Silver River

Directed by Raoul Walsh, who undoubtedly was one of the maestros of the western genre, Silver River hardly can be called one of director's best works. It was the last Walsh's film made with Errol Flynn, and the only one they made together that hadn't achieved success at the Box Office.

The story of Silver River is based on a novel by Stephen Longstteet, but it's also an apparent `western' retelling of Bible's story of King David. The film begins at the time of battle of Gettysburg during American Civil War with a quite remarkable chase sequence where the wagon of Captain of the Union Army Michael McComb (Errol Flynn) is chased by Confederate soldiers who are after the 1 million $ of Union money destined to be paid to the soldiers. In order to avoid that the Confederates take the money, McComb decides to simply burn it. As a consequence of this act, he's expelled from the army.

An unscrupulous adventurer, McComb moves to the silver mine town in the west, where he quickly becomes rich and powerful mines' owner along with his partner Stanley Moore (Bruce Bennett) controlling all the town's industry and banks. Nothing can stop his greed and ambition and he further rises to power and an enormous wealth, promptly sending his business partner to death, marrying his beautiful wife Georgia (Ann Sheridan) and becoming the only master of the town and one of the most influential and rich men in the state. But his triumph doesn't last for a long time for his achievements tend to be impermanent as everything in this world, so by the twist of fate he finds himself again on the bottom of the well losing everything.

Quite an average western with nothing particularly good or particularly bad about it, thou in my opinion worth watching, but don't expect to be much entertained by it or you might be very disappointed. 7/10

"Silver River" is an under-appreciated, near classic western, that cries out for two things, color and greater chemistry between Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn liked VERY young women; he was probably intimidated by the mature, stronger, types, and Sheridan was one of the strongest. The hostile fireworks between them are quite convincing, the romance, less so. Since Flynn's feelings for Sheridan are central to the plot and thematic elements of this movie, this could have been disastrous. However, the complex, biographical-like plotting, solid performances by supporting actors and well choreographed overall action make up for this. The behavior of Flynn's character is quite understandable. When he is unselfish, he invariably suffers, having his career destroyed, not once, but twice. Thomas Mitchell's reformed drunk turned senatorial candidate would seem far fetched, until we are reminded that President Grant (a key character in the story) was a reformed alcoholic. Mitchell does the right things for the wrong reasons, Flynn the wrong things for the right reasons. This is certainly my favorite Errol Flynn western. I just wish Warner Brothers had given Flynn his usual "A" treatment and opted for color. I give "Silver River" an "8".

Errol Flynn is kicked out of the Union Army at the end of the Civil War for disobeying orders, albeit for good reasons. Now embittered, he travels to Silver City, Nevada, where he becomes a successful businessman through ruthless tactics. He also has an eye for married Ann Sheridan. Eventually Flynn's ruthlessness catches up with him.

So-so western with a decent cast and director. Flynn's amoral character makes for interesting viewing, though the cop-out ending is absolutely terrible and undermines the rest of the film. Nice support from Thomas Mitchell, Tom D'Andrea, and Barton MacLane. The part with Ulysses S. Grant is amusing, particularly his short height, which is surprisingly historically accurate. The last of seven films Flynn made with director Raoul Walsh. Flynn's alcoholism and poor behavior while filming ticked Walsh off so much he refused to work with him again.

This Raoul Walsh's movie looks like a Republic western, most of them urban western taking place in Frisco in music halls, lobbies, or aboard a river boat more than a classic western shot in Death Valley. It is not what you could expect it to be, especially with Errol Flynn. It could have been written by an optimist Norman Mailer or Scott Fitzgerald, because this movie is not sad, not gloomy, saving a predictable ending for Hollywood standard. Good stuff for gem lovers. Not my Raoul Walsh's stuff for sure. And far too long for my taste.

Flynn plays an unscrupulous sleaze-bag for most of the film, and it fits him like a glove. Sheridan is plucky but not quite as beautiful as I'm used to seeing her. Flynn is out after the married Sheridan with a leer in his eye, but there's not a lot of sexual tension once he's got his hands on her. Large-scale battle and mob scenes show off the large budget. Better than usual score from Max Steiner. A nice A-production from Warner Brothers that you probably haven't seen, but not much more than that.