The River's Edge (1957)

I wanted to but couldn't!

Fresh and Exciting

Don't listen to the negative reviews

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

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.

Watching The River's Edge today put me in mind of The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre. Just imagine if one of those treasure hunters had been a woman on the trip. Think they had problems then?Ray Milland is the Fred C. Dobbs of the piece. Only he's not looking for gold, he's got a valise with a lot of money in cash. A notorious grifter he's on the run and headed for his former girlfriend Debra Paget. He wants the services of her current husband Anthony Quinn who is a guide and tracker to take him across the Mexican border and away from the law.Given Paget's beauty and her involvement with both of these men you can imagine what a tense trip this was. Milland commits two murders along the way, that of a US Border Patrolmen and Chubby Johnson an old prospector Like The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre 90% of the film is focused on the three leads. At no time is anyone truly sure of how they stand with each other. Paget the most confused of all, she loves her husband Quinn in her own way, but Milland is the guy who always scratched her itch.In the end what happens to Milland is almost eerily reminiscent of what happened to Humphrey Bogart in the previous film. And as I wrote in my review of The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, God really does have a sense of humor.

Ray Milland plays 'Nardo'--yes, Nardo! Nardo is a vicious crook who has a huge suitcase of cash and is willing to do ANYTHING to get across the border into Mexico. When he shows up at the home of a local guide (Anthony Quinn), it's not just a coincidence--Quinn's wife (Debra Paget) was once Milland's lover and partner in crime. Soon Quinn learns this and is disheartened--but agrees to escort Paget and Milland through the desert for $10000.The rest of the film consists of Quinn taking them through the desert and it's all pretty interesting. However, one HUGE plot problem remains--if Milland has, so far, killed at least two innocent people, why wouldn't he just kill Quinn when they make it across the border? And, more importantly, why wouldn't Quinn just shoot Milland when he got the chance--and several times throughout the film he had such an opportunity. In other words, Quinn says he knows that Milland will try to kill him--so why not shoot Milland and claim the reward?! The worst part is at the end--when Milland is trying to kill Quinn. Paget stops this when she gets the rifle--then stands so close to Milland that he EASILY strips away the gun. Duh!! As a result, while well made (with a lot of tension and nice acting), the film makes no sense--none. Now why would anyone want to watch a film that make no sense? In addition, at the end it just kind of peters out--running out of steam until, mercifully, it all ends.By the way, at the end of the film, note how Quinn, after having a HUGE boulder roll onto his leg, is able to hop up and run around with no visible effects. A moment later, he starts limping...just a bit! Double duh!

Those who think of Ray Milland as a skilled light comedian or an amiable drunk will be surprised by his work in this late Allan Dwan entry. He's mean as can be in this one, and the best thing in the movie, making Anthony Quinn look weak by comparison; not an easy thing to do, but Ray pulls it off with style. Debra Paget is an asset as well in this trim, modest film.