Stewart supporter. Stewart was also a former border raider from Missouri who was trying to forget his past. Supporting players included a youthful Harry Morgan and some other rowdies I didn't immediately recognize. This is one of the old-time "straight" Westerns that I grew up loving, with plenty of gun play, with good and bad guys easily recognized (but not necessarily by their hat color). If you are a fan of those old-time Westerns, you'll probably love this one, which was filmed in Technicolor. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handuns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books
Rating: 
Summary: No complaints from me!
Review:
It seems that many are complaining about the DVD version. I saw the VHF, and concentrated on the story rather than screen flaws, and so like other Stewart films, I was delighted and entertained.
This is a 1950s movie, when Stewart was in his hay day, and the story (screenwriter Borden Chase wrote the screenplay from his own novel) was a superlative story of the Oregon country, including scenery around Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. This is one of the series of eight films directed by Anthony Mann and starring the late Brig. General James Stewart, USAF, in his youth. Rock Hudson played a youthful gambler from California, and Arthur Kennedy a former Kansas border raider and the leading bad guy, after acting as a Stewart supporter. Stewart was also a former border raider from Missouri who was trying to forget his past. Supporting players included a youthful Harry Morgan and some other rowdies I didn't immediately recognize. This is one of the old-time "straight" Westerns that I grew up loving, with plenty of gun play, with good and bad guys easily recognized (but not necessarily by their hat color). If you are a fan of those old-time Westerns, you'll probably love this one, which was filmed in Technicolor. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handuns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books
Rating:
Summary: Fine Stewart Western
Review: Good story, cast and scenery. Young Rock Hudson in supporting role was a hoot. Great color, no widescreen and have read varying reports as to whether it was shot in widescreen or not. If it is pan and scan, they did a good job of it. But enjoy it for it's own sake. No extras on DVD, but what you get is an entertaining story and for the price, it seems a reasonable deal to me.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, but a sorry DVD release
Review: Hey, all you DVD video lovers out there... why do buy DVD's to replace all our old VHS tapes? RIGHT! Extra features, restored prints, widescreen format. When will the studio money grubbers realize that releasing cheap, no thrills versions of our favorite classic movies is NOT the way to sell DVD's? "Bend of the River" is a classic western and has always been one of my favorite films, but please don't waste your $ on this one. Wait for a truly proper release, not this cheap pan and scan, no features version. What a waste. Ditto for other recent Jimmy Stewart (equally no feature pan and scan) DVD releases of "The Far Country", "Destry Rides Again" and "Shenandoah".
Movie = 5 stars DVD = 1 sorry star
Rating:
Summary: OK, this thing keeps prompting me for a review...so.
Review: I have this to say about Bend of the River. Julie Adams is THE most beautiful woman that ever lived, next to Rock Hudson. I've been making Julie Adams Voodoo dolls for years but she still hasn't called. Anybody got a phone # or email address or fingernail clippings I'd appreciate it. Back to the movie. Stewart and Mann, doesn't get much better than this. Especially when Jimmy showcases that trademark bi-polar streak that made their films so great. Arthur Kennedy is a real pain though. How'd that guy ever get into the movies anyway? Must be related to Joe. But, there's got to be somebody you hate-right? Well Arthur, I hate your guts. And I missed the end of Rancho Notorious, but I hope somebody shot you dead. So there. 5 lbs of jerky.
Rating:
Summary: not a review, but a question
Review: I put this DVD in my player and was greeted with a screen I'd never seen before - a request for a password! Has anyone else encountered this error, or have a way to bypass this screen and go to the menu or movie? Pay no attention to my star rating for the movie, as I haven't had a chance to watch it yet!
Rating:
Summary: not a review, but a question
Review: I put this DVD in my player and was greeted with a screen I'd never seen before - a request for a password! Has anyone else encountered this error, or have a way to bypass this screen and go to the menu or movie? Pay no attention to my star rating for the movie, as I haven't had a chance to watch it yet!
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie ... worst DVD EVER
Review: I would like to echo the other reviews here ... Universal has done an incredibly shoddy job on this DVD. The film is a good one ... not as good as The Far Country, but a respectable and enjoyable Western by the reliable Anthony Mann. The picture quality is often poor, and why the movie had to be panned and scanned when it was not widescreen to begin with is beyond me. Cost can't be an excuse ... the Hammer DVD's of The Curse of Frankenstein and The Horror of Dracula by other studios were similarly priced yet far better in quality. Universal should be ashamed of issuing a classic Western in this condition. I want my money back!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a decent western but it's not great.
Review: I would say it's good or about average. There is some good scenery and it isn't slow. It just doesn't have a lot of punch as far as I'm concerned.
Rating:
Summary: This is a decent western but it's not great.
Review: I would say it's good or about average. There is some good scenery and it isn't slow. It just doesn't have a lot of punch as far as I'm concerned.
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