Bend of the River (1952)

In the untamed frontier of the 1850s, two men with shadowy histories, Glyn McLyntock and Emerson Cole, take the helm to guide a caravan of hopeful homesteaders from the rugged landscapes of Missouri to the promise-laden territories of Oregon. Their destination: a fledgling settlement on the outskirts of Portland, a beacon of civilization in a land ruled by the wild. As the raw bite of winter looms and the settlers' provisions dwindle, McLyntock and Cole embark on a daring mission to reclaim essential food and supplies held captive by corrupt officials in Portland. The sprawling city, however, is in the grip of gold fever, its citizens driven to distraction by the gleam of riches, complicating their task further. Their return journey, a perilous trek upriver and over daunting mountainous terrain, takes a treacherous twist. Cole, bewitched by the allure of gold, engineers a mutiny in an attempt to divert the lifesaving supplies to a profit-laden gold mining camp. Bend of the River paints a vivid portrait of survival, loyalty, and the corrosive power of greed in the heart of the American wilderness. With the settlers' fate hanging in the balance, will McLyntock be able to deliver the crucial supplies to his people? And can he still rely on Cole, a man seduced by the blinding glint of gold?

Bend of the River is an adventure movie featuring James Stewart.

Bend of the River is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.