La Rivière sanglante

Drums Across the River concerns freighters Walter Brennan and his son Audie Murphy trying very hard to prevent a full scale Indian war which Lyle Bettger and sidekicks seem bound and determined to start.

There's some rich mineral deposits on Ute land which is separated by a river boundary. Lyle Bettger plays on the greed of the white folks to invade the Ute treaty land so the government will send in troops to move them.

Brennan sees the game for what it is, but it takes Murphy a while to come around. When he does he's the heroic Audie we know in most of his B westerns.

Lots of action and a really nice performance by Jay Silverheels as the young Ute chief. Silverheels was on hiatus from the Lone Ranger and he ought to be remembered for more than just playing Tonto.

There's also a nice performance by Mara Corday who is Bettger's squeeze and does quite a bit more for him than the usual moll.

Despite that the film probably suffered from some poor editing and a script in which the character's motivations in doing certain things are a bit vague.

Nevertheless Drums Across the River has enough action to satisfy any western lover.

Good Nathan Juran's western, one more starring Audie Murphy for Universal Studios, after GUNSMOKE and TUMBLEWEED. Yes, good stuff, not too long, rather action packed, and offering acceptable performances, despite a weak plot, not that surprising story. Full of charm little western from the fifties. And it is always a pleasure to have Lyle Bettger as a villain, as John Doucette or Robert Wilke...I repeat, no surprise but so much effective for a tremendous time spender - not waster. Universal Studios had the secret of cute and original westerns, a special touch that the other companies had not. Not better, but just different.

Fun western that once again covers the old 'Native Americans have something we want so lets go get it' story arc. This time though it has a father son relationship that is explored as the baddies do their thing. Walter is exceptional in this and Audie does what Audie does. There is a small branch of the story that refers to Audie being a bigot but it is never really explored and seems to resolve itself too quickly to really have an influence on the story overall.

Good action, well told, enjoyable fare.

Crown City is a played-out mining town. Just a few hundred yards away across the river there are vast reserves of gold - but across the river is Indian territory and it takes a brave man - or a stupid one - to risk incurring the wrath of Ouray, Chief of the Ute.

At the start of this fast-paced western, there's a group of guys heading into Ute territory seeking gold, then there's a shootout between the utes and the gold-seekers, a fist fight around the campfire, and a swap goes wrong and there's another shootout - and this is all within around thirty minutes, and the rest of the film is the same, the plot is twisty and fully-charged like a sidewinder, the pace is frenetic, and the action is energetic( Audie gets to show off some Judo moves in some combat scenes), but most important the narrative flows freely.

Audie Murphy is gaining his confidence here, is really good as a guy transitioning from having bitter hate for utes to one who is on their side, Walter Brennan as his father is his usual excellent form, Hugh O'Brien makes an appearance as a gunslinger clad in black and a grin to shame a crocodile's grin, and Lyle Bettger does his usual turn as the slimy villain with a perpetual smirk. Mara Corday is a bad girl hottie and eye candy Lisa Gaye flutters her eyelashes and coos "Gary, Gary" repeatedly throughout the film.

This is one of my favourite Murphy westerns, it's energetic, action-packed, a busy plot and the story is just great. Saw this on BBC2 back in 1989, and I just have fond memories of watching it countless times afterwards.

A Colorful, Winner Western with Audie Murphy in His Element and a Solid Back-Up Cast including Walter Brennan in an atypical Super Serious Role as Murph's Dad.

Some Recognizable Bad-Guys including the always Grinning Lyle Bettger, Bob Steele, and Hugh O'Brian as a Psycho Gunslinger. Jay Silverheels and that always Recognizable Voice has a Small but Important Role as an Indian Chief.

It is quite Striking just how much Plot was Woven into these 80 Minute Westerns, it's just a Treat to Watch it Unfold at a Blistering Pace. The Action Never Lets Up and the Story Layers are Simple and Significant.

The Movie features that Glorious Technicolor that Drips from the Screen, a Look that has been Lost in Time. Overall, this Cowboys and Indians Movie is the Stuff that made Saturday Matinees the Favorite Spot for Kids of the Fifties.

Downtown at the Movie Palace there were Western and Sci-/Horror Entertainment along with Color Cartoons, and Short Subjects and the Kids were there because that was where it was at, through the 1950's.