Le secret du Grand Canyon

I taped Edge of Eternity when Channel 4 screened it some time ago and found it very enjoyable. Some reviews state this as a Western, but it is more of a mystery-thriller than a Western.

A Sheriff in Arizona investigates three murders around the Grand Canyon and is help by a woman and not surprisingly they fall in love with each other. The killer then takes the woman hostage and he is caught in the dramatic final showdown in a minor's bucket, high over the Grand Canyon.

Edge of Eternity has some magnificent scenery. especially the Grand Canyon scenes.

The cast is lead by Cornel Wilde as the Sheriff, Victoria Shaw as his love interest and Micky Shaughnessy. All play good parts.

This movie is a must see, just for the scenery. Excellent.

Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.

Unusual outdoor suspenser from Columbia studios, guided by sure-hand of cult director Don Siegel. It's a super-slick production that makes great scenic use of the magnificent Grand Canyon. Nothing profound or head-scratching here, just A-grade movie entertainment.

A string of mysterious murders in a remote Arizona ghost town has deputy Cornel Wilde flummoxed and sheriff Edgar Buchanan about to lose his job. Add to that the sassy and beauteous Victoria Shaw in red-haired Technicolor, gabby bartender Mickey Shaugnessy, and professional hick Tom Fadden, and you've got a cast lively enough to compete with the compelling scenery. Even the stolid Wilde loosens up more than usual, though his countrified accent sort of comes and goes.

Great staging. I really liked the scene at the abandoned mine, where Shaw explains what happened to the fabled gold-mining industry after the war. This may be the only screenplay to take up that topic, which seems odd given the metal's rich role in the settling of the West. So if you're curious about why the industry suddenly disappeared from the American landscape, this is the movie to catch.

The episode in the "dancing bucket" is a real hair-raiser. If I recall a book correctly, Shaw was terrified of doing those high-wire scenes and Siegel had to go to some lengths to get them shot. Given the heights involved, that's not surprising. Anyway, there's action, mystery and plenty to look at including Miss Shaw who unfortunately died much too young. So if you've got a spare 90 minutes, scope out the kind of movie Hollywood was making back when Cinemascope was trying to lure audiences away from the little screen.

"Edge of Eternity" is without question the finest color photography I have ever seen. The colors of the Grand Canyon are displayed in razor sharp beauty, especially when viewing "Twilight Time's" limited edition Blueray. While the murder investigation is rather ordinary, and the love interest between Cornel Wilde and Victoria Shaw kills time, all is forgiven with the spectacular aerial photography, unbelievable stunts, and fabulous fifties cars on display. The highlight of course is seeing the U.S. Guano tram swinging wildly over the Canyon as Wilde and Mickey Shaughnessy engage in a gun battle. This is truly a one of a kind film, not for it's story, not for it's acting, but for the unforgettable photography and the unique and exciting climax. "Edge of Eternity" is a must see. - MERK

Edge of Eternity is directed by Don Siegel and written by Richard Collins. It stars Cornel Wilde, Victoria Shaw, Mickey Shaughnessy, Edgar Buchanan and Rian Garrick. A CinemaScope production with music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and cinematography by Burnett Guffey.

Contemporary Western that finds Wilde as the local deputy sheriff trying to solve a murder case in the Ghost Town of Kendon.

It's not got a strong plot and the performances of the cast are hardly out the top draw, but it's a solid murder mystery set to the magnificent backdrop of The Grand Canyon. Siegel keeps things pacey as Guffey brings the scorching vistas to life, and it all builds to an exciting finale, where some rear projection work not withstanding, it's breath holding stuff. 7/10

Like all of Don Siegel's movies we are immersed in the action from the beginning of this spectacularly shot mystery thriller.Not a single frame,word or gesture is wasted just like in all of Don's films.No wonder Clint Eastwood attributes his own economical movie-making style to him. Cornel Wilde's deputy sheriff carries the whole film very well like in a old school noir mystery he is in almost every scene piecing the puzzle along with us and we are not given any information other than what he learns therefore the final revelation is as shocking to us as is to him. Like of all Don Siegel movies the supporting cast is great; including the late and great Edgar Buchanon, Siegel regular Jack Elam and the very beautiful and charming Victoria Shaw.But like in all his films the bad guy (revealed at the end)is awesome. Kudos to Don Siegel ,one of my all time favourite directors. Special mention has to be made of the film's stuntmen's work in the climax.I won't spoil it but it's a nail biting sequence.