Massacre River

Massacre River is a cavalry story, but don't expect John Ford's cavalry here. The story concerns a pair of army lieutenants Guy Madison and Rory Calhoun, both who are courting the commanding officer's daughter Cathy Downs. Her brother Johnny Sands is a shavetail from West Point and he's friends with both.

Downs kinda sorta favors Madison but then saloon girl Carole Mathews arrives in town and she takes over half of the town saloon from Steve Brodie. When Madison starts showing an interest in Mathews all the drama ensues.

A couple of brief skirmishes with some Indians who have not respected treaty boundaries, one of them at the end of the film are the action. Monogram Studios believe it or not splurged on some location money for this film. And then wouldn't go for color. Seems a waste.

And this rather trite soap opera wasn't meant for the wide open spaces. Except at the climax.

It took more than a fourth of this film to be over before there was any kind of action. But wait! This is called 'MASSACRE RIVER'! Don't we deserve to see a massacre? Of anybody! The Indians or the cavalry, who cares? How about the drunks in the saloon? Oh well. Whatever. Starring Guy Madison, Carole Mathews, and a mostly absent Rory Calhoun.

A dashing cavalry officer is torn between two women causing ructions for those closest to him.

This is more of dialogue driven rather than action driven western. Unfortunately it's not a particularly interesting story which makes much of the film a bit stale. However the good looking cast, decent acting and some occasional stunning cinematography make it worth at least one viewing.

The ending was a bit strange, almost like it didn't know which way to go, sombre or happy, so it tried a bit of both. Which I kind of liked as it goes.

Overall it's not a bad film just one that's not particularly memorable.

I know nothing about Director John Rawlins but he certainly should have avoided the pitfalls of a script that keeps trying to surprise but just seems contrived, what with all the contradictory directions that love relations keep taking.

Incredibly beautiful Carole Matthews plays a hardened saloon lady and her chemistry with Guy Madison is very convincing. She is the proverbial heart of gold saloon lady until she kills to save the man she loves... and, of course, back in 1949 there was a price to pay for killers.

Good friends and army officers Madison and Calhoun share a playful relationship until they fall in love with the same woman, who has to say no to one, only to see the other fall for the above mentioned saloon lady. Sadly, these characters are too fast for typical late 19th century characters and they keep ditching and trading partners with undergarment-changing frequency, which may initially raise the tempo and threat of some thorny situations, but not even very good B&W photography and engaging action and acting save the film from its shifty script.

Still, it is watchable. 6/10.

Lts. Guy Madison and Rory Calhoun, real pals, both love the colonel's daughter Kitty. Kitty turns Rory down in favor of Guy. Rory accepts this...

But then the triangle becomes a love quadrilateral when Guy meets and falls for a racy saloon gal, Laura (Carole Mathews), and breaks off his engagement with Kitty. Which causes Kitty's brother to try and kill Guy but he gets killed - from here tragedy strikes.

In the back ground, Chief Yellowstone (Iron Eyes Cody) and Colonel Reid (Art Baker) want peace but the chief has trouble controlling his young hothead braves, who prefer the warpath.

A cavalry western called Massacre River would usually mean plenty of injun clashing with the cavalry, arrows flying and tomahawks crashing, but this western hasn't got much action; it has more drama and romance. It is quite involving and moving nevertheless. The performances are great, especially Carole Matthews as Laura and Guy Madison as the lieutenant whose decision to settle down with Laura sets off a series of tragic events. Usually not keen on tragic love stories, which this is, but the plot of Massacre River gets a grip on you and doesn't let go. The stark atmosphere adds to the story.